Newhaven Fort, Wave Leisure Trust

Newhaven

At Newhaven Fort there's lots to explore including vast, echoing tunnels built into the chalk cliffs, and the ramparts found in the 10 acre-site. There’s also an on-site military museum that includes a recreated Air Raid shelter and an outdoor playground. 

Wave Leisure Trust is a charitable not-for-profit Trust working to inspire active lifestyles through providing high quality, affordable and accessible health and fitness facilities and activities for our community.

Accessibility

Mobility and/or building

• Wheel Chair Accessible venue
• Wheel Chair Accessible Entrance

• The Fort was built in the 18th century so physical access is limited in some areas
• The exhibition rooms all have ramps, are wheelchair accessible and are all on one level
• The shop and cafe are wheelchair accessible
• The tunnels and ramparts are not wheelchair accessible
• The Caponier has 72 stairs to the bottom
• The South of the Fort is up a hill including the Grand Magazine (wheelchair access from the second entrance) and the ramparts

Disabled Parking & Drop-off

• Designated Disabled Parking

• There are 2 allocated accessible car parking bays in the moat (just outside the main entrance).
• Visitors should follow the signs up Fort Rise rather than following signs to the general car park.
• Drop off and pick up access into the fort is immediately outside the entrance tunnel – please call ahead for assistance.
• There is a slope up and down to enter from both the main car park (fairly steep 30 metre slope downwards)
• The accessible bays (more gentle slope upwards) with no rails and the entrance for all is up a slope through a wide high tunnel (including the drop off point)

Toileting/Changing

• Accessible Toilets
• Grab/Drop Down Rails
• Baby Changing Facilities

• The accessible toilet is in the Tea Room
• Baby changing table is in the accessible toilet

The introductory film can be played with subtitles. Please speak to a member of staff at the entrance if you would like these switched on.

Guide Dogs

• Guide Dogs Welcome

The Unexpected

• There are flashing lights
• There can be sudden loud noise
• We have characters in costumes

• When you buy your tickets ask for a special i-go map which highlights the exhibition rooms that are particularly noisy/dark/have flashing lights.
• During special events there can be gunfire, see website or call for more information
• There can be flashing lights in the air raid shelter (not strobe lighting)
• The 1st World War room entrance near the Caponier is dark - Please use the other entrance if you wish to avoid this
• There can be people in costume on special event days, normally heads aren't covered. Halloween costumes are used. Please see website or phone to ask for more information

Offers & Events

Location

Fort Road
Newhaven, BN9 9DS

This page was last updated on 10 Jan 2023