Old Portsmouth has a plot twist every block.

This walking tour takes you from Roman Portus Adurni ideas to the age of aircraft carriers, using old photos, maps, and storyteller-style stops that explain why Portsmouth became so important for seafaring and naval power.

I love how the guide adds both quirky, weird-and-bizarre facts and real people stories about sailors’ lives. I also love the built-in photo moments, because the route keeps you looking at old places from new angles.

The main thing to plan for is simple: it is still a 90-minute walk, and you’ll feel it in your feet if you don’t wear supportive shoes.

Key things to know before you go

• A true time-jump route from Roman times through the late 12th century and onward to today
• Stories of Portsmouth’s people, not just ships and dates
• Historic pictures and maps help you spot what changed after bombing and shifts in naval life
• Great photo angles around Old Portsmouth as the tour moves between eras
• Aircraft-carrier era dockyard views without the cost of ship attraction tickets
• Family-friendly extras, including an age-appropriate activity book and pencils for kids

Where The Hard Interchange helps you start fast

You’ll meet at the Mudlarks Statue (a small girl and a man), about 30 meters from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. If you’re arriving by rail, Portsmouth Harbour Station and The Hard Bus Interchange are roughly 75 meters away, which makes this easy to slot into a day out.

One more handy detail: the Gosport Ferry is about 100 meters from the start. So if you’re ferry-hopping, you can plan the walk either before or after you cross the water.

From Portus Adurni to Portchester Castle: Portsmouth’s Roman beginnings

The tour starts by reaching back toward Portus Adurni, a Roman reference point tied to today’s Portchester Castle. Even if Roman Portsmouth is not the first thing you think of, this opening gives you a baseline for how long this coastline has mattered.

What I like about starting here is that it stops the history from feeling random. You get a sense of continuity: the harbor is the constant, and the people and powers change around it.

Practical tip: when the guide mentions early names and places, keep an eye on the direction you’re walking. That little mental map makes the later centuries easier to follow.

Late 12th-century Old Portsmouth: why the town grew into itself

Next, the walk moves into Old Portsmouth’s development in the late 12th century. This is where the story shifts from ancient geography to how a port community forms—how people organize work, housing, and daily life around the water.

You’ll get the sense that Portsmouth isn’t just a location. It’s a functioning system built to support sailors and naval activity. That makes the later stops about ships and dockyards feel less like trivia and more like cause and effect.

A small consideration: this section leans on storytelling and local context. If you prefer straight museum-style facts, you may want to take notes or pause for photos so the details don’t blur together.

Sailors’ lives and the weird side of Portsmouth

The heart of the tour is human. You’re not stuck watching a timeline; you’re learning how people in Portsmouth lived, worked, and got pulled into wider events.

This is also where the tour leans into the city’s quirkiness—the weird and bizarre facts that you’d likely miss on a quick stroll. The guide uses that local oddness on purpose: it keeps the history memorable, and it helps you picture what daily life may have felt like for sailors and dock workers.

And yes, the humor shows up. The vibe stays friendly, even when the subject turns serious. You come away with a better sense of why Portsmouth has always had a strong personality.

Historic pictures and war-era changes you can still see

A big part of the value here is that the walk is supported by historic pictures and maps. As you move around the Old Portsmouth area, you can better understand what you’re looking at today—and what’s been reshaped over time.

The tour includes context about how Portsmouth changed after periods of conflict, including references to bombing and shifts in ship life. The effect is practical: you stop seeing buildings and streets as just scenery and start noticing why certain areas look the way they do.

If you like comparing past and present, this section is the one you’ll remember on your photos later. The pictures help you frame the scene before you click the camera.

Aircraft carriers at the dockyard, without ship-ticket pressure

As the tour approaches modern times, you’ll reach the Aircraft Carriers theme in the dockyard area—part of Portsmouth’s continuing role in global naval history.

Important note: the tour focuses on stories and viewpoints, but entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and access to ship attractions is not included. So you can treat this as the orientation-and-story half of the day.

If you want ship museum time too, plan to add it separately. The upside is you control your pacing: you can keep the walking tour as your quick, smart primer, then decide later how much dockyard spending you want.

Photo stops and pacing on a 90-minute loop

This tour runs about 1.5 hours. That length is usually ideal for getting your bearings without burning half a day in one go—especially if you’re also planning other Portsmouth sights.

For photos, the guide’s approach matters: you’re not just walking past landmarks. You’re being told what to look for, which makes your pictures better. Old Portsmouth changes look subtle until someone points out what to compare.

What to bring is simple: comfortable shoes and a camera. If the weather turns nasty, you’ll want to be ready for a wet day. The tour may be adjusted: if conditions are very bad, contact the provider to confirm whether it runs or is delivered in a pub setting using pictures and stories.

Price and value: what $13 buys you here

At $13 per person, this isn’t a big-ticket activity. The value comes from three places.

First, you get a guide with over 40 years of living in Portsmouth and a wide local knowledge base. That matters on a walking tour because the details are what you’re paying for, not just the route.

Second, you’re getting a “whole-city” story for a short time—Roman roots, medieval growth, sailor life, wartime changes, then the modern dockyard era. That range is exactly what a good intro tour should do.

Third, there’s a real charity angle: all funds raised and gratuities are split with Cancer Research UK, and they’ve reported raising over £1200 last year. That turns the tour from a fun history walk into something you can feel good about.

Who should book this Portsmouth of the Past tour

I think this tour fits best if you want:

• A fast Old Portsmouth orientation with personality
• A guide who mixes history with local anecdotes
• A family-friendly outing that doesn’t require kids to “sit still” for long

It’s also wheelchair and scooter accessible, and it’s dog friendly, so you’re not forced into a rigid, indoor-only format. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll get an activity book and pencils with age-appropriate content, which helps the younger ones stay engaged.

If you’re someone who loves hands-on visuals, the historic photos and maps are a plus, because they help you connect the dots as you walk.

Should you book Portsmouth of the Past?

Yes—if you want a practical, story-driven way to understand Portsmouth beyond the usual highlights. For the price, the mix of people stories, quirky facts, and time periods makes it a strong “first look” at the city, especially when you only have a limited window.

I’d skip it only if you hate walking for 90 minutes or you’re expecting a ticketed museum experience. This tour is about guiding you through understanding, not about paid-entry ship attractions.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Portsmouth of the Past walking tour?

The tour lasts about 90 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Mudlarks Statue (a small girl and a man), about 30 meters from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Is the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard entrance included?

No. Entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and access to its ship attractions are not included.

Is the Spinnaker Tower included?

No. Entrance to the Spinnaker Tower is not included.

What language is the tour guide?

The tour is guided in English.

Is the tour wheelchair or scooter accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair / scooter accessible.

Is it dog friendly?

Yes. The tour is dog friendly.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and a camera.

What happens if the weather is very bad?

If weather is very inclement, contact the provider to confirm whether the tour is occurring or if it will be delivered in a pub using pictures and stories.