A Day Trip to Rochester, Kent

Rochester is undoubtedly my favorite part of the Medway Towns in Kent. Be it a scenic medieval high street, a beautiful 12th century castle protected by huge stone walls or a towering 11th century cathedral, Rochester has it all and more!​​

Insider Perspective

• As a local of Kent, I feel I am able to give a visitors guide for the city of Rochester that many other bloggers or websites can't. Living just a 20 minute train journey from the cities center, I have visited with Caitlin many times to explore the unique historic feel to the place.

Getting to Rochester

• While Rochester is a beautiful city to visit, I don't personally think there is enough there to merit staying for more than one long day trip (likely from Canterbury or London!) and the best way to get to the city is without a doubt by train. DO NOT buy your tickets at the station you depart from, unless the trip is totally impromptu, buy your tickets online from thetrainline.com and as far in advance as possible. Just remember that if you book tickets on thetrainline for your trip you need to have the card you used with you to pick up the tickets at the station on your date of travel (Which if you are going on a weekday early, arrive early as there might be queues).

Rochester Castle

Rochester's historic city center

• Once you arrive into Rochester at the train station, everything you will undoubtedly want to see is within a 5/10 minute walk. After crossing the road you will find yourself at the historic high street which runs both to your left and right with plenty of interesting little stores and cafes to explore. My personal favorite is a shabby little old-fashioned British sweet shop (or 'Candy' depending on where you are reading from!) called 'The Candy Bar'. Once you have stocked up on strange old style British sweets (flying saucers or Aniseed balls maybe?) head back down the high street and take a left at the old stone gatehouse and head towards the main attractions!

Rochester Castle

• Rochester castle is a great example of a 12th century Western European stone fortification, and one of the best preserved in the country. The castle itself is tall and requires a fair amount of climbing stone staircases, although in my opinion is totally worth it. Perhaps surprising to a lot of people when they first enter is that the wooden flooring that would have been there when the castle was actively being used is no longer present and as such you can easily see all the way to the top when inside. When you are there, don't forget to explore the lower levels where people used to 'relieve themselves' just meters from where the food was prepared (hygienic!).
• I think one of the best aspects of the castle is the beautiful panoramic view of the city as well as a fantastic chance to take a picture of the Cathedral that is located a stones throw away. One thing I would add however is that its best to read up on the history of the castle before you go, or scan the Wikipedia page while you are there, as the castle itself is a little light on explanations.
• If you decide to visit the castle in warmer seasons, I would totally recommend packing a lunch, some tea in a flask and a blanket as the courtyard is the ideal place for a picnic! Which also serves as a good way to save a little on buying food!​

Inside the keep at Rochester Castle

Rochester Cathedral

• After spending a while in the Castle, head over the road to the historic Rochester Cathedral. Entry to the cathedral is free and upon entering you will be given a free leaflet giving a brief history of the cathedral as well as its usage in modern Rochester. The cathedral benefits from its lower profile than others in the region such as Canterbury, Winchester and Westminster and gives visitors the chance to enjoy the building in a more tranquil setting.
• While at the Cathedral don't forget to check out the medieval crypt on the lower level, where you truly feel you have stepped back into another time. Also well worth checking out, and so easily missed, is the Wheel of Fortune wall painting, often described as one of the most well preserved wall paintings in the country from the period. 
• While the inside of the cathedral is undoubtedly beautiful, it is most picturesque from the outside. Give yourself plenty of time to wander the streets around the Cathedral to find the best shot of its towers dwarfing the houses below.

Rochester Cathedral

Whats Next?

• After we had visited both the Castle and the Cathedral as well as wandered the historic high street, we decided to stop off in a little pub across the road from both (towards the high street from the castle) called 'Ye Arrow'. The food is reasonably cheap and the portion sizes are very generous, but the best part about it has to be the fantastic views from its courtyard. We last visited Rochester on a hot summers day in July and nothing was more relaxing than enjoying a cold drink while admiring the cities huge medieval relics.​

Lunch at Ye Arrow, Rochester

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