Summary
Since the Middle Ages, Portsmouth has served as a crucial strategic point for naval campaigns.
Positioned ideally as a naval base due to its natural harbor, Portsmouth benefits from the protective barrier offered by the Isle of Wight, located just across the Solent strait.
It is notable for being the only island city in the UK and houses two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s modern surface fleet.
For enthusiasts of military history, Portsmouth is replete with forts, naval museums, and historically significant ships.
The Historic Dockyard features HMS Victory, the flagship of the British Navy on which Lord Nelson perished during the Battle of Trafalgar. Furthermore, the remains of the 16th-century Mary Rose have been meticulously preserved and are displayed alongside artifacts recovered from the wreck that occurred in 1545.
Let us delve into the premier attractions in Portsmouth:
1. Historic Dockyard
The section of HM Naval Base Portsmouth that is accessible to the public showcases a wealth of British naval heritage.
Visitors have the opportunity to board some of the nation’s most historically significant vessels, including HMS Victory, the formidable HMS Warrior, as well as HMS M33, which participated in the Battle of Gallipoli.
Additionally, a free waterbus service across the harbor allows access to HMS Alliance, which served during the Cold War.
Adjacent to the Dockyard are the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and the Explosion Museum of Naval Warfare.
Prior to your visit, you can also discover any special events taking place at the Historic Dockyard, whether they involve family-friendly activities during school holidays or commemorative events marking significant military anniversaries.
2. Mary Rose Museum
The Mary Rose was a carrack during the tenure of Henry VIII, tragically sinking at the Battle of the Solent on 19 July 1545. Over 350 lives were lost in this calamity, and the wreck remained unfound until 1971. Remarkably, the ship was raised from the seabed in 1982, and in 2013, it was provided with a modern exhibition space in a new museum building.
The shipwreck serves as an extraordinary time capsule of naval existence in Tudor England, accompanied by an extensive array of artifacts found on board.
Among the collection are iron and bronze cannon, surgical tools including hypodermic needles, tankards, wooden bowls, nit combs, leather footwear, bells, gold coins, and facial reconstructions made from human remains.
Visitors will also learn about the recovery and conservation processes that the wreck underwent prior to its public display.
3. HMS Victory
The oldest naval vessel currently in commission across the globe, HMS Victory (launched in 1765) continues to serve as the flagship for the commander in chief of the Royal Navy.
This 104-gun first-rate ship of the line attained local fame during the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 amid the Napoleonic Wars.
The renowned British naval officer, Lord Nelson, lost his life during this conflict, and visitors can retrace his last journey aboard HMS Victory.
Thanks to an extensive restoration effort, the ship has been returned to its original configuration as it was upon departing from Portsmouth harbor on 14 September 1805. Guests can explore the galley, lower gun deck, orlop deck, quarter deck, poop deck, the grand cabin, and the quarters of Captain Sir Thomas Hardy.
Additionally, remnants of the foremast from the Battle of Trafalgar and eight of the cannons used during that historic battle can be viewed.
4. HMS Warrior
Constructed in Blackwall, London, in 1859, HMS Warrior was the Royal Navy’s initial iron-hulled warship, operating under both steam and sail power.
This vessel was Britain’s response to the French Second Empire’s Gloire, launched earlier that same year.
The iron-hull design permitted Warrior to exceed the length of contemporary warships (128 meters) and enabled all of its artillery to be positioned on a single level.
For the decade preceding its obsolescence, HMS Warrior instilled fear, although it never engaged in combat.
In the 20th century, the ship was repurposed as an oil jetty; however, following a comprehensive restoration initiated in 1979, it joined the National Historic Fleet in 1987. Aboard, you will discover the immense physical demands placed on the 706-man crew, one being the lifting of one of the heaviest manual anchors ever constructed.
5. National Museum of the Royal Navy
Located in a row of three historical structures in front of HMS Victory, the National Museum of the Royal Navy chronicles over 300 years of British naval history.
Two of these buildings, No. 11 Storehouse and No. 10 Storehouse, are Grade I listed monuments dating back to the 18th century, interconnected by a contemporary glass atrium.
The former focuses on the Age of Sail, vividly portraying the realities of naval warfare.
The Nelson Gallery is dedicated to the illustrious naval career of Lord Nelson.
No. 10 Storehouse addresses naval history in the 20th and 21st centuries, whilst also housing the fore topsail from HMS Victory, the largest single artifact from the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Sir Donald Gosling Victory Gallery from 1938 presents additional insights into HMS Victory and its crew, presenting an engaging walkthrough where visitors will encounter both Nelson and Napoleon.
6. Fort Nelson
During the reign of Napoleon III in France, the threat of a land invasion became plausible, resulting in the construction of a series of forts along the southern coast.
Fort Nelson is one of five built during that era on Portsdown, situated just north of Portsmouth.
This fortification was established in the 1860s and features a hexagonal design, surrounded by a ditch with three caponiers.
By the 1970s, the fort had fallen into disrepair, but it was revitalized in the 1980s as the home of the Royal Armouries, showcasing a remarkable collection of artillery dating back to the early gunpowder era.
Among the exhibits are a Boxted Bombard from 1450, capable of launching a 60kg granite ball, French artillery from the Battle of Waterloo, and components from Iraq’s “Project Babylon” supergun.
Visitors can also navigate the tunnels connecting former magazines and gun placements.
7. HMS M33
The latest addition to the museum fleet at the Historic Dockyard, HMS M33 represents one of the last three Royal Navy warships remaining from World War I.
This vessel is also the sole ship still in existence from the Gallipoli Campaign, which occurred from February 1915 to January 1916. Painted in First World War dazzle camouflage, HMS M33 is located in Dock 1 alongside HMS Victory, and visitors begin their experience by descending to the dock before entering the vessel.
A new exhibition conveys the conditions aboard the ship during battle: guests can immerse themselves in the experiences of the men who lived on this vessel for three years and discover the harrowing realities of the Gallipoli Campaign.
8. Spinnaker Tower
The central feature of the Portsmouth Harbour regeneration project, the Spinnaker Tower stands at 170 meters tall, situated directly on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays.
This structure, designed in the likeness of a spinnaker sail, pays tribute to Portsmouth’s maritime history and was conceived by local architects HGP Architects.
With three observation levels, the most renowned is the skywalk at 100 meters elevation, where visitors can view through transparent glass sections beneath them.
On the exposed top deck, guests enjoy a panoramic 360-degree view of Portsmouth, extending up to 23 miles.
9. D-Day Story
The only attraction in the nation devoted to this pivotal event of the Second World War, the D-Day Story delves into the details of the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Portsmouth was a vital departure point for the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, with Southwick House, located just north of the city, serving as headquarters for Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower.
At the museum’s core is the Overlord Embroidery, an 83-meter hand-stitched embroidery illustrating the invasion, accompanied by a film presentation featuring archived footage from the day.
Visitors can also observe tanks, jeeps, various artifacts from the landing beaches such as machine guns and first aid supplies, as well as a segment of an ambitious submarine pipeline established to supply fuel to the invading forces.
10. Portsdown Hill
Portsmouth is bordered to the north by an elongated chalk ridge rising up to 131 meters in elevation.
This terrain affords a spectacular vantage point over the cityscape, Hayling Island, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight.
Given its strategic significance, no fewer than six forts, including Fort Nelson, are established on these heights.
All of these sites are nestled within chalk grassland, which blossoms with wildflowers in early summer and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its diverse plants, insects, and bird life.
Kestrels and peregrine falcons nest in Portsdown Hill; whitethroats and yellowhammers are frequently observed along the well-maintained trails.
11. Portsmouth Cathedral
The initial structures of Portsmouth Cathedral date back to a 12th-century chapel dedicated to the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket.
This early construction was nearly entirely destroyed in 1642 during the English Civil War, with only the Early English Gothic transept and choir remaining intact.
Within the chancel, a monument commemorates George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, who was assassinated by an army officer at the Greyhound Pub in Portsmouth in 1628. The striking octagonal cupola and lantern (intended for maritime navigation) were added to the cathedral in 1703, and further expansions to the nave occurred during the 1930s after the establishment of the diocese of Portsmouth.
12. Gunwharf Quays
Having served as a naval ordnance yard since the 17th century, Gunwharf Quays underwent redevelopment into an outlet shopping destination at the dawn of the new millennium.
The site now boasts 90 premium outlet stores, offering discounts of up to 60% off retail prices.
Well-known brands such as Hugo Boss, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors are available, complemented by high-end dining establishments operated by celebrity chefs like Raymond Blanc, along with a cinema and bowling alley.
Much of the allure of Gunwharf Quays lies in its rich naval architecture and monuments, including the canal, figureheads from HMS Marlborough and HMS Vernon, the Georgian Vulcan building, and the former customs house, now a pub.
13. Harbour Tour
The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard offers a 45-minute tour of the harbor.
An engaging and knowledgeable guide presents fascinating insights into Portsmouth’s coastal defenses, including the Round Tower and the Solent Forts.
You will also learn about the storied history of Portsea Island, which started as a rallying point during conflicts with France in the Middle Ages and progressively developed into a naval base supporting an entire empire.
As the foundation of the Royal Navy, the harbor is home to contemporary vessels, including destroyers, frigates, and helicopter carriers.
14. Portsmouth City Museum
In Portsmouth, a city with a rich historical narrative, the local museum allows for an in-depth exploration of significant periods, events, and noteworthy individuals.
One such figure is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who spent a considerable portion of the 1880s running a struggling medical practice in the city and is memorialized through an interactive exhibition related to Sherlock Holmes.
The museum also offers a downloadable walking tour focusing on locations tied to the author throughout the city.
Additionally, viewers can explore recreations of interiors, including a dock worker’s kitchen from 1871, a Victorian parlor, and a 17th-century bedroom.
The fine and decorative arts gallery displays works spanning from the 1600s to present day, along with a tribute to Portsmouth F.C., showcasing the actual match balls from their successful FA Cup finals in 1939 and 2009.
15. Royal Garrison Church
In 1662, this 13th-century church located at Grand Parade was the venue for the marriage of King Charles II and Princess Catherine of Braganza.
Initially, the church was part of an almshouse and hospice complex, and its current appearance is the result of a firebomb attack in 1941, which destroyed the roof of the nave, a feature that remains unrepaired to this day.
The primary west window remains vacant, while other windows were replaced with designs illustrating the British Army’s connection to Portsmouth and the Church of England.
The chancel, which survived the attack, features a rib vault adorned with ornamental bosses and oak stalls from 1870, illustrating British military icons such as Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.
