Fort Henry National Historic Site

A very well maintained national historic site to learn about Canadian history and its military past. We spent around a couple of hours exploring the fort thoroughly. There are several restaurants, cafés, and a collectibles shop inside the fort. Along with the historic structures, everyday items from the past, and specific sections dedicated to different purposes, visitors can also enjoy live performances and drills. They’re informative and interesting to experience. Though we didn’t opt for it, one can also sign up for archery and rifle classes, which look very interesting. Even though it was a public holiday, finding a parking spot wasn’t an issue for us. And the views from the top are fantastic too!

This is one of the most mesmerizing experiences I have seen so far!! The fort is alive, the staff are so friendly, trained, and amazing to create such an immersive experience!! It feels like you are back in time and enjoy every single minute!! Lots of activities throughout the day for everyone to enjoy, we had the chance to see the canon being fired wow!! The lids had a blast especially with the Royal Army enrollment activity, we were all laughing and having a wonderful time!!

There is plenty to see and do at this National Historic Site. There are many different demonstrations of weaponry and parade drill scheduled at this fort that was initially built during the War of 1812. The views from the fort are great and the reinactors are talented and enthusiastic. There is also a ghost tour....if you dare.

This was first time back at Fort Henry since I was a kid back in 1996. The fort still looks the same. This was also my family’s first time visiting. We did the guided tour & the guide was a young lady who I can’t remember her name was so very knowledgeable, took time explaining everything in simple terms for the kids to understand. Only downside was the group was very large so it was a bit hard to hear her voice & see some of the places inside the fort. The canon firing was awesome to see & so was the other demonstrations & the final drum parade was amazing. One other thing the guide or the ticket agent didn’t mention was to stay off the canons so don’t climb on them or you will get yelled at by the staff as it happened to a few people.

Interesting place to visit if you like forts and military stuff. Recommendation... don't go on a hot day as there is no shade. Also if you have mobility issues, strollers or small children you may be limited to the ground level areas due to steep staircases to ascend to the upper levels or descend to the lower areas of the fort.

Fabulous place to head up to watch the sunset. We went on the haunted walk at night which was relatively cool except we had a young person as part of the tour maybe 10 or 11 years old who didn't follow any of the rules repeatedly made noise and Flash their flashlight which really ruined the ambience and the parents weren't doing much about it. Lots of cool spiders though!

An absolutely wonderful experience at the fort. Our guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic in his portrayal of a private from the time period. He provided a great experience and I'd recommend the tour to everyone.

Fort Henry was such a cool experience! The historic atmosphere, the costumed guides, and the live demonstrations (like the cannon firing and marching) really brought history to life. Great views over the lake and Kingston too. It’s fun for both adults and kids – especially the museum section and the tunnels. Totally worth the visit if you're anywhere near Kingston!

I go here every time I visit Kingston. Everything about this is awesome and recently the Tattoo was a ton of fun watching different bands play different songs. Would recommend to anyone going to Kingston for the first time.

Went there early on Saturday in Autumn and the place was pretty empty - plenty of parking and it was only us and another couple on the guided tour. So much history packed inside and the tour didn't bore me for a second in those 50 minutes. So far I've been to the citadel in Halifax, Quebec and now Kingston. Love all of them.

A must see while visiting Kingston Ontario. A lot of history to be learned. Very friendly city :)

Fantastic colonial era fort with fantastic programming. We very much enjoyed the tour of this British colonial era (circa 1867) fort. The tour guide did a wonderful job of answering questions and leading our large group through the exhibits. It also seems like the fort puts on great programming for kids and families, with Victorian school lessons and interactive exhibits. All the staff were friendly and engaging and seemed to be enjoying themselves. We will definitely come again if we are back in this area!

This place is awesome! Driving from Montreal to Toronto, we made a stop at Fort Henry to break up the trip.....so glad we did. My kids absolutely loved it. If you have older kids in the teens, you can pay an extra $20 and they can fire a lee-enfield Snider Rifle (at least that's what my son said it's called) They got to wear a Red Coat while firing three shots. It was the highlight of their day. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, full of smiles and many stayed in character, which made it so fun. There is a parade at 3pm, we watched from the balcony instead of the bleachers and I think it was the best spot. The parade does seem a bit drawn out as they check the soldiers uniforms but the ending is great. Make sure to have your cameras recording. We arrived on a Monday at around 2:45pm and the school groups seemed to be leaving, so it wasn't crowded and was just perfect. I'd ad the shops were a bit of a let down for my boys. They would have loved plastic soldiers or tanks or cannon toys to buy. I love postcards and couldn't find any. They could make a mint if they sold costumes and toys.

This was a beautiful place was fields full of white and purple short wildflowers until they mowed them for no reason. The view from the fort is nice but the inside of the Fort feels like a rundown mall. I get what they are going for but it is not working. The seating and tables at the fort wall in the center is just right for enjoying a treat from one of the shops. Going inside the fort is interesting however not worth the 20 plus for adults and 13 plus for children entrance fee. The band was neat. Kids had fun but were quickly bored (kids love history, forts, and war which whole reason we came). Not worth to go out of your way to visit. Nice place for a snack if you are in the area.

Some friends and I went to Fort Henry specifically for Fort Fright and it was very fun! I wasn't sure what to expect going in but the actors were always in character and fantastic. The decor was very well done and it was worth the money to go in. I know some people who go every year as a tradition with their friends and I see why. I liked how it appealed to almost all the senses. There were lots of things of texture (but don't touch the props or actors!), to see, and to hear. The only way that I think this could be better was if there were more live actors to scare you. Also, try to distance yourself from the people ahead of you because they'll ruin the surprises for you! There are lots of walls to hide behind if you want to scare your friends behind you (;

I'm writing this specifically about Lumina Borealis which is only January and the first week of February. It is a fantastic exhibition that I highly recommend! Freezing cold but the features are wonderful!

I love Forts! Even though Fort Henry was specifically designed to keep Americans out, I still love it. They have barracks and guns and cannons and moats and drawbridges. What's not to love?

Fort Henry is an UNESCO heritage site - a really neat site to see. Walk over the bridge from Kingston waterfront for about 4 miles or drive over and the fort will be standing on top of the hill providing a gorgeous vintage point for Kingston and the St. Lawrence river. The site itself is a museum and its fun because the people who works there role played as those who fought in the war for the Britain side and they 'try' very hard to keep Americans out. The tour was awesome, free with admission and happens frequently. In one hour, we got to know the lives of being a soldier in the barracks and got a taste of what the life is like for the superior officers, as well as health of historical information about the fort itself. There are also a lot of reenactment demonstrations like the drum parade, rifle firing and canon firing. For some extra $$, you can fire a vintage rifle (with dummy rounds of course) yourself. The fort itself is smaller than I anticipated but spending a solid two or three hours there is nice, there is a place to have lunch while overlooking the beautiful Kingston skyline. It is also a rare tourist spot that's not buzzling with tourists. There are very few people even on weekends, a relaxing tourist spot! Our admission also came with a free day at Upper Canada village, located between Kingston and Montreal, for those who are road tripping, this is a perfect opportunity to hit two historical sights in one go.

Confession: I used to HATE Fort Henry as a child. How is this possible? Those red jackets. When school kids take tours of the fort, they have to dress in uniform, which generally means wearing the red jackets on an unusually warm spring day. Torture! Since growing up, however, I've learned to appreciate the fort a lot more. So much history, interesting architecture, and old-timey charm. Oh, and I fully intend to take my kid sledding down the giant hill, if we ever visit when there is snow on the ground. If you didn't grow up in Kingston (or, heck, even if you did), Fort Henry is a very worthwhile, fun, and educational way to spend a day. I've heard awesome things about the Sunset Ceremony too, although I have not seen this myself.

I had a great time at the museum! Lot of history and thing to learn here. They have a lot of fun activities and events that are great for the whole family. For an extra 20 you can fire off 3 blanks off an authentic snider-enfield while wearing a British red coat. They also have a bistro on site with a bunch of little boutiques.

I love the twist to Old Fort Henry and never miss visiting Fort Fright. It is put on in the month of October and they do an amazing transformation and bring a creepy Hallowe'en element to a building old with ghost stories.

Pros: Nice venue inside for wedding reception and had a nice grass area outside for the wedding ceremony. Service was very good and staff was nice/attentive. I would rate this place as 9/10 for service and venue. Cons: Decor and table settings was basic. It was a bit crowded inside and not much room to dance or move around as the hall inside is quiet small. The wedding I went in May had around 15-20 tables total. The food had small portions and we felt there was not enough food at the wedding we went to. The salad was very good, steak/salmon was well cooked but it got ruined by the bad sauce that they used. It made the salmon/steak taste really weird. The dessert was ok...Overall I would give this place 6 to 7 out of 10 for food. I heard the alcohol packages here are really pricey but the food package is cheap at only $50-60/plate. So best to bring in your own alcohol if you can. The wedding we went to had cash bar which kinda sucks as you had to pay $6 per drinks (pricey). Better to bring your own wine & beer so the guests can drink more and don't have to pay since they are already coming to your wedding and bringing gifts.

Take a step back in time... Informative and hands-on! Great time for visitors of all ages and plenty of photo ops. You get to tour an old Fort that has been restored. It's near the Royal Canadian Military Academy, and students work there as "soldiers" and dress up as people who used to live in the 1800s. They offer a tour of the Fort, don't miss the military exercises in the main square. The soldiers practice walking in sync and other drills. There is also a rifle shooting demonstration...don't worry, they fire blanks. The soldier is very knowledgeable in explaining every rifle that was used to fight off the enemy. DON"T MISS the opportunity to fire a rifle or a cannon. There's an extra fee, but well worth it and SOOOO COOL! I paid about $20 to fire off 3 rounds from an old 1800s rifle while dressed in the military jacket from that time period. They tell you what time the rifle and cannon firings take place so keep an eye on the schedule. The parade at 3 o'clock is a must see. Very interesting. As you walk onto the grounds, there's a table with kid sized jackets so they can dress up as soldiers and a "rifle rack" with pretend rifles cut out of wood. The Fort's mascot is a goat, named Davd the Tenth. He is there on a leash with a soldier. Don't miss him...he can also "shake" your hand. NO JOKE! It's a great experience. The hike from the ticket office up to the Fort is about 7 minutes so plan accordingly. Definitely worth a trip. Make a day of it so you don't miss anything. There are brochures with the Fort's daily schedule so you can time your visit accordingly.

Playing up the fort as an eatery and downplaying the proud military heritage is obviously the brainchild of a restauranteur, and not a successful one at that. The fort does not need grub, wine, ghosties and lounging rent-a-cops to be great. It is great. It is the once and future Citadel of Upper Canada. More soldiering and less SmartServe. Thank you.

You can't come to Kingston and not visit Fort Henry. This a very unique experience that you won't find anywhere else. Be sure to take the tour because learning the details and history make it that much more enjoyable. Price has become a bit high over the years but I'd say it's worth it if you've never been here before.

The Fort is fine but the Battery Bistro is the problem. This place had the worst service we have ever encountered. We were left at a table for almost an hour and no one checked in with us. The waitress ignored us and walked right past us several times. As we left, we notified the hostess and she said she was sorry and walked off. It is a shame such a good idea turned into one of the worst places in the city. The owners of this restaurant should be ashamed.