Heritage Open Days

Free entry and 'behind the scenes' tours of many of Portsmouth's important historical buildings.

Eastney Beam Engine House, open Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th 1pm-5pm
Come and see the majestic 'James Watt' Beam Engines in full steam.

Square Tower, open Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 11am-4pm
Built in 1494 this Tower has a varied history. Home of the Tudor goverment, gunpowder store, semaphore station and a meat store for the Royal Navy. Come and explore this old fortification

Guided Walks, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, from 1pm, 2pm and 3pm at the Square Tower.
Learn about the city on a guided tour of Old Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Guildhall Guided Tour, Thursday 11th, 2:30pm
Join the only guided tour of this magnificent building and discover how it survived a terrible bombing during the second world war.

HMS Excellent, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 10am-4pm daily
Constructed by convicts and later becoming a naval gunnery school this is the oldest shore training establishment of the Royal Navy. Tour the grounds, Victorian buildings, museum, church and state funeral gun carriage.

The Kings Theatre, Thurday 11th - Sunday 14th, 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Built in 1907 by the renowned theatre architect Frank matcham, it is renowned for its achitecture. With lots of hidden secrets this wonderful building will surprise and amaze you all.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, come and discover 800 years of naval history. Tours are free of charge but must be booked in advance:
Tour of Boathouse 6, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 10am and 3pm
Tour of Boathouse 5, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 11am and 2pm
Flying Flags and Cunning Codes on board HMS Victory, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm
Behind the scenes tours at the Royal Naval Museum, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 11am, 1:30pm and 3pm
Trace the Footsteps of Nelson, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 10:30am, 1pm and 3pm (must be booked by 10th September).
Tour the Dockyard's Oldest Building, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 1pm.

Eastney Fort East, Thurday 11th - Sunday 14th, 11:30am daily.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to visit the normally inaccessbile Eastney Fort East, owned by the Royal Marines Museum.

Vintage Bus Service, Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th September
Make use of this special service connecting some of Portsmouth's Heritage Open Days sites. See factsheet for further information.

Heritage Open Days have grown in success over the years and allows you to visit places that are not normally open. So take the opportunity to discover more about the City of Portsmouth's Heritage.

For a complete factsheet on the event download it from the 'What's On' homepage or call
023 92 826722