Gillingham can be explored through its history on and by the water, as well as its varied landscapes. The Medway Queen and her crew made seven return crossings of the English Channel during Operation Dynamo in May and June 1940. Historic ships can be viewed by the public from the quayside at Gillingham Pier; visitors can also take a guided tour aboard the Medway Queen. This offers two distinct ways to visit: viewing the ship from the shore and taking a tour on board. The ship has a ramp suitable for access by people with disabilities. As visitor information and accessibility arrangements can change, check the latest details about tours and the ramp before your visit.

Maritime and Military History

The Royal Engineers Museum is the largest military museum in Kent. The Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham takes the historical perspective outdoors: it is a former military landscape associated with the Field of Fire and the Chatham Lines. These are three distinct cultural points of interest: the Medway Queen as an individual ship with a role in Operation Dynamo, the museum as a military history landmark, and the park as a former military landscape. Visitors choosing Gillingham primarily for its history can thus distinguish between a ship, a museum and a historic landscape.

The routes are also part of the Great Lines Heritage Park’s character. Direct routes for cyclists and walkers connect Chatham, Fort Amherst, Brompton, Gillingham and Medway Hospital. The park is therefore linked not only to a former military landscape, but also to specific routes on foot and by bike. The places named provide clear points of reference along the routes and help visitors see the park as a distinct stop with a cultural and historical focus, as well as opportunities for active recreation.

Landscape and Outdoor Activities

Riverside Country Park offers a different focus. It covers 100 hectares at the mouth of the Medway and includes Motney Hill and the local nature reserve at Berengrave. Mudflats, salt marshes, ponds, reed beds, grassland and scrub provide habitats for wildlife. The range extends from mudflats and waterside areas to grassland and scrub. The park offers opportunities for walking, running and cycling. In contrast to Great Lines Heritage Park, the focus here is on diverse habitats and outdoor activities; Great Lines is defined by its former military landscape and routes connecting named places.

Market and Local History

Gillingham has a market that takes place twice a week. As this visitor information can change, check the current market days before your visit. Another connection to the town’s history dates back to the Elizabethan era: Gillingham is the birthplace of the seafarer William Adams. The market and Adams appeal to different interests—the market offers a regular event to consider when planning a visit, while Adams connects the town to a well-known seafarer. Together with the maritime and military themes and the two parks, they offer a range of clearly distinct focuses for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Chattenden, Allhallows, Strood, Rochester, Isle of Grain, High Halstow, Chatham.

Go to the main travel overview: Medway.