Built in 1590, Eastgate House is a Grade I listed 16th-Century townhouse with a  fascinating past. Its history includes being the private home of five generations of the Buck family,  as well as a girls' boarding house,  public library and a museum. The venue was an inspiration to author Charles Dickens, featuring in The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Visit and learn about the people whose lives have been part of its past, and explore a maze of beautiful rooms and displays telling their stories. It hosts seasonal events, talks, shows, family trails, storytelling, and lots more.
The gardens in Eastgate House are filled with seasonal flowers and are home to Charles Dickens’s Swiss Chalet, known as his study, which is open to the public.

Opening Hours
Weekends and Bank Holidays
10am to 5pm
Last entry 4.15pm
5th to 20th  April and 18th to 26th October and December 2025
Wednesday to Sunday
10am-5pm
Last admission 4.15pm.

Price
Adult: £7
Child - 5 to 17 years: £3.50
Child under 5 years: Free with a paying adult
Concession: £5
Family - 2 adults + 2 children: £17.10
English Heritage Member: 20% discount.

Accessibility
Lift available to get to the first and second floors. Not all rooms are wheelchair-friendly due to narrow door frames.

Picture Credit: © Visit Medway, Medway Council.

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