Calshot Castle
Calshot Castle
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This historic castle was built in 1539 by Henry VIII to protect the important ports of Portsmouth and Southampton.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.0
94 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
54
Average
13
Poor
3
Terrible
2
nnmercman
Camberley, UK14,445 contributions
Jun 2020
Situated at the end of Calshot Spit where there was once an important RAF seaplane base until it closed in the early 60s. Castle’s managed by English Heritage and free entrance to members. To be honest it looks a bit sorry from the outside but inside there’s an interesting display on first floor of a restored early 20th century barrack room layout plus great views across entrance to Southampton Water and Solent to Isle of Wight (just don’t look back towards carbuncle of Fawley Refinery!). Don’t be put off by the ANPR camera operated vehicle barrier as you can enter and pay on exit.
Written 16 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bishop-Jones
Bracknell, UK264 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Lovely castle. Small, can be done in maybe an hour and a half without kids. Nice activities for children. Very informative information everywhere with historic pictures. Gorgeous views. Lovely little gift shop.
Written 28 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RobP84
Dibden Purlieu, UK39 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
Well worth a trip to visit the castle. It is in a stunning location with great views across the Solent to Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. The activity centre at Calshot is also definitely a must do: skiing, climbing and a whole host of watersports right on the doorstep of Southampton!
Written 27 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl G
Romford55 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Drove quite a long way and wished we had not bothered. Feel the sight could have been better organised. Maybe with more helpful staff. For such a historical place I would have expected more from English heritage.
Written 24 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cheryl G
I'm sorry you were disappointed by your visit, if you have any specific comments about your experience regarding our staff or the Castle itself, please contact calshot.ac@hants.gov.uk and mark your e-mail for the attention of the Calshot Castle manager.
Kind regards
Written 28 June 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hilda A
Bransgore, UK86 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
Exciting place to wander right on the water's edge of the Solent really interesting especially for sea plane buffs but plenty of historic features too dating way back. Small amount of parking nearby . Access not that easy to find , the phrase keep going till you run out of road comes to mind!
Written 15 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily
London, UK508 contributions
Aug 2020
Pleasant visit. Not as much to see as many other castles, but still worth the visit. Very quiet, staff were very helpful.
Written 9 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacqueline H
Rugby, UK223 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Henry VIII had this (and several more like it) built to deter the Spaniards and it seems to have worked well enough. I'm inclined to think that the defence of the realm was one of the few things that are on the plus side of a balance sheet for him - take a trip into the basement of the fort and the other things done in Tudor times put him distinctly 'in the red' - he was a monster, and I'm not even Catholic! It's amazing that the building has stood the test of time so well, so three stars for the architect and builders whoever they may have been. The more recent history of the place as a seaplane training base came as a surprise to me, I am old enough to remember seaplanes, but it didn't occur to me that flying them was different from flying anything else with wings. The lassie on reception duty that day was a 'visit in her own right' an so we were there some time, but it isn't the most vibrant place to spend an hour or so, but it wasn't difficult to imagine it as it was either in Tudor times or the wartime period of 1939-45 and up to its closure in the 1960's.
As it is English Heritage it is free to members but there is a small fee for non members
As it is English Heritage it is free to members but there is a small fee for non members
Written 30 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A P
Totton, UK280 contributions
then this is for you. You are right on the edge of the solent with views of the Isle of Wight watching boats galore. The Castel gives amazing views
Written 25 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew H
Southampton, UK22 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Beautiful and underrated castle definitely worth a visit if you are nearby, views on the roof were stunning and it was very well maintained
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albia-Newton
Evanton, UK4,893 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
Run by Hampshire Council for English Heritage
An interesting historical site with a number of small displays on the utilisation of the castle over the years
Originally built by Henry 8 but used up until the end of WW2
An interesting historical site with a number of small displays on the utilisation of the castle over the years
Originally built by Henry 8 but used up until the end of WW2
Written 12 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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