PORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARD
Portsmouth Dockyard is home to the three historic ships, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and Henry VIII's Mary Rose .
The Mary Rose the only surviving 16th century warship, sank off Portsmouth in 1545 and raised from the Solent in 1982.
HMS Victory , Nelson's flagship in the battle of Trafalgar 1805, is the oldest commissioned warship in the world and is still manned by Officers and Ratings of the Royal Navy.
HMS Warrior the first iron clad warship, built in 1860 is full of Victorian naval artifacts and technology.
Also housed within the Dockyard are Action Stations an exciting combination of interactive displays and exhibitions depicting life in the modern Navy, The Royal Navy Museum, the Dockyard Apprentice exhibition, plus many other Naval statues, figureheads and artifacts displayed around the site.
View a map for the Historic Dockyard.
For more details visit the Dockyard site, Historic Dockyard
GUNWHARF QUAYS
Gunwharf Quays is an attractive and vibrant retail and entertainment complex which was redeveloped from the decommissioned HMS Vernon site, at Portsmouth Harbour.
The centre combines designer label shopping, with a wide choice of restaurants and bars, multiplex cinema and bowling alley.
For more detail, map and directions visit our Gunwharf Quays page.
SPINNAKER TOWER
Overlooking Portsmouth Harbour at Gunwharf Quays, the Spinnaker Tower is the tallest publicly accessible structure in the UK.
Fantastic views of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Harbour and across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Spinnaker Tower map.
Read more at our Spinnaker Tower page.
D DAY MUSEUM
The D Day Museum is situated on Clarence Esplanade, close to Southsea Castle.
It was opened in 1984 to commemorate the D Day 40th anniversary.
The museum houses the 272 foot long Overlord Embroidery a modern equivalent of the Bayeux Tapestry and many other interesting artifacts relating to the 2nd World War.
D-Day Museum, Portsmouth, map.
For more details, visit the D Day Museum website.
CHARLES DICKENS BIRTHPLACE
Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) arguably one of the greatest and certinly the most enduring English novelist and writer, was born in Portsmouth on 7th February
1812, at 1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, Portsea, now known as 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth.
You can visit the Dickens Birthplace museum and see the bedroom where he was born, read more about Charles Dickens and the museum here.
The Museum is open on Charles Dickens birthday, 7th February and from mid May-Sept 10am-5.30pm.
Address: Charles Dickens Birthplace, 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 4QL.
Tel: 02392 827261
Map: Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum
ROYAL GARRISON CHURCH
Situated in Grand Parade, Old Portsmouth.
The Royal Garrison Church was founded in 1212 as a hospice, the Domus Dei (God's house), was used as a shelter for overseas pilgrims travelling to Canterbury, Chichester and Winchester.
The church was closed during the dissolution under Henry VIII, part of the site being converted to a residence for the Governor of Portsmouth.
The Nave of the church was gutted by a fire bomb on the 10th January 1941, hence its roofless appearance, a memorial to the blitz.
Royal Garrison church map.
PORTSMOUTH CITY MUSEUM
Situted on Museum Road close to Old Portsmouth.
The main display area on the ground floor, is home to Study in Sherlock exhibition, part of Lancelyn Green's collection of no 40,000 Sherlock Holmes items,
bequeathed to the City in 2004.
The Living in Portsmouth Gallery recreates a 17th century bedroom, a 1930's kitchen and a 1950's living room.
There is also a Decorative Art Gallery and a temporary exhibition gallery.
City Museum, Portsmouth, map.
For more details visit the museum website Portsmouth City Museum
BLUE REEF AQUARIUM
The Blue Reef Aquarium is sited right on Southsea seafront on Clarence Esplanade, a few hundered metres west of the D Day museum, where car parking is available.Voted visitor attraction of the year by Tourism South East.
Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth, map.
For more details visit the aquarium website Blue Reef Aquarium
FORT NELSON
Fort Nelson was part of the City defences built by Lord Palmerston in the 1860's, on Portsdown Hill to the north of the city.
Since 1995 it has housed part of the Royal Armouries collection of Artillery including over 350 guns and cannons. Entrance to the museum is free.
For more details visit our Fort Nelson page.
