10 Top Things to Do in Rochester, Kent

Rochester, Kent is a beautiful historic town brimming with English culture and tradition. The cobbled high street is jam packed with shops, cafes, museums and art galleries, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with delicious restaurant options. Rochester is located about 30 miles from London offering the perfect day trip since trains leave Kings Cross and Victoria a few times per hour.

Rochester is famously connected to Charles Dickens who spent his childhood here, and lots of places along the high street are named after characters from his novels and his life.

Here are 10 top things to do in Rochester, Kent

Rochester Cathedral

Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest in England, was founded in AD 604 and has been a place of worship for over 1400 years.

This beautiful cathedral proudly displays amazing architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. Inside the cathedral there’s a crypt and library you are able to explore, as well as a lovely cafe. Entrance is free but donations are strongly appreciated.

Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle stands proudly overlooking the River Medway next to the Cathedral and the high street. The castles most distinguishing feature is the 12th-century stone tower, which is one of the best preserved in England.

You can climb the ramparts to soak in the spectacular views of the Rochester, Rochester Cathedral and the local area. The castle gardens are perfect for wandering around, and also host various events throughout the year such as the Castle Concerts and Christmas markets.

Afternoon Tea at Cafe Nucleus Rochester, Kent

Café Nucleus Rochester is located in one of  the grandest buildings on the high street. When you enter, the beautifully designed high ceilings, British oak paneling and unique collection of art, takes your breath away and immediately takes you back in time.

The service is amazing, the food is outstanding and the restaurant itself is beautiful. You can pop in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, glass of wine, or enjoy a fine dining experience. There are so many delicious options – Afternoon tea is served in the boardroom daily from 15:30.

Restoration House 

Restoration House is an Elizabethan mansion located in the heart of Rochester just off the high street, and is believed to be the inspiration for Miss Havisham’s ‘Satis House’ in ‘Great Expectations’.

The garden is peaceful and filled with flowers, topiary hedges, fountains, and benches, allowing you to sit and take it all in. Private owners have beautifully restored the house and open it two days per week in the summer for visitors.

Dickens Festival

This festival takes place twice per year and celebrates the life of Charles Dickens who spent some of his childhood in Rochester, Kent. During these festivals residents dress up in costumes from that era, and the high street and castle grounds are filled with various stalls.

Baggins Book Bazaar

Rochester High Street is home to many quirky shops, such as Baggins Book Bazaar which is the “biggest second-hand bookshop in England”.

From the front you don’t realize it’s filled with over half-a-million books, all divided into specific topics. It’s fun to search for an unexpected treasure as you wander over creaky wooden floors, through the multi-level rooms, filled with old wooden bookcases brimming with books.

Sweet Expectations

Sweet Expectations is a traditional old sweet shop that instantly fills you with nostalgia when you walk through the door to see all of the sweets you used to have as a child. The old jars behind the counter are full of sweets such as drumstick lollipops, toffee bonbons, rosy apples and pear drops. There’s also a counter displaying their tasty handmade Kentish chocolate and fudge.

Six Poor Travelers House

This charming museum is tucked away in the middle of the High Street and is an excellent example of an almshouse from the middle ages. This house provided room and board for six poor travelers from the Tudor period until World War II. Dickens was inspired to write a short story called The Seven Poor Travelers after visiting. Today the house is a free museum with exhibits and a beautiful garden in the back.

The Cheese Room Botanicals

The Cheese Room serves an eclectic array of cheese and locally sourced foods and is located in the most beautiful old Victorian building. This cosy, warm, darkened, low beamed restaurant, immediately makes you feel at comfortable and at home.

We ordered a gorgeous cheese board with a great selection of Kentish cheeses and baked camembert, local meats, homemade breads and chutneys and their interestingly prepared vegetables. They also offer a fabulous wine list filled with local Kent wines, an amazing selection of gins, and lovely local ales on tap.

Deaf Cat Cafe

This cosy coffee shop is named after Charles Dickens’  deaf cat who sat on his desk while he wrote his novels. It’s easy to be taken back in time as you stare at the vintage teapots on the walls, listen to the melancholy music, and soak in the grand view of the Cathedral.

*** This article is sponsored but all opinions are my own***

Rochester, Kent is the perfect place to visit for the day, the next time you are in London. There are so many things to do and see, and I promise you’ll leave a little piece of your heart in Rochester like I have.