Although through the years Portsmouth has developed into an advanced metropolitan city with prominent features being the Spinnaker Tower, it is mainly its past that fascinates tourists. Well known for being England’s oldest naval base, Portsmouth is a port city, rich in maritime heritage dating back centuries. With its very own dockyard being home to many wartime ships and national treasures, there’s so much you can learn about England’s history. So without further ado, here are six great spots you can explore to learn more about Portsmouth’s interesting maritime past.

THE HMS VICTORY

Known for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, the HMS Victory is the Royal Navy’s most famous warship. Currently, the victory has a dual role as the Flagship the Sea Lord and as a living museum tribute to the Georgian Navy.

When visiting the HMS Victory, You’ll notice an etched memorial indicating the spot where Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson fell. A new feature is the HMS Victory Under Hull Walkway: This means you can descend into the base of the dry dock and view this 3600-tonne ship from below.

Whilst inside, you won’t want to miss the next Victory gallery which has been refitted and now tells the story of the Battle of Trafalgar from a whole new depth. Through a combination of big format cinematic film, interactives, newly displayed and previously unseen artifacts, it traces her decline and rescue in the 1920s by the Society of Nautical Research (SNR) and the dramatic events when she may have been forever lost to the country.

Click below to learn more and visit their website.

THE MARY ROSE MUSEUM

The Mary Rose served as King Henry VIII’s flagship, before sinking during the battle of Solent in 1545 whilst the King was watching nearby Southsea Castle. Thankfully her remains were raised in 1982 and have since been dramatically restored in a project costing £27 million in Heritage Lottery Funding. Now you can step into the past and see thousands of the original objects, alongside the recovered ship on display.

Within the museum, there are 9 galleries that offer different and unique views of the magnificent ship, not to mention there are lots of opportunities to take pictures from the top deck and hands-on displays with accurate Tudor ingenuity.

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF OF THE ROYAL NAVY

Also located in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard lies The National Museum of the Royal Navy where history comes to life. With lots of treasured artifacts being displayed from the past 350 years, this museum examines the common threads which link the sailor of England’s ‘Wooden Walls’ to the naval crews of today.

By visiting the museum, you’ll grow a lot more admiration for the Royal Navy, and learn a lot more about how it’s shaped the world we know today. In fact, situated in the Babcock Galleries at the Museum is the Hear My Story Exhibition. It tells the incredible stories of ordinary men, women, and ships who have contributed to the Navy’s remarkable history in the last century, the century of greatest change.

Click below to learn more and visit their website.

HARBOUR TOURS

A perfect way to learn about the area is by taking a tour!

The current Royal Navy is still based in Portsmouth, and the Harbour Tour provides unrivaled views of the country’s modern frigates, destroyers, and helicopter carriers, as well as historic structures and the stunning skyline.

The British Navy in Portsmouth has a 1,200-year history dating back to King Alfred the Great’s reign in the 860s. This broad natural inlet on the coast is a flooded river valley sheltered on two sides of the dockyard, here and at Gosport, by a deep narrow entry, which creates an ideal harbour.

On the 45-minute Harbour Tour, you’ll visit several of the fortifications that have been built to safeguard Portsmouth over the years, including the Round Tower at the harbor’s entrance and the Fortifications of Portsmouth. Click below to learn more and visit their website.

CHARLES DICKENS’ BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM 

A fan of classic novels? Well then, surely if you’re in town you must visit the museum dedicated to one of England’s literary greats – Charles Dickens. Not only does this house museum showcase some of the esteemed ‘A Christmas Carol’ author’s work but it also allows you to see into the life of Dickens.

Here you can see where he was born and grew up, as well as a number of collections made by the writer in this delightful 18th-century styled house. The rooms of Charles Dickens’ Birthplace transport you not only into the life of the renowned author but also into the lifestyles and preferences of the time. The house was decorated in the Regency style, which was popular among the middle classes at the time.

The most notable direct connection to Charles Dickens that the museum has is the sofa on which he died on June 9, 1870, at Gad’s Hill Place. Click below to learn more and visit their website.