We have wanted to visit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with the children for a number of years. This weekend we did just that. Staying overnight close to Portsmouth Harbour we had a whole day to explore the home of the Royal Navy. It is such a great family attraction with so much to see full of naval history and legendary ships. As well as some itineraries for your own visit I have included some Portsmouth Historic Dockyard tips to make the most of it.
AD – We were gifted a one-day ticket in return for this review of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. All words and opinions are my own.
Where is Portsmouth Historic Dockyard located?
Located in the Portsmouth Harbour area of the city. It is situated on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour, which is an inlet of the English Channel. The dockyard is located within a short walk from the city centre and is easily accessible by public transport and car. The address of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LJ. The entrance to the dockyard is located just off Queen Street, near the Hard Interchange bus station and the Portsmouth Harbour train station
How to get to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Because of where it is located it is really easy to reach the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Which makes it even more convenient when out for the day with the kids.
- By Train: The nearest train station to the dockyard is Portsmouth Harbour, which is located just a few minutes walk away. As you come out of the train station depending on which exit you use you should be able to see the HMS Warrior which is moored across the dock. If you turn to face the street and selection of pubs opposite the station. You will be able to see the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on your left. Trains run regularly from London Waterloo, Southampton, and other major cities. From the station, follow the signs for the Historic Dockyard.
- By Bus: The number 1 and 1A buses run from Portsmouth city centre to the Historic Dockyard entrance. You can catch these buses from the Hard Interchange or from the Portsmouth & Southsea train station. The journey takes around 15-20 minutes.
- By Car: If you’re driving, follow the brown and white signs for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard from the M27 motorway. You will need to drive around a one-way system depending on where you park as well as the town centre. Be mindful of the 20-mile-an-hour limit and the fact it is very close to Gunwharf Quays so can get busy.
Where to Park when visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
When we visited we parked in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard car park since this was the closest one to our hotel. Plus we could get a discount on the parking by staying with the premier inn. Here parking will cost £9 for eight hours if you are looking to spend the day exploring. An alternative car park is the one at Gunwharf Quays car park which is more expensive in comparison. There is also limited on-street parking available but unless you get there super early and are willing to drive around hunting it out I would stick to the car parks.
If you are looking to keep costs down then you will be pleased to know there is a park-and-ride option which costs £4. This includes parking and a return bus for up to seven people. You can find more information on fares and ticket options on the Portsmouth City Council website. The park-and-ride service is located at the M275 entrance to the city and operates from Monday to Saturday. The service runs every 12 minutes and takes around 15 minutes to reach the city centre. From there, you can take the number 1 or 1A bus to the Historic Dockyard entrance
Where to stay when visiting the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
We visited with extended family as Portsmouth Historic Dockyard makes a great intergenerational day trip. For this reason, we were looking for a hotel which was close by. You can see the entrance to the dockyard from the Premier Inn Dockland Hotel and this is where we stayed. I have been a fan of Premier Inn for some time as I feel that you know what you are going to get. With good-sized family rooms, it is popular in the school holidays. In fact, we noticed a number of people were doing exactly what we did. Expect to pay around £238 for a flexible family room for two nights.
There is a restaurant underneath the hotel called Bar + Block Steakhouse. Although we did not find it wonderful. The service was slow, the music too loud for conversation and the food overpriced and not great quality. But we did try eating in the grey pub next door called The Ship & Castle, on our second night and would definitely go back. The landlady was very accommodating, the food was very good value and everyone enjoyed their meal. The fact that it is right next door to the hotel makes it really convenient.
Ticket options and costs when visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children
There are lots of options when it comes to the different ticket options and costs. You can either buy your tickets online in advance which will give you a small saving. Or you can buy them on the day from the visitor centre at the entrance.
- One day access to one attraction – no discount included online. Costs from £34 for an adult and £24 for a child
- 12 months of access to the same three attractions – you are free to choose which of the attractions you would like to see. It does include free access to Action Stations but can not be used on the Harbour Tours. Online in-advance tickets cost from £44 for an adult and £24 for a child.
- Ultimate Explorer pass – access to all attractions for a period of 12 months. Online in-advance ticket cost from £49 for an adult and £29 for a child. A family ticket for 2 adults and up to 3 children costs £135.
Having spent a whole day there I would definitely encourage you to consider the Ultimate Day Explorer pass as it allows you access to all the attractions for the whole year. Meaning you have free entry to all of the attractions. There is no way you could see them all in one day even if you visited without children. It is without doubt the best value Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ticket and covers all the attractions. I would suggest that if you took your time it would take up to four days to do everything when visiting with kids. Which really does make it excellent value.
What can you see at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard when visiting with children
There is so much to see. When you enter the visitor’s centre you will see a map which gives you an indication of how long you will need to spend at each attraction. By their estimate, there are over 15 hours of attractions. However, when visiting with kids I find these things can take a lot longer. For example, we spent well over three hours in the Mary Rose Museum and still didn’t read it all.
It is easy to feel a little overwhelmed so for an indication of what you could do in a day see exactly what we got up to. With a suggested second-day itinerary if you plan to stay the weekend. This will be what we do when we return.
- The Mary Rose Museum
- HMS Victory
- HMS Warrior
- HMS M.33
- National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth Galleries
- Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower
- Royal Navy Submarine Museum
- Action Stations
- Harbour Tours
- Boathouse 4
- Dockyard Apprentice
The Mary Rose Museum
This is an absolute must. If you decide to only opt for one attraction then in our minds this has to be it. We spent over three hours here and loved it. Built for King Henry VIII in 1510-1511. The Mary Rose served for 34 years before sinking in the Battle of the Solent. The Mary Rose after various attempts over the centuries was finally found in 1971. But it took a further 11 years for the Mary Rose Trust to finally excavate and raise the hull. As part of the museum you can undertake a 4D Dive experience which gives you an insight into the hours and hours of work it took. It’s really interesting and definitely needs to be on the must-see list.
The museum is built around the ship’s remains which are housed in the centre of the huge building. Along the sides and at each end there are fascinating galleries which showcase the unique artefacts that were found with the ship. Giving an insight into Tudor England. The displays are really well done as they try to bring to life the individuals aboard the ship when it went down.
HMS Victory
Probably the most famous warships. HMS Victory served as Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. He died aboard the famous ship during a battle with the French and Spanish fleet. It also played a significant part in both the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars. Undergoing a major 20-year restoration in its first dry dock you can access all the main decks of Nelson’s legendary warship. We really enjoyed walking along the huge decks covered in cannons looking out the iconic windows and viewing Nelson’s rooms.
There is also Victory Live the big repair. This allows visitors access to the scaffold surrounding to see the work which is being undertaken. Along with the ship itself, there is also the HMS Victory Gallery which is full of figureheads. As well as Nelson’s funeral barge.
HMS Warrior
This is the first of the historic ships you will see as you enter Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Launched in 1860 it was then the fastest, largest and most powerful warship in the world. Powered both by steam turbines and sails and the pride of Queen Victoria. Ironically her mere presence had Queen Victoria’s intended effect and the warship never fired a shot in anger. However technological advancements meant that the Royal Navy ships that were part of Queen Victoria’s Black Battle Fleet were retired. Here started a chequered past for HMS Warrior not returning to a naval base until 1987. Where she is now docked as a living ship.
You enter via the upper deck The sheer length of this warship is something to behold. She may not have seen naval warfare but she was a very modern boat of her time. You can see this walking around and the advancements that were made between her and HMS Victory. We even found washing machines! We saw all three famous ships in one visit allowing us to compare the three.
HMS M.33
A very modern-looking ship in comparison to the others at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It is the only surviving ship from the first world war’s Gallipoli campaign. Built on the orders of Sir Winston Churchill and constructed in just 10 weeks it was designed to operate in shallow coastal waters. Having a long naval career between 1915 and 1984, she has been in dry dock ever since. In 2015 a major conservation project was completed and you can now see her restored to her original purpose.
National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth Galleries
The museum has displays relating to the last 350 years. I was really impressed with the number of interactive exhibits that held the boys’ attention. There were morse code machines, computer games and details of veterans stories. They also found a very cool kinetic sand display which changed colour as they built their mountains to show the different heights.
The Royal Naval Museum is also a new special exhibition called Beneath the Waves. Where you can explore deep sea wonders on a 150-year voyage of discovery. Starting with HMS Challenger to the modern Royal Navy. It was fascinating to see the specimens that have been collected over the years. Although Harry really enjoyed looking at the monsters that live in the deep trenches. I was a little less keen!
Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower
This was on the top of Charlie’s list although we didn’t manage to visit it this time. Located in Gosport you need to catch a water taxi across. As you enter Portsmouth Historic Dockyard you will see to the left before Boathouse 4 details of when the water taxis run. An interactive museum it tells the story of naval firepower from gunpowder to modern missiles.
It is housed in the former Priddy’s Hard Royal Naval Ordnance Depot. One of the points of interest in this part of the museum is that it documents the women of the Royal Navy. And the part they played during the first and second world wars.
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Also located in Gosport but at a different site which can also be reached via the water taxi. Located in the former naval base HMS Dolphin. You can even go inside the the Royal Navy’s very first submarine Holland 1 which was launched in 1901. It is also home to HMS Alliance which is Britain’s only remaining Second World War submarine.
Action Stations
We did not make it to this area but plan to make it our first stop on our next visit. The Commando Experience features a series of Royal Marines Commando-style physical challenges. Fully enclosed the indoor adventure is designed for all weathers. Children get the chance to swing from the rooftop, leap through obstacle courses, and reach dizzying new heights by tackling the towering climbing wall. What I really like is that the activities are suitable for different ages. So there is something for everyone. If you are looking for something even more adventurous then you can book Laser Quest for an additional cost.
Boathouse 4
Charlie really enjoys visiting the Boathouse 4 as it is where you can see staff and volunteers caring for the small boats. Using traditional skills and techniques to get hands-on. There is an exhibition which displays the stories of small boats and the important role they had in the Royal Navy. There are several interactive areas as well. This attraction is free to all visitors to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Dockyard Apprentice
The Dockyard Apprentice allows visitors to take a step back in time and relive the story of the people who worked at Portsmouth Dockyard in the early 20th century. There are many different interactive exhibits for children to enjoy, through immersive recreations and innovative touch-screen technology. It is possible to get hands-on with traditional ship-building tools and practical knot-tying displays. This attraction is free to all visitors to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Harbour Tours
In addition to the waterbus, it is possible to enjoy a harbour tour. As you cruise around the harbour you’ll get unparalleled views of the modern frigates, destroyers, and aircraft carriers that call Portsmouth their home. During the tour, the Captain talks you through each of the ships that you pass. As well as the modern naval fleet. You will also see some of the fortifications that were built to protect Portsmouth Dockyard over the centuries. Including the Round Tower at the Harbour entrance and the Solent forts.
One-day itinerary – Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children
Here is our suggested one-day itinerary when visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children. We arrived around 10 am, and after passing through security we walked around to The Mary Rose Museum. Marvelling at HMS Victory as we went. We took a route that took us behind Victory allowing us to photograph the ship while it was still quiet.
To enter the Mary Rose Museum you pass through a meeting with King Henry VII I and through the battle that sunk the famous ship. At this point in the tour, you have a guide. After which you are left to explore the three floors on your own. We did spend a long time in the museum. Reading as much of the information as possible. Charlie and I also played some Tudor games which added to the time we spent. We finally exited the museum into the Mary Rose Cafe around 1:30 pm.
After grabbing refreshments our next stop was across the square to HMS Victory. Here we enjoyed all the decks of the ship. Since there is a one-way route you need to follow. We also walked around its hull. We didn’t rush making sure we spent enough time exploring everything we wanted. Before heading to the Royal Naval Museum. Here you enter through the gift shop. Much of the museum has interactive exhibits to hold the children’s interest. We also met a guide dressed in a traditional costume from Nelson’s era. He was very knowledgeable and answered many of the children’s questions.
Our final stop of the say was HMS Warrior which we reached at about 4 pm. Although Portsmouth Historic Dockyard does not close until 5.30 pm many of the different attractions start to close down from 4.45 pm. This meant we had enough time to explore all the decks before leaving. By now the children were starting to flag so even if we had more time I do not think we would have visited anything else. However, if you find yourself finished earlier than us, then Boathouse 4 is right next door.
Two-day itinerary – Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children
If you would like to extend your visit. Then this is what we intend on seeing on our return visit. Again we would look to arrive early when it opens at 10 am so that the boys can spend the best part of an hour enjoying the physical challenges in Action Stations.
To reach the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower you will need to catch a water taxi. They only run three times a day to this museum, and our plan would be to catch the first one out of the day at 11 a.m. The map indicates you will need at least two hours here and so we would then catch the return bus at 1,15pm. After a quick picnic lunch or pit stop in Boathouse 7, our aim would be to catch the boat across to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.
The water taxi goes at 2 pm or 2.30 pm with the last return at 4.15 pm which should just give us enough time to enjoy the museum. Before heading to the dockyard apprentice exhibition which is located both close to the entrance and where you catch the harbour tour from.
Where to eat at Portsmouth Historic Dockland
There are several different places to eat which is great when travelling with kids. Especially since the attractions are so spread out. When we visited we only went to the the Mary Rose Cafe. There was a whole host of delicious-looking cakes and sandwiches. You can sit overlooking the water and HMS Victory. Boathouse 4 also offers hot meals.
Top Tips for your visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children
- Arrive early to make the most of this great family day out. We specifically targeted the Mary Rose first thing in the morning as we anticipated it would get busier in the day. We also noticed that by the time we came out of HMS Victory queues had already formed.
- You will need to go through security and safety measures before entering so have your bags ready to reduce waiting time.
- It really is not possible to see it all in one day. Ideally, you need two if not three days to really do this brilliant day-out justice. If you are able to or intend to visit more than one day in a twelve-month period. Then I would suggest that the ultimate explorer ticket is definitely worth the money. We intend to return and visit the attractions that we didn’t make and will be buying the ultimate explorer ticket as part of this. So that we can return again in the next 12 months.
- There are several picnic tables outside of The Mary Rose Museum.
We really enjoyed our time at the royal dockyard. Wandering around the historic buildings and seeing so many pieces of history. We will definitely be back to pick up our second-day itinerary. And intend to further make use of the unlimited access our ultimate explorer ticket will allow us.
Have you visited the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with children? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
Related Blog Posts
If you have enjoyed this blog post on the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard tips then you may also find some of these other posts of interest.
- We enjoyed The Mary Rose Museum and HMS Victory so much that I have written blog posts about these independently.
- If you are planning on staying in the Portsmouth area then you may be interested in – Things to do in Portsmouth with kids.
- Or perhaps you are considering visiting the Spinnaker Tower – don’t miss our top tips for a visit.
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