Full-Day Private Tour to the Historic Naval City Portsmouth
Portsmouth, GB
Non-refundable - Your booking can not be cancelled, modified or refunded.
Guaranteed Lowest Prices - Find a lower price? We'll match it!
Highlights
-
Private transportation included
-
Duration 8 hours
-
Expert English and Turkish guide
-
Snacks provided
-
Wheelchair accessible
-
Admission fees included
Experience the rich history and maritime heritage of Portsmouth on a thrilling full-day private tour. Step back in time at Charles Dickens' Birthplace, where you can explore the first home of the famous Victorian writer. Then, venture to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to iconic naval vessels like HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Immerse yourself in the history of the Royal Navy at the National Museum of the Royal Navy and get your adrenaline pumping at Action Stations. Discover the fascinating HMS M.33, the only British veteran of the Dardanelles Campaign, and explore Boathouse No 4, with its remarkable exhibition on wooden boats. Don't miss the chance to visit the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and witness life beneath the ocean in a real WW2 submarine. End your adventure at the breathtaking Spinnaker Tower, offering panoramic views of Portsmouth and beyond. Book this private tour now and unlock the secrets of this historic naval city.
At a Glance
-
Free cancellation
-
8 hours
-
Available in English, Turkish
-
Wheelchair accessible
-
Mobile voucher
-
Private Tour
-
Guided
-
Family friendly
Explore Portsmouth's rich naval history on a full-day private tour, visiting iconic sites like the Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower.
Included
-
Private transportation -
Snacks
-
Air-conditioned vehicle
-
Fuel surcharge
-
Parking fees
Excluded
-
Lunch
Pickup
Check if pick-up is available from your location, you will select during checkout (providers may allow other pickup locations)
What to expect
Charles Dickens' Birthplace
Portsmouth is where one of the most famous figures of Victorian literature, Charles Dickens, was born. In the 19th century, this house in Regency was decorated with an idea of the Victorian Portsmouth. If you are a Charles Dickens lover, then, this house definitely must be seen. Look at the first home of Charles Dickens with numerous possessions and photographs, the ceramics, furniture, house artefacts, glass and decorations which have faithfully been recreated in the Regency style that Charles' parents favoured, although their properties have been dispersed for a long time. There are three furnished rooms: The lounge, the dining room and Charles' bedroom. The exhibition room features a snuff box, a tiny cup and a paper-knife and a small collection of memorabilia: The couch that he passed away on at his home in Kent, poignant memory of an author who was celebrated for his prodigious talent and his creative work.
90 minutes
Admission Included
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Historic Dockyard is Portsmouth's number one historic and cultural heritage site full of hidden gems such as HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth, Action Stations, HMS M.33, Boathouse 4, Royal Navy Submarine, Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower and many family sun & fun attractions such as Jolly Roger, Laser quest and the exhibition of the Horrible Histories Pirates await their visitors. We will explore all those marvels together. The history of Portsmouth's British Navy goes back 1,200 years to its beginning during the 860s under King Alfred the Great. The wide, nature-sized reservoir on the coastline is a river valley that is flooded and shielded from a deep, narrow entrance at the two sides of the dockyard. The Roman and Saxon bastions were designed to defend against the Vikings on the north side and to protect the trade. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, however, the port's first permanent fort was designed, Portchester Castle.
90 minutes
Admission Included
Gunwharf Quays
After a long morning, you will have the chance to get some free time in the lively Gun wharf Quays in the port, for shopping and dining, while Old Portsmouth harbour offers cobbled roads, sophisticated pubs and a small but interesting cathedral. In its Common, Clarence Pier Southsea offers more family fun you can experience. A great day out awaits you in Portsmouth today. Enjoy!
60 minutes
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory in Trafalgar.is the most well-known warship in the Royal Navy. The Victory is best known as the flagship of the First Sea Lord and the living museum of the Georgian Navy, for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar. A hand-held audio guide is used to carry the visitor's experience onboard the HMS Victory in the Historic Dockyard. Hear the sad story of Admiral Nelson with full pride, honour and success here in this spot.
30 minutes
Admission Included
National Museum of the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy Portsmouth National Museum gives life to history. It shows artefacts from the past 350 years and explores the common themes that link the English 'Wooden Walls' sailor with today's professional crews. The Royal Navy was instrumental in shaping the world. This was the dominant naval power of Great Britain, defending its commerce from invasion or carrying out attacks abroad in turbulent times. The Royal Navy has affected thousands of people throughout the world, affected troops, women and families who have designed, served and delivered their ships and have affected the lives of communities abroad. Inaugurated in 2014, the main gallery of the Museum Hear My Story retrieves the undiscovered tales of the common men and women of the Navy, shaping the stupendous past, the century of greatest change over the last 100 years. Hear My Story takes you closer to the true Royal Navy than ever before.
30 minutes
Admission Included
Action Stations
Action Stations in Boathouse 6 is an indoor high-tech, immersive attraction. The boathouse itself was built from 1845 to 1848 and was once at the forefront of design and innovation during the Victorian era, like the technology it now features inside. Action Stations features a broad selection of physical and technological challenges, simulators and tests, placing guests at the forefront of the modern naval experience. In Action Stations, visitors to the tallest indoor climbing tower of UK may reach dizzy heights.
30 minutes
Admission Included
HMS M.33
HMS M.33 is not only the only British veteran of the bloody 1915-1916 Dardanelles Campaign but of the subsequent Russian Civil War. The ship is still in operation one of only three British World War I warships. HMS M33 was built in 1915 at the direction of Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty. She was a floating gun platform designed to blast seashores. The protection of the British landings in Suvla at the Gallipoli war in August 1915 was her first successful action. Until the evacuation in January 1916, she remained stationed at Gallipoli, in the Mediterranean during the rest of the war she served and in 1916 took part in the confiscation of the Greek fleet at Salamis Bay. Following the battle, the M33 was sent in Russia to Murmansk to relieve NRF before it returned to Portsmouth to be a mine-laying training ship. Her name has been renamed, HMS Minerva. Kids can involve helping the crew locate Miss Muggins, HMS M33's lovely pet.
20 minutes
Admission Included
Boathouse 4
Boathouse 4, a huge building with its own dock and locks, was built in 1939 in response to the need for a quick rearmament programme until WWII. It is typical of a military-industrial architecture from the 1930s. Boathouse 4 offers great family attraction including realistic games for children and spectacular shows. Built before the Second World War and restored, the building was converted into a training centre for boat building and will host International Boatbuilding College Portsmouth and Highbury College soon. These two colleges will educate a new generation of students in traditional design techniques and related skills still so important today for wooden boats to be built and maintained. The splendid exhibition "The Forgotten Craft" overlooking the Boatbuilding Skills Training Centre, is located within this magnificent historic building and tells the inspiring stories of small boats that formed the backbone of the Royal Navy.
30 minutes
Admission Included
Dockyard Apprentice
In the Dockyard Apprentice Exhibition, learn about new boat building skills and local crafts. The Dockyard Apprentice offers an immaculate experience by taking you back in time and restoration efforts as apprentices in the early 20th century by the men who served on the Portsmouth Dockyard. Just follow the footsteps of dockyard apprentices as you learn about boatbuilding techniques and heritage crafts inside Boathouse 7. Envision 200 years of history retold through the eyes of the workers who designed the greatly dreaded battleships of the 20th century. Learn about the tales of the men who created the most fearsome float in Britain and the ingenuity behind the conventional methods of boat construction. From past to present, the boat building is back in Boathouse 4 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The newest addition to the Historic Dockyard sees artisan crafts and skills from those who study it professionally in the show for everyone to enjoy.
20 minutes
Admission Included
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Did you ever wonder about the life beneath the ocean in a submarine? Experience all your senses with the HMS Alliance, the only WW2 submarine left, and travel through its service every ten years. Take a look at the works and see, hear and even smell the way life has been living under the sea. HMS Alliance is the only surviving submarine of the Second World War in Britain and commemorates the 5,300 British submariners that have died in combat. An Alliance tour starts in the front torpedo place, then through the lodging to the control room, where experienced submarine guides display the structures, including surfacing and diving. The tour proceeds through the cooking area, and through the middle of the submarine, the engine bay, until entering the back of the torpedo room, where the guides describe the evacuation of submarines in an emergency.
60 minutes
Admission Included
Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower
The Priddy Hard was remote enough to safely store up to 6,500 barrels of gunpowder from the main dockyard. Throughout the Napoleonic Wars, all the Warships of the Royal Navy, including the HMS Victory, loaded up their guns and weapons and retrieved them from small boats called 'powder hoys,' which had gathered barrels of gunpowder carrying them down the Rolling Road to the port. The platform has changed over time. When the loading arms were introduced in the late 1850s, barrels of testing powder were no longer required and a range of large magazines was created for the filling and storing of shells. In the 1880s, the construction of the narrow railway for transporting the order between the refuelling and storage buildings became required to substitute highly explosive cordite with gun powder as the propellant. The production of torpedoes, depth charges and weaponry until the arrival of guided missile in the 1960s continued through the 20th century.
45 minutes
Admission Included
Spinnaker Tower
There is no better way of viewing Britain’s lovely naval city than from 105 metres over the Portsmouth Harbour. The Spinnaker Tower reflects the maritime history of Portsmouth by its design and its name, a type of sail that balloons to the exterior. On the 18th of October, 2005, the Tower opened its doors to its visitors. The tower is 2 1⁄2 times higher than Nelson's Column at a height of 560 feet (170 m), which makes it one of the tallest structures accessible in Britain outside London. Around Portsmouth, the tower is visible and dominates the skyline of Portsmouth. The Tower can be also seen from Isle of Wight, the Manhood Peninsula and even Highdown Gardens in Worthing. At the top is a triple observation deck with a 360 ° view of the city of Portsmouth and the Harbours of Langstone and Portsmouth, as well as 23 mi (37 mi) of viewing range. The tower originally named the Millennium Tower in Portsmouth, was built in 2000 to welcome the Millennium.
60 minutes
Admission Included
The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.
Additional Information
-
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap -
Specialized infant seats are available
-
Service animals allowed
-
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
-
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
-
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
-
Wheelchair accessible
-
Participants should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What our experts say
-
Try traditional fish & chips nearby. -
Visit the D-Day Story museum close by.
-
Enjoy tea at the Spinnaker Tower café.
-
Explore Gunwharf Quays for shopping.
-
Check local events for added fun.
More About this Experience
Introduction
Welcome to the Full-Day Private Tour to the Historic Naval City Portsmouth! This tour is an opportunity to explore and immerse yourself in the rich maritime history and culture of Portsmouth. Experience the fascinating attractions and landmarks that have made this city one of the greatest destinations for naval enthusiasts.What to expect?
During this tour, you can anticipate a full day of adventure and discovery. Explore the birthplace of the renowned Victorian author, Charles Dickens, and gain insight into his life and works. Visit the iconic Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can step aboard historic ships such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Discover the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which brings the history of the Royal Navy to life through interactive exhibits and artifacts. As you explore Gunwharf Quays, take some time to shop for unique treasures or enjoy a delicious meal in this lively port area. Don't miss the opportunity to ascend the magnificent Spinnaker Tower, where breathtaking views of Portsmouth and its surrounding harbors await.Who is this for?
This tour is tailored for anyone with a passion for naval history and a desire to immerse themselves in the rich maritime culture of Portsmouth. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an avid traveler, or a curious adventurer, this tour is an opportunity to discover the wonders of this historic naval city. It is suitable for individuals, couples, families, and groups of friends who want to delve deeper into the maritime heritage of the United Kingdom.Why book this?
By booking this tour, you gain exclusive access to the most significant naval attractions in Portsmouth. Delve into Charles Dickens' early life at his birthplace, an experience that will transport you back to the Victorian era. Explore the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can step aboard historic ships and immerse yourself in the naval history that shaped the nation. The National Museum of the Royal Navy offers a captivating journey through centuries of maritime achievements. Get a bird's eye view of Portsmouth from the Spinnaker Tower, where panoramic vistas await. This tour ensures a comprehensive and unforgettable experience of the city's naval heritage.Good to know
Please note that this tour has a total duration of 480 minutes, providing ample time to explore each attraction fully. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as you'll be visiting multiple sites throughout the day. It's advised to bring a camera to capture the breathtaking views from the Spinnaker Tower and the fascinating exhibits at each attraction. Additionally, be prepared to indulge in some shopping and dining during your free time at Gunwharf Quays. This tour guarantees not only a memorable
This is a popular product and the date you are looking for just sold out. Next available date is