Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Name: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Item: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Author: Andrew Samson

Overview

Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Portsmouth (HMNB Portsmouth) is one of the most famous naval bases in the world. It is also home to the world’s oldest serving dry dock which dates back to 1495 after being commission by King Henry V11. This dry dock now holds the oldes commission warship in the world, Lord Nelson’s flagship from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 (HMS Victory).

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard sits on a piece of land adjacent to the Royal Navy’s working dockyard. The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which occupies the South-West corner of the main Royal Naval dockyard under a 99-year lease. HMNB Portsmouth is the primary base of two thirds of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet and the home to the UK’s latest aircraft carriers.

Main Attractions

HMS Victory: Nelson’s flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765, HMS Victory is a 104 gun first-rate ship of the line
HMS Warrior: HMS Warrior was the largest and most powerful fighting ship of her time. Launched in 1860, she never fired a shot in anger
Mary Rose: Launched in 1511, the Mary Rose was a warship of the English Tudor Navy. She whilst leading an attack on a French invasion fleet in 1545. She was raised from the sea bed in 1982
HMS M33: Built as a gun platform to bombard shore defences in 1915, HMS M33 is the last surviving warship from the Gallipoli campaign

Pricing

Basic entry into the dockyard enables access to the National Museum of the Royal Navy. The standard adult price is £18 and £12 for a child (5-15 years). A family ticket (2 adults and 4 children would cost £49.60. However, given an extra charge would apply for entry to each of the ships listed above ranging from £7 to £18 per person, it is often cheaper to buy an annual ticket giving you access to all attractions for an entire year (see below).

Stay In Britain Tips

Buy an annual pass for the dockyard for £28 per adult and £12 for a child (5-15 years). Annual family tickets (2 adults and 3 children) are available for £64. Given that basic entry into the dockyard and access to one main attraction like HMS Victory would cost £36 for one adult for one day, an annual pass at £28 represents by far the best value.

The excellent Gunwharf Quays shopping centre is a short walk from the Historic Dockyard. Parking is more plentiful in Gunwharf and you can finish your day off with a nice meal at one of the Wharf’s many restaurants. Don’t forget that the Gosport ferry leaves ‘The Hard’ (opposite HMS Warrior) enabling easy access to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and HMS Alliance.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

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