Lighthouse visitor centres

Six of our lighthouses are open to the public at certain times of the year

Portland Bill is open on selected dates, please check their page for further information.

Southwold Lighthouse is also open on selected dates. Tours are being offered by Adnams - please see their page below for further details and booking information.

South Stack Lighthouse, Longstone Lighthouse, Start Point Lighthouse and Flamborough Lighthouse are now closed until 2025. Please see their individual pages below for further information.

Visit one of the six lighthouses that we open to the public and experience for yourselves the unique life and the often spectacular locations that lighthouse keepers enjoyed. Each lighthouse has an informative guided tour, complete with panoramic views from the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse.

As each lighthouse is an operational aid to navigation performing a vital safety function for the mariner, there are a few restrictions that apply, so to find out more please read the Health and Safety Guidelines to make sure that you get the best out of your visit! If you have any questions about opening hours or admission rates, please remember to contact the lighthouse in advance.

We hope you enjoy your visit!

OUr visitor centres

Portland Bill Lighthouse visitor centre

The former lighthouse keepers' dwellings feature fun and informative maritime displays and interactives

Flamborough Head Lighthouse visitor centre


Following a successful re-engineering and modernisation project, we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors back to Flamborough Lighthouse. New LED lanterns have been installed and the redundant optic is located at the bottom of the lighthouse on display for all to enjoy.

South Stack Lighthouse visitor centre

South Stack Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1809, marking a tiny islet off Anglesey at the north west tip of Wales. Newly reopened for 2017

Southwold Lighthouse visitor centre

Tours of Southwold Lighthouse are offered by Adnams.

Longstone Lighthouse visitor centre

Sail out to this isolated lighthouse in the rugged Farne Islands, the setting for Grace Darling's famous heroics in 1838

Start Point Lighthouse visitor centre

Situated on one of the most exposed peninsulas on the English Coast, on the south side of Start Bay between Kingsbridge and Dartmouth

General information and safety for lighthouse visitors

Oct 2022

Health & Safety

There are a few rules to ensure you have a safe visit. These include:

  • wear sensible footwear (e.g. not flip flops)
  • all visitors (including children) must be able to ascend and descend the stairs unaided

Please read the Health and Safety guidelines before you set off.