Portsmouth City Museum
Portsmouth, Hampshire
About Portsmouth City Museum
Portsmouth City Museum is a great place for visitors to the city to get a good introduction to the city and also has events programmes for local residents.
Kids will love the look of the place, which is reminiscent of a fairy tale castle, with turrets and pointed roofs, but it is actually a former barracks!
The main display in the museum is the ‘Story of Portsmouth' and gives kids a great chance to learn how life at home has changed over the centuries in the galleries, which reconstruct a Victorian parlour, a 1930s kitchen, a 1950s living room.
There is also a dockyard worker's kitchen from 1871 and a 17th century bedchamber. Kids can find out about a different decade in each room.
The museum also displays temporary exhibitions on a wide range of subjects so repeat visits can be just as fun as the first one.
Permanent exhibitions include ‘A Study in Sherlock', which gives kids a chance to learn about Arthur Conan Doyle and his famous creation. The gallery explores Doyle's life and includes a Sherlock Holmes mystery.
The ‘No place like Pompey' exhibit explains many of the things that make Portsmouth unique and many of the things that you will notice as the kids explore the city.
There is also a picture gallery, a neat little football exhibition and an art collection so there really is something for everyone to enjoy!
Opening Times
April - September
Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:30
October - March
Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Pricing & Tickets
Free admission
Book in advance for cheapest tickets
Find other attractions similar to Portsmouth City Museum by visiting our attraction tickets section.
FAQs
Contact Details
Verification & Last Updated
Claim Status:Claim
This attraction has not been claimed and verified. Own this attraction? Claim it now.
Last Updated: 04:04 26/02/2026
Portsmouth City Museum Reviews
Recent blog posts
Plan your visit to Alton Towers Minecraft Meet the Mobs, with dates, mobs, trail details, food and ticket prices from £37 online.
The Disney Store is returning to Birmingham Selfridges. Here’s what families can expect, from products to opening details and why it matters.
As we’re nearing mid-June, the one month countdown to the school summer holidays is well and truly on and if you haven’t already started planning ahead, NOW is the time to do so… The UK Family Days Out Everyone’s Booking This Summer BeWILDerwood Norfolk Ready and waiting to welcome adventurers of all ages, BeWILDerwood Norfolk…
Discover 10 brilliant free days out across the UK, led by Manchester Museum. Perfect family ideas for budget-friendly adventures without entry fees.
The arrival of June signals just one thing: SUMMER has officially landed! We know you’re itching to dive into sun-drenched family adventures and soak up every second of the great outdoors before it’s gone. Keep scrolling for our weekly top picks of attractions… The UK Family Days Out Everyone’s Booking This Summer Wonderland, Telford Get…
Wow what a SCORCHER this May half-term has been! Whilst it might be back to routines sooner than you’d like, the fun needn’t be over as there’s still plenty going on for you and your family to enjoy! Check out these trending family attractions you won’t want to miss out on: The Days Out Families…
May Half Term 2026 – Best Days Out May half term is one of the best times of year to get the kids out of the house: warmer weather, longer days and a packed calendar of limited-time family events. To make planning easier, we’ve pulled together the best May Half Term 2026 days out from…
May half-term has officially arrived, and with a week of glorious sunshine ahead, it is the perfect time for an outdoor adventure! We have rounded up everything you need for the ultimate break. Searching for inspiration? We have found some fantastic last-minute options to help you plan a truly memorable trip. Attractions nationwide are launching…