Every year the Western Heights Preservation Society (WHPS) hosts an open weekend where Drop Redoubt Fort and the Grand Shaft are open to the public and you can explore these incredible spaces.
It is an ideal opportunity to explore the fort and learn about life as it may have been in Napoleonic times with re-enactments, period costumes, replica cannons and other displays.
- Admission: adults £5, children free (cash only)
- No booking required - just come along
- Open 10am to 4pm on each day (fort closes at 5pm).
Getting here
- Free parking is provided for the open weekend. Refer to the event details for location. Directions are available from the fort to nearby parking where provided
- If you are travelling to Dover by train or bus, it is approximately a 25 minute walk to the Drop Redoubt, but it is uphill all of the way.
Facilities
There are no toilet facilities inside the Drop Redoubt, but there will be some Portaloos outside. Inevitably, though, this does mean that there will sometimes be a queue to use them.
On site café (cash only) selling hot and cold drinks, cakes, savouries.
Please note
- Smoking They kindly ask visitors not to smoke in the Drop Redoubt or Grand Shaft for the H&S of other visitors and to protect the monument from damage.
- Dogs on leads are welcome, but there will be frequent gun fire which may cause distress.
- Young children may also find the noise of gunfire upsetting - ear defenders will be available for everyone who wants them.
- Access into the Redoubt is via a tunnel with a very low entrance and a flight of 76 steps. There are several other long staircases that visitors will have to negotiate when inside. Unfortunately, this means that access may not be suitable for everyone.
- The house on the corner of Drop Redoubt Road, its driveway, garden and lawns are private property - please respect the owners right to privacy and keep away from the property and the grass embankment in front of it.
-
Disability access They regret that due to the nature of the site and the access difficulties the Drop Redoubt is not suitable for wheelchair access or visitors with limited mobility. Access to the ditches is through a small tunnel with limited headroom for approx. 3-4 feet. There are steps into the fort and access to the vast majority of the fort requires navigating at least 70 steps.
The grand shaft is wheelchair friendly at the lower entrance on Snargate Street where good views up the central light well are available but the upper entrance requires the navigation of a significant number of steep steps.