Home Port
of Heritage

Welcome to Portsmouth Historic Quarter.

Explore our free-to-access historic buildings, boats and spaces around Portsmouth Harbour and discover the rich history and culture in our care.

Step into our maritime and industrial heritage at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth and Priddy’s Hard in Gosport.

Our Latest Projects

From big restorations to small improvements and powerful one-off moments, we’re always looking for ways to make our sites more sustainable, active, welcoming and inclusive.

Take a look at some of our latest work below.

PHQ PRIDE F8 JAMIE O (5)

F8 Pride Project

Landing Craft F8 is wrapped in Pride colours to honour LGBTQ+ veterans and reflect on their hidden stories of service.

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Carpenters' Yard Creative Community

Creating artists’ studios and a new public cultural space in an historic corner of Priddy’s Hard.

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New Toilet Block

Newly constructed accessible visitor toilets with baby change, feeding room and artefact displays. Thoughtfully designed and family-friendly.

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SHE_SEES Exhibition

Experience the free, thought provoking SHE_SEES exhibition hosted in Boathouse 4, uncovering the extensive history of trailblazing female voices in the maritime industry.

Explore The Quarter

Who We Are

As custodians of historic buildings, boats and spaces in and around Portsmouth Harbour, we breathe new life into this Naval heritage, creating energy and vibrancy, ensuring that it is sustainable and accessible for all.

We are an ambitious and collaborative charity. We actively create authentic, educational and enjoyable places, experiences and opportunities.

Portsmouth Historic Quarter preserves and develops Portsmouth Harbour’s rich maritime heritage and vibrant culture through building regeneration, boat restoration, volunteer activity and community collaboration.

By connecting people with heritage, arts and culture, we create meaningful opportunities and shared pride in the place we call home.

Our Charity

Visit Ticketed Attractions

While access to the Dockyard site is free, delve deeper still into history with ticketed attractions including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, and the Mary Rose Museum. Walk through historic ships, visit interactive exhibits and immersive displays and see world class collections to make your trip to the dockyard unforgettable.

For more information on the Ultimate Explorer ticket, which grants year-round access to these attractions, visit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

historicdockyard.co.uk

Charters & Hire

Embark on a voyage through history with our charter and hire services.

Experience the thrill of riding aboard operational craft such as Motor Gun Boat 81 (MGB 81), commissioned in 1942 and part of the D-Day Normandy landings. Discover HSL 102, an heroic vessel that saved 38 aircrew in 1941 while patrolling the English Channel.

Take a ride on board our landing craft – the fully accessible Falklands conflict veteran F8, offering a truly unique perspective of Portsmouth Harbour.

Contact Us now to charter your trip, or follow the link below for more information.

 

Find out more

Social channels

For heritage, culture, events, art, community and culinary content:

Instagram: @portsmouth.historic.quarter

Facebook: @PortsmouthHistoricQuarter

X: PortsmouthHQ

For boats insights, volunteer project updates and BH4 events:

Instagram: @boathouseno_4

Facebook: Boathouse4

X: Boathouse_4

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How to get here

The heritage sites of PHQ are well connected by public transport and easily accessible by road:

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

  • Portsmouth Harbour train station (5 min walk)
  • The Hard Interchange bus station (5 min walk)
  • PO1 3GW carpark (5 min walk)
    Make sure to access Portsmouth Historic Dockyard via Queen Street
    Please follow the brown tourism signs once you are in Portsmouth
    Do not attempt to enter via Trafalgar Gate on the Naval Base

Priddy's Hard

  • Gosport Ferry Terminal (25 min walk)
  • PO12 4LE (Follow signs for Priddy’s Hard)
  • Waterbus from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – please check PHD website for timings as they vary seasonally
Explore the Quarter