Culture & Heritage

We have twelve museums, two theatres, two cathedrals, art galleries and a number of famous authors who have called Portsmouth home.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a unique attraction showcasing 800 years of naval history within working docks and historic buildings. Ask anyone to name the most famous warships in the world and Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860 are sure to feature.  Add the National Museum of the Royal Navy; interactive Action Stations; a Harbour Tour; the Dockyard Apprentice and the Trafalgar Sail and you have one of the best-value, full days out in the UK.

Based in the former Officers’ Mess of Eastney Barracks, the Royal Marines Museum celebrates the famous fighting spirit and long history of the Royal Marines. Learn how the Royal Marines have developed into the world-renowned elite fighting force of today. At the D-Day Museum, key events are shown on film whilst reconstructions, military vehicles and personal accounts demonstrate how D-Day was co-ordinated.

Portsmouth is home to two inspiring cathedrals. Visit Portsmouth Cathedral (St Thomas’s) in Old Portsmouth to discover a seamless portrayal of the city’s history and the cathedral’s understated beauty. Portsmouth’s Catholic Cathedral (St John’s) offers a quiet space in the heart of the city and is a fine example of 19th century French-gothic style architecture.

Aspex presents an outstanding exhibition programme featuring works by contemporary artists from around the world. Showcasing the latest in contemporary art, Aspex is also a great place to see Portsmouth’s freshest artistic talent. Portsmouth’s City Museum’s fine and decorative art gallery has changing displays mixing paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, glass and textiles from over 500 years of artistic creation.

Built in 1544, Southsea Castle was part of a series of fortifications built by Henry VIII to protect the country from invaders. This fascinating site is where the king watched his favourite warship, the Mary Rose, capsize and sink in 1545. Explore the keep, underground tunnels and ramparts.