Free tour

Free walking tour of Historic Old Portsmouth

4.88

Excellent (50 ratings)

Portsmouth

Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Steve

Registered on 11 February 2023

Hi, I'm Steve, the lead guide for Portsmouth of the Past Free Walking Tours. Having lived in and around the city for over 40 years, I have extensive knowledge of the quirky or secret places that you might miss. Your guides love engaging with visitors from all over the world to this wonderful city. What makes Portsmouth unique? It is all about its people, their lives, loves, and losses. It is not about boring buildings and dreary dates. As such I am a storyteller, making our history real to people today.

Free booking and cancellation

Pay-what-you-wish tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

We offer walking tours of the historic parts of Old Portsmouth. We focus on its people and stories of their lives, loves, and losses, not dreary dates or boring buildings.

Your guide has lived in Portsmouth for over 40 years. He has an unrivaled knowledge of historic Portsmouth from its Roman origins to the present day, delivered in a fun, engaging, and informative manner. The tour is supported by historic pictures, maps, etc.

The full tour route is approximately 2 miles and wheelchair/mobility scooter friendly. We are also dog friendly.

Tour groups are limited to 12 people, ensuring you can hear & engage.

For international travellers, summary sheets of the key points are available in several languages.

A children's workbook/pencils are available to take away to ensure their engagement and interest.

For people with connections to Portsmouth, your guide has extensive data on past naval losses, people lost during World War 2. You may have local history you never knew!

Please note: the tours do not enter the Historic Dockyard, go on its ships, or visit the Spinnaker Tower.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

The Hard Interchange, Portsea, Portsmouth PO1 3PU, UK

Tours depart from the Mudlarks (girl and man) statue 30 metres outside the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. During summer a Portsmouth Of the Past banner/ A board is close by. Tour guides normally wear union jack waistcoats or carry a union jack umbrella so you can't miss us!.

Outside visit

The Hard

Just outside the historic dockyard, also known as Devil's Acre, reflecting its history of drinking, & pressgangs.

Outside visit

HMS Warrior

See this magnificant ship from 1860

Outside visit

St Georges Square

The oldest dock area from the 13th century with a monument to Britain's greatest engineer

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).