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Historic Dockyard Chatham set to reopen to visitors

15:59, 15 July 2020

updated: 06:14, 22 July 2020

The Chatham Historic Dockyard will reopen to visitors this weekend and is offering reduced entry for a limited time.

The dockyard, which has been closed since March like many other attractions across Kent and Medway, is set to open its doors again on Saturday, July 25.

Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham Historic Dockyard

In a statement the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust which runs the site said: "Whilst the government took the decision to allow tourism businesses to reopen from the start of July, the trust has taken careful steps to ensure the multi-use site can be operated within the current safety guidelines not just for visitors but its resident population and commercial tenants.

"With safety the utmost priority, a number of new interventions have been implemented across the site, including the requirement for all visitors to book advance tickets and arrival times online."

Some experiences, including HMS Cavalier and HM Submarine Ocelot will not open at this time and the popular Call the Midwife Official Location Tours won't begin again until Saturday, August 1.

Chatham Historic Dockyard's Festival of Steam and Transport was not able to go ahead during lockdown
Chatham Historic Dockyard's Festival of Steam and Transport was not able to go ahead during lockdown

To celebrate the reopening after four months of closure, it has also announced special reduced ticket prices for a limited period. An adult annual ticket is £18.70 (a saving of £6) and a family ticket £49.50 (a saving of £16.50).

But as part of managers' review of its operations in light of the coronavirus outbreak, currently the Salute to the 40’s event, which is due to take place in September, will not be going ahead this year.

Organisers have taken the difficult decision to postpone Salute to the 40s to next year Picture: Phil Lee
Organisers have taken the difficult decision to postpone Salute to the 40s to next year Picture: Phil Lee

Ticket holders have the option to roll their ticket forward to 2021, make a charitable donation to the trust or receive a full refund.

For further information about visiting go to thedockyard.co.uk

During the closure period the trust had received some funding to cope with financial losses. Rope making was able to start up again, and an exhibition on the history of tattoos ran virtually.

For more days out ideas across Kent click here.

Read about the history of the dockyard here.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
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