Portsmouth Historic Quarter is offering a free day out full of rich maritime history and culture for those looking for a family- and budget-friendly experience, with its Historic Quarter Pass.
Visitors to Portsmouth can enjoy a wide range of free things to do and see at the Historic Dockyard – whether that’s enjoying modern art and culture or diving deep into England’s maritime and naval history. The Historic Quarter can be picked up on the day at the Visitor Centre and provides visitors with access to the site and many of its exhibitions, amenities, shops, and eateries across the site.
By simply strolling through the gates and wandering around the extensive dockyard landscape framed by the original 300-year-old Dockyard Wall, visitors can take in the beautiful architecture and rich tapestry of history on the dockyard, from majestic boathouses to impressive naval vessels. Whether it’s admiring art exhibitions like Standing with Giants, expanding knowledge of maritime history in Boathouse 4, or a scenic walk somewhere new, the Historic Quarter Pass is sure to provide an enriching day out.
Following the exhibition’s success at Historic Dockyard Chatham, ‘Celebration of Freedom’, part of the Standing with Giants series, will be on display at the dockyard from January – 28 May. Created by community conceptual artist Dan Burton, Standing with Giants displays large scale silhouettes of British soldiers and military figures, including Winston Churchill, which highlight the enormity and sacrifice military personnel made in the war for Britain. The outdoor remembrance art installation uses upcycled materials and is hand crafted by a team of volunteers. The installation aligns perfectly with the dockyard’s rich military history and advocacy for naval conservation, creating a space in which visitors can reflect and remember wartime history.
Standing with Giants also coincides with Portsmouth 100, a city- wide celebration marking Portsmouth’s 100th year as a city in 2026. With many free unique events and activities curated for the whole of the year, Standing with Giants is one of the first new installations to arrive in this centenary year.
Alongside the exhibition, one of the most powerful surface warships in the UK and the nation’s naval flagship vessel, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is currently docked in Portsmouth and visible from the dockyard. The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier is an impressive feat of engineering and forms part of the Royal Navy’s two-strong fleet of Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.
Home to the finest collection of small boats involved in 20th century conflicts – including Three of its most iconic vessels, High Speed Launch 102, Motor Gun Boat 81 and Landing Craft F8 – Boathouse 4 blends history with hands-on craft.
Free to enter and full of character, Boathouse 4 is one of PHQ’s most distinctive spaces and a fascinating place to explore at your own pace. Still serving its original industrial purpose as a boathouse, the landmark building is alive with activity from working cranes and functional lock gates to its rare internal tidal dock, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into the art of maintaining and storing historic vessels, and Portsmouth maritime heritage.
Boathouse 4 is also home to SHE_SEES, a photo-led exhibition that taps into the archive materials from across the UK and Ireland to uncover the history of female figures in the maritime industry. You can spot Boathouse 4 before you even step inside. Its 1930s architecture and iconic sawtooth roof make it instantly recognisable along the Portsmouth Harbour waterfront.
Boathouse 7’s Dockyard Apprentice exhibition offers a more personal way to discover Portsmouth’s maritime past. Rather than focusing on famous ships alone, the exhibition shines a light on the everyday people who kept the Dockyard running from shipwright apprentices to civilian workers whose skills shaped generations of naval engineering. Visitors can take their time exploring traditional tools, hands-on craftsmanship, and stories that sit behind iconic moments in naval history. Created and cared for by the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust, this exhibition is ideal for anyone looking to go a little deeper into the city’s social history.
Beyond the main walkways, the dockyard is filled with places to explore. follow the 300-year-old Dockyard Wall and step through Victory Gate into a landscape shaped by centuries of maritime life. The volunteer-tended Porter’s Garden offers a calm spot to pause, while the nearby Mast Pond, built during the reign of Charles II, is a tranquil stop.
Contemporary art is woven into these historic settings, such as Pete Codling’s CROWD in Boathouse 4, a striking portrait of Portsmouth’s multi-cultural past. Together, they offer an easy and free way to experience culture, history, and get some fresh air around the harbour.
A thoughtful visual arts exhibition in Storehouse 9 called “I Am Born” will be open in Storehouse 9 from 29 January.
Artists Ally Ashworth and Rachel Johnston have worked with seniors from Braemar Care Home and young people from Motiv8 and The Brook Club, using archival imagery to spark conversation and create powerful textile collages and banners. The project is part of ‘In Our Words’ – a year-long festival of literature, literacy and storytelling, designed to inspire, engage and connect people of all ages.
For those keen to get some fresh air and make the most of time off without spending a penny, PHQ is also the starting and finishing point for some of Portsmouth’s most enjoyable walks and offer an easy way to explore the waterfront, local history and the city beyond the dockyard.
Shipwrights Way
PHQ marks the end point of the Shipwrights Way, a 50-mile long-distance path that connects East Hampshire’s towns and villages with the South Downs and the coast. The route finishes at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where, just outside Boathouse 4, a sculpture of a shipwright’s tool bag provides a scenic marker to the journey’s end. Even for non-walkers, it is a quiet moment that nods to the area’s connection with craft and maritime heritage.
Millennium Promenade
Closer to the water, the Millennium Promenade offers a relaxed coastal walk. Stretching 2.6 miles from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard through Gunwharf Quays and Old Portsmouth to Southsea, the route is ideal for wander around, whether taken in full or shorter sections. The walk leads you between the Dockyard and Clarence Pier, whilst lanterns light the promenade, making it just as enjoyable in the early evening as it is during the day.
How to get there:
- The Hard bus interchange and Portsmouth Harbour train station are a few minutes’ walk from Victory Gate providing a transport hub for ferry, train, coach, bus and taxi travel.
- Local and regional buses are available at the Hard interchange as well as national coach services. Check out, First, Stagecoach, Bluestar bus and National Express for details.
- Ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight can be found at the Portsmouth Harbour train station.
- Portsmouth Harbour train station with frequent direct trains to and from London Waterloo and Southampton Central.
- If travelling by car, the 295 space Historic Dockyard Car Park is located at PO1 3GW, a few minutes’ walk from Victory Gate.
For more information about Portsmouth Historic Quarter, visit: https://portsmouthhq.org/
