This summer, Portsmouth Historic Quarter (PHQ) is inviting kids to step aboard the historic Landing Craft Foxtrot 8 (F8) at Boathouse 4 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for free tours of the harbour.
Throughout the season’s longer days and warmer weather, children under 16 can enjoy complimentary trips across the harbour until 31 August as part of the Historic Quarter Pass, which offers a free, family-friendly day out across the Dockyard. Visitors can explore working boathouses, uncover centuries of maritime heritage, and experience contemporary art installations, all set against a picturesque waterfront backdrop.
Built in 1959, F8 served aboard HMS Fearless and played a key role during the 1982 Falklands campaign, landing troops at San Carlos Water. Restored in 2018 by PHQ, F8 offers a unique boat trip experience around Portsmouth Harbour, giving visitors a distinctive perspective on the historic waterfront from the water. A 30-minute trip on Landing Craft F8 is £12 per adult.
CEO of Portsmouth Historic Quarter, Hannah Prowse said: We believe heritage and culture should be accessible to everyone, particularly younger generations who may not yet appreciate the significance of these vessels. By offering free tours to children over the summer, we’re creating opportunities for them to step aboard, explore, and form a lasting connection with the past.”
Maintaining vessels like these requires an extraordinary level of care, skill and dedication. From specialist conservation work to ongoing mechanical upkeep, our teams invest countless hours year-round to ensure each craft remains both authentic and operational. It’s a continuous commitment that reflects just how valuable these vessels are to our shared history.
Over the summer, visitors will be able to see all three of the dockyard’s most impressive historic vessels up close at the Boathouse 4 pontoon free of charge:
- Landing Craft Foxtrot 8
- Motor Gun Boat 81
- High Speed Launch 102
High Speed Launch 102
Built in 1936 and capable of speeds of 46 mph (40 knots), HSL 102 is the only surviving 100-class high-speed launch from more than 350 used during WWII. She helped rescue downed airmen during the Battle of Britain and is credited with saving more than 13,000 lives across the class. Trips start from £65.
Motor Gun Boat 81
Commissioned in 1942, MGB 81 is the only surviving boat of her type. Nicknamed the “Spitfire of the Seas”, she could reach speeds of 48 mph (42 knots) and served in intense WWII action in the English Channel, attacking German E-boats and landing secret agents. Trips start from £130.
Spring and summertime with Portsmouth Historic Quarter
Alongside PHQ’s historic vessels, there’s no shortage of things to do or see this summer. Visitors are invited to explore its waterfront spaces, historic buildings and cultural attractions as the Dockyard enjoys the summer months.
Green spaces, hidden gems, and secret art
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, with works such as Pete Codling’s CROWD in Boathouse 4, a striking portrait of Portsmouth’s multi-cultural past.
Together, these spaces offer an easy and free way to experience culture, history, and fresh air around the harbour, blending historic surroundings with contemporary artistic expression.
Scenic walks
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
The Dockyard marks the end point of 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 by a sculpture of a shipwright’s tool bag just outside Boathouse 4, which provides a scenic marker to the journey’s end.
Millennium Promenade
Closer to the water, the Millennium Promenade offers a relaxed coastal walk. Stretching 2.6 miles from the Dockyard through Gunwharf Quays and Old Portsmouth to Southsea, the route is ideal for a 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.
Boathouse 4
One of the Dockyard’s most distinctive landmarks, Boathouse 4 offers visitors the chance to explore maritime history inside a working historic building.
Free to enter, the boathouse houses a remarkable collection of small naval vessels from 20th-century conflicts, alongside working cranes, lock gates and a rare internal tidal dock that still supports the care of historic boats.
It also hosts SHE_SEES, a photography-led exhibition exploring the overlooked history of women in maritime industries across the UK and Ireland.
For more information about Portsmouth Historic Quarter, visit: https://portsmouthhq.org/
