Travelling Information
Tickets will not be available at the gates on the day of the event - only those who have applied for and received event tickets will gain entry. With the exception of Blue Badge holders, there is NO PARKING at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on the event day. There will be two well signposted Park and Ride sites, which will operate FREE OF CHARGE. We recommend that you let the public transport providers take the strain!
Armed Forces Day Travelling Information
The following information is very important and has been written to make your visit to the Armed Forces Day National Event in The Historic Dockyard Chatham as easy and enjoyable as possible. Please read the following information to ensure that you and all friends or family travelling separately are fully aware of all the arrangements that have been put in place.
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN:
Chatham main line railway station has regular services from London and the Kent Coast. The railway station has a bus interchange outside with regular services to The Historic Dockyard. Ask for the Pembroke Gate bus stop.
South Eastern Trains offer a GroupSave tariff for 4 or more adults travelling together. For details of this offer visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk|
For local bus information visit traveline.org.uk or call 0871-200 2233
Arriva Southern Counties is offering free travel from Chatham Station to The Historic Dockyard to all serving personnel and Veterans with ID.
ARRIVAL IN CHATHAM BY CAR: ALL public car parking is located at two Park & Ride facilities that will operate FREE OF CHARGE - one at Chattenden Barracks and one at the Great Lines. These will be clearly signed from M2 J1 (Signed for A289/Medway Tunnel) and M2 J4 (Signed for Gillingham). Vehicles from the M20 should exit at J6 and transfer via Bluebell Hill to the M2 at J3 and thence to J1 or J4 of the M2. DO NOT attempt to drive through Chatham town centre or to park in the general vicinity of The Historic Dockyard. Road access to the Dockyard from Chatham will be closed to traffic with the exception of public transport services. The Park & Ride sites will open for parking at 8.45am. First buses depart at 9.10am. The Historic Dockyard Gates open at 9.30am. The Park and Ride sites and buses will remain in operation until after the end of the Beating Retreat.
BLUE BADGE PARKING: This will be located at The Historic Dockyard and signed from Medway Tunnel/A289 and Maritime Way. Blue Badges MUST be clearly displayed to gain access.
DAYTIME TICKETS: All visitors to this event MUST have been issued with their event wristbands which are the event tickets for the day. Please ensure you are already wearing your wristband on arrival at The Historic Dockyard entry points to speed your entry into the event.
CHILD VISITORS: Children under the age of sixteen will only be admitted if accompanied by a responsible adult and must remain in the care of an adult for the duration of their visit.
BEATING RETREAT: This is a separately ticketed event commencing at 6.00pm. Beating Retreat tickets will give the holder access into The Historic Dockyard from 5.00pm EXCEPT in the case of persons who also hold a daytime ticket who may enter The Historic Dockyard from 9.30am onwards.
EVENT ENTRY POINTS:
The principal point of entry at which all Park & Ride services will stop is at the Medway Tunnel/Pembroke end of The Historic Dockyard. This gate will open at 9.30 and will remain open for the duration of the event.
‘Main Gate’ in Dock Road Chatham will be open from 9.30am until 10.30am when it will be closed to enable the Armed Forces Parade to enter the Dockyard. Main Gate will then remain closed for the duration of the Drumhead Service and will re-open at midday.
SECURITY: On entering the event area you may be required to submit any bags or rucksacks for a search. Any searches will be conducted on a random basis by trained staff.