One among a string of forts constructed by Henry VIII on the south coast, a time out at Hurst Citadel with youngsters is a correct journey, proper from the journey to the historic web site, the place Charles I used to be additionally held prisoner.
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However not like a number of different castles within the UK, this isn’t only a piece of historical past frozen in time – when you can nonetheless discover the Tudor coronary heart of the fort, it has been used for defence proper from the Napoleonic Wars within the Nineteenth century to the First and Second World Wars.
All helped alongside by the truth that Hurst Citadel sits proper on the finish of a spit of land by the sting of the New Forest, looking throughout the Solent to the Isle of Wight, so the one strategy to get there’s both by ferry, or a stroll alongside the shingle which stretches for round two miles from the mainland.
As we had massive plans to go strolling elsewhere within the New Forest later within the day, we took the simple choice and boarded the little ferry which runs from Keyhaven out to Hurst Citadel – though I by no means say no to a ship experience, and it’s laborious to consider a greater strategy to begin a stunning sunny summer season’s day than cruising previous the wetlands throughout the water.
Though I knew there have been greater than 500 years of historical past to find at Hurst Citadel with youngsters, I wasn’t positive how lengthy it could truly maintain my daughter entertained. However in the long run, it stunned us each, with some enjoyable household actions, some superb views and a string of quirky shows within the previous fort buildings.
The unique fort was constructed between 1541 and 1543, with a 12-sided Tudor tower surrounded by a courtyard and three partitions, a part of Henry VIII’s plan to maintain England secure from potential invasion by the highly effective Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V after his divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.
Ultimately, the French invaded in 1545, barely additional alongside the Solent at Portsmouth – the battle the place the Mary Rose sank – earlier than making an attempt to take the Isle of Wight, and ultimately reducing their losses and heading again to France three days later.
There’s a fantastic set of knowledge boards within the Tudor tower supplying you with a potted historical past of Hurst Citadel, so it’s a fantastic place to start out – and journey ahead chronologically by time too, after all.
Throughout our go to in the summertime holidays, the tower was additionally arrange with a string of conventional video games, together with bean bag toss and large noughts and crosses, however there are additionally some brass rubbings to attempt of creatures which dwell round Hurst Citadel.
And a particular flag path to observe, in case your youngsters want persuading to discover each inch of the fort – by some means, regardless of wanting excessive, low and from finish to finish, we nonetheless managed to overlook one, however labored out the anagram anyway.
Take a look at my video of a day at Hurst Citadel with youngsters
When you’ve discover inside, head as much as the close by battlements for some spectacular views – there are a number of towers the place you may look out again in direction of Hampshire in addition to over to the Isle of Wight, which appeared extremely shut on a sunny day.
Shut sufficient, the truth is, to identify the Needles rock formations simply off the coast, in addition to a string of little crusing ships scudding alongside the water.
Hurst Citadel was famend as a horrible place to be posted, so bleak within the late 18th century that there was hardly a dry room. I can think about that within the winter, it’s nonetheless freezing, windy and really inhospitable, however on a sunny day, it’s fairly merely beautiful.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with youngsters, try my prime picks, in addition to extra concepts for household days out in Hampshire and my information to the Isle of Wight with youngsters
For round 250 years, not a lot modified at Hurst Citadel – and you’ll nonetheless discover loads of different historic particulars to identify, together with an enormous iron studded picket door, the previous portcullis and a really previous bathroom (principally only a gap inside a stone seat. Very Horrible Histories).
Alongside the best way, Charles I used to be briefly held prisoner right here after his time at Carisbrooke Citadel on the Isle of Wight, earlier than being taken to London for execution, whereas it was additionally used as a jail for a priest, convicted of selling or practising Catholicism, which was unlawful on the time.
However when warfare broke out with France in 1793, and particularly as soon as Napoleon got here to energy, Hurst Citadel turned an important a part of the coastal defences as soon as once more.
New gun batteries and heavier cannon have been added to the fort, with an even bigger garrison housed right here too, earlier than much more adjustments have been made within the mid-Nineteenth century due to the concern of invasion from (as soon as once more) France – this time emperor Napoleon III.
Two large wings have been added to both facet of the Tudor fort, designed to accommodate as many as 61 weapons, earlier than the twentieth century noticed new smaller fast firing weapons added when warfare broke out.
As you wander, you’ll discover completely different areas arrange as they’d have been used through the First and Second World Struggle, from communications in a nook of the Tudor Tower, to bunks for First World Struggle troops and even a theatre arrange through the Second World Struggle.
It looks like there are limitless corners to find; when you’ve climbed as much as the battlements and towers, you too can enterprise down into basements, by slender corridors and discover little previous rooms used for storage, together with munitions
As you go, there are a number of particular shows to look out for too, together with one set of twentieth century reveals close to the doorway.
Together with uniforms and different First and Second World Struggle artefacts, there are posters warning of the whole lot from sharing info to methods to recognise the distinction between German and British plane.
One of the vital uncommon areas consists of a number of rooms devoted to shows on lighthouses, together with loads of possibilities to get palms on.
There’s a bit mannequin of a lightship, the place you may make it gentle up, or uncover how particular prisms have been used for the glass in lighthouses which my daughter helpfully demonstrated with a proof of how they labored – due to her latest physics classes.
I couldn’t determine whether or not I used to be extra fascinated by the previous management field for Beachy Head lighthouse, or the uniform lighthouse keepers have been anticipated to put on – regardless of being some of the remoted jobs round, they nonetheless appeared to be in full uniform!
In the event you maintain your eyes open as you go, there’s all the time one thing else to find as you wander too, from large weapons to little decorations on cannons, an previous lighthouse now rusted into the previous partitions (its weathervane is close by within the grounds).
There’s even a memorial to all those that served at Hurst Citadel over the 5 centuries it operated as a army base.
The east wing of the fort (and elements of the west wing) is at the moment present process renovations too, so there’ll be much more to see in a number of years as nicely.
And when you’ve explored inside, you too can take a wander across the exterior the fort – stroll over to the gleamingly white lighthouse constructing, and even should you’re not strolling the entire again alongside the shingle path, amble a bit method alongthe spit of land connecting the fort to the mainland.
Ultimately, we spent round two hours right here, and will have stayed longer if the ferry hadn’t pulled up simply as I used to be planning lunch and our afternoon’s enjoyable!
Whereas we’ve ticked off fairly a number of of the perfect castles within the UK, this was positively some of the uncommon. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for historical past, superb views, some household enjoyable, or a little bit of an journey to get there, there’s one thing for everybody at Hurst Citadel with youngsters.
Visiting Hurst Citadel with youngsters: Must know
There are solely two methods to get to Hurst Citadel, by way of the little ferry from Keyhaven or on foot – it isn’t potential to drive there.
The ferry to Hurst Citadel
It pays to get there early in summer season as the primary boat of the day was a small one (12 passengers max) however when it stuffed up, we truly set off earlier than the official departure time and ended up attending to the fort because it opened at 10am.
By the point we left at lunchtime, the larger 94-seat ferry was operating with more room for heaps extra passengers, though it will probably solely be used at excessive tide. It takes round 20 minutes every method and you should buy return tickets. The ferry dock is just a few minutes from a public automobile park at Keyhaven (you should utilize the RingGo app to pay, though information is restricted) – postcode SO41 0TP.
Ferries run from April 1 to November 2. The primary ferry leaves formally at 10am, they usually run each 20-Half-hour all through the day, with the ultimate ferry at 5.30pm (4pm from October 25-November 2), though occasions can fluctuate relying on the climate and the tide, in addition to how full the ferry is.
You may’t prebook tickets, simply purchase them on board (there’s a card machine) or on the fort for a return journey. They’re dog-friendly (as is Hurst Citadel itself) and accessible.
Strolling to Hurst Citadel with youngsters
The stroll to Hurst Citadel is round 1.5-2 miles, however it’s all alongside shingle which might be laborious work, so do put on correct sneakers and permit loads of time – permit no less than 40 minutes, and keep in mind that if it’s windy, it’s going to be gradual going.
You may scamble all the way down to barely extra protected paths by the wetlands for a few of it, and the views are implausible. Whereas I wouldn’t fancy doing it with a toddler (and also you couldn’t simply get a typical buggy alongside the trail), it’s positively potential with older youngsters.
The closest automobile park is at Milford-on-Sea – there are a pair by the seafront, though Sturt Pond and Hurst Highway East automobile park shaves round 5 minutes off your stroll vs Hurst Highway, plus some free parking on the roadside.
In the event you solely wish to stroll a technique, it makes most sense to park right here, stroll over the shingle spit then get the ferry again, with round a 30-minute stroll from the ferry dock again to the automobile park in Milford on Sea. It doesn’t actually save a lot time/effort however is one strategy to attempt each.
How lengthy to spend at Hurst Citadel
The one restrict in your time is the ferry timetable (except you’re strolling) – and Hurst Citadel recommends households permit round 4 to 5 hours.
Personally, I’d say that’s in all probability greater than you want, though it’s simple to fill longer in order for you. Round two hours provides loads of time to see the whole lot, or permit a bit longer should you’re additionally stopping for lunch.
Because the ferry journey takes one other 45-60 minutes, and the stroll each methods takes round 90 minutes, you do want no less than three should you’re hoping to discover correctly.
Tickets to Hurst Citadel
Hurst Citadel is an English Heritage property, so it’s free to members (the ferry remains to be paid, even if you’re a member). You may’t purchase membership on the web site, so that you’ll have to have it upfront.
The location itself is operated by Hurst Marine, so should you’re shopping for tickets, you may prebook these by their web site or purchase them on arrival.
We prebooked and I made positive I had a screengrab of the QR code as I wasn’t positive how a lot information there’d be given the fort’s location, however I don’t assume you could – you may pay by money and card on arrival.
The fort is open from April 1 to November 2, from 10am to five.30pm (aside from October 25-November 2, when it closes at 4pm). Final entry is Half-hour earlier than closing, and the fort is closed fully from November 3- March 31.
Amenities at Hurst Citadel
There are bathrooms contained in the fort (just for guests) and a small cafe simply exterior the fort entrance, with picnic benches inside and out of doors.
There isn’t any operating ingesting water on the fort (the water for laundry palms within the bathrooms is salt water) so that you do have to deliver loads or be ready to purchase it.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with youngsters, try my prime picks, in addition to extra concepts for household days out in Hampshire and my information to the Isle of Wight with youngsters
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. All opinions on visiting Hurst Citadel with youngsters are my very own
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
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