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Rochester, Kent: Costumed Guided Tour

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$13.30 /person
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About the activity

Join us for an accurately informed, wittily entertaining and beautifully costumed, historical character for a unique walking tour around the beautiful Rochester in Kent. Starts 11.30am

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Live guiding
    English
  • Duration
    1.5 hours
  • Includes
    • Live costumed guide
    • Walking tour
    • Dramatic readings
    • Historical information
    • Social history stories
    • Beautiful views
    • Interesting architecture
    • Aesthetic experience
    • Character engagement
    • Entry tickets to attractions
    • Tips
    • Food or drink
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • Combining history and theatre
  • Experience the sites which inspired Charles Dickens writing
  • Witness the changes to a castle under bloody, medieval seige
  • Admire the views of the River Medway
  • Hear Dickens' words describe the place where you are standing

Description

See Charles Dickens hometown through the eyes of a Victorian - his estranged wife; a renowned botanical illustrator; a local inventor; Or visit Regency Rochester in company with a French Napoleonic officer, or a female theatrical entrepreneur Mrs Sarah Baker - the Georgian 'Governess General of Kentish Theatre', to discover the links with Queen Charlotte and Jane Austen.

The history of Rochester stretches back over 1000 years. Choose which period you want to see the old city in, through the eyes of a character from that time, pointing out the visible and invisible remains of the influence of that time on modern Medway.

The walking tour takes in close up views of the castle and cathedral and illuminates 22 sites, 4 city gates and many hidden delights in ways which only a time traveller can discover!

Start your tour on corporation street, opposite the Rochester station main exit, by the coach bays, to enter the High Street via a discreet entrance via the French Hospital.
Discover tales of pilgrims, refugees, agitators, soldiers, sailors and prisoners from around the world, seeking release and sanctuary, with a new life in the historic streets of Rochester. Gain an understanding of the place that directly inspired the great works of Charles Dickens and Rochester's part in world events.

Along the way, learn about the evolution of a cathedral city through time, built on wealth from the river and the dockyard at Chatham.
See Almshouses, Dean's Gate, Rochester Cathedral, the church of St. Nicholas, Jasper's Gate, Two Post Alley, the George Vaults, the Guildhall, The Bull Hotel, the Royal Crown, Rochester Bridge Trust, Castle Gardens, Rochester Castle, Baker's Walk, Satis House, Longley House, Boley Hill, Minor Canons Row, The Vines, Restoration House, the memorial to the last known sighting of Dickens, Eastgate House, the Swiss Chalet and the Six Poor Travellers.
Tours last 90 minutes. Route can be amended for those with mobility issues. Also available in French.

Good to know before you go
  • Let us know in advance if you have any special requirements - eg: wheelchair access and we will amend your tour experience accordingly.
Meeting point

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    16-99 years
  • Children
    7-15 years
  • Infants
    0-6 years
May 2025
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