Friends of Dover Castle - A Registered Charity

Established in 1986, the Friends of Dover Castle is a registered charity dedicated to bridging the gap between England’s grandest fortress and our local community.

Through vital fundraising, historical preservation, and exclusive local events, we ensure Dover Castle’s rich heritage thrives for generations to come.

- Exclusive Access: Unlock member-only “behind-the-scenes” tours and expert historical lectures.
- Tangible Impact: Every penny raised directly funds critical castle enhancement and restoration projects.
- Local Community: Join a passionate network of volunteers, historians, and neighbours.

👉 Join the Friends Today

Become a Member

Unlock Exclusive Access to the UK’s Largest Castle

Becoming a member is incredibly easy and offers exceptional value. By joining today, you directly fund vital community and charity goals while gaining a truly unique gateway to England’s grandest fortress.

🚀 Coming Very Soon: Online application with instant digital activation—stay tuned for our upcoming launch!
📮 Join Today via Post: Right now, you can quickly download, print, and mail your membership form to us to get started.

👉 CLAIM YOUR MEMBERSHIP VALUE TODAY

Membership options

Some of our Membership Benefits…

Year-round entry to Dover Castle for you and your family

Exclusive Access Tours to areas English Heritage cannot take you

Historical Artefact Viewings exclusively for Members

When do we meet?

The Friends of Dover Castle committee, meet on a regular basis at the Dover Castle Keep Office – normally on the first Tuesday of every month, changes to this will appear below.

Each month will often have a theme and all members are welcome to attend, all we ask is you let us know in advance, as we are limited to how many we can accommodate.

You must have your attendance confirmed before attending. Email your attendance request to: chairman@dover-castle-friends.org

There is normally a short agenda to discuss urgent matters, followed by discussions regarding events, tours, projects and fundraising ideas – of which we are always open to your suggestions!

Meeting Dates for the remaining part of 2026

Tuesday 4th August
Tuesday 1st September
Tuesday 6th October
Tuesday 3rd November
Tuesday 1st December

Postcards Project

Postcards Project Reviewed by our Chairman - Graham Hutchison About 4 or 5 years ago I was approached by Dr Kathryn Bedford, Curator at Dover Castle to see if we could support the Castle in acquiring a collection of postcards which had been assembled by Pat...

Through the Ages

Introducing the 'Through the Ages' Project Get ready to unlock the secrets of the past! We're thrilled to launch the 'Through the Ages' Project, a bold initiative that brings our Castle's rich history to life. From the Roman era to the present day, this ambitious...

Defibrillator Project

There are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in the UK, but less than one in ten people survive. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation after a cardiac arrest can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent. Quick CPR and defibrillation...

WHAT OUR VISITORS SAY…

"My wife and and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your castle and the British Army Home Guard exhibits were the highlight of our day "

Bud Anderson, Alabama USA

"Lovely afternoon visiting the Kitchen Garden, the Friends have done a wonderful job restoring it, loved the WLA outfits very fetching !

Iris Partridge, Briddlington

"Beautiful garden so English and thank you to the lovely gentleman in uniform who explained the various army items on show, our grandson was amazed, keep up the good work"

Lillian Westwood, New Hampshire US

"First time visiting this year and the garden already looks beautiful and really excited to see how it blooms throughout the year. The team were so friendly and passionate about this beautiful part of the castle....wonderful to see"

Natasha, Dover

"Beautiful gardens so wonderful to see, wonderful and knowledgeable staff"

Courtney, Folkestone

"First time visiting Dover and this garden was so beautiful"

Ansley & Phillip, Atlanta, GA, USA

"Amazing everything, thanks"

Kate, Nadia, Mar, Khrysd, Ukraine

"Love this ! "

Emilia, Slovakia

The latest from our blog

Our charity is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Dover Castle, one of England’s most iconic landmarks.

Here, you’ll and updates on our projects, events, and ways to get involved in supporting the largest castle in Great Britain for future generations.

Our Blog