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
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Last Updated: 04:04 26/02/2026
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