Portsmouth: Portsmouth of the Past Walking Tour

Portsmouth’s past is not confined to museum walls. On this 90-minute walk through Old Portsmouth, the city’s naval story is tied to the people who lived, worked, loved, argued, and sometimes misbehaved here. Steve, who has lived in Portsmouth for more than 40 years, brings that local point of view, along with old photographs, maps, and plenty of unusual facts.

I like two things straight away: the personal storytelling and the low price of $13. You get more than a list of dates, and the tour gives you a useful first look at the old town before deciding how to spend time in the Historic Dockyard. The only caution is that the walk covers plenty of ground, so comfortable shoes matter, and anyone hoping for ship interiors or tower views must pay separately for those attractions.

Key points to know before you book

• Steve’s local knowledge: Your guide has spent over 40 years living in Portsmouth and brings strong familiarity with the old town.
• Stories from Roman times to aircraft carriers: The walk links Portus Adurni, the development of Old Portsmouth, naval life, wartime change, and the modern dockyard.
• Historic pictures and maps: Visual material helps you see how the city and its waterfront changed over time.
• A quirky side of Portsmouth: Expect strange facts, amusing anecdotes, and stories involving sailors, romance, crime, martyrs, and local characters.
• Easy transport connections: The meeting point is close to Portsmouth Harbour Station, The Hard bus interchange, and the Gosport Ferry.
• Good for mixed groups: The route is wheelchair and scooter accessible, dog friendly, and supported with an age-appropriate activity book for children.

Starting beside The Hard and Portsmouth Harbour

The tour begins at the Mudlarks Statue, showing a small girl and a man, about 30 metres from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Look for the Portsmouth of the Past board and banner. The meeting point is simple to reach, with Portsmouth Harbour Station and The Hard bus interchange roughly 75 metres away. The Gosport Ferry is about 100 metres from the start.

That location is useful if you are arriving by train, bus, or ferry. It also puts you beside one of Portsmouth’s main visitor areas, so you can add a Dockyard visit before or after the walk. Allow a few minutes to find the statue, especially if you arrive during a busy period.

The walk returns to The Hard Interchange after about an hour and a half. That makes it easy to continue your day without arranging a second pickup point. You can also use the tour as an orientation walk, then return to places that deserve a slower look.

A people-first look at Portsmouth’s naval past

The tour begins on a broad historical timeline. It reaches back to the Roman settlement of Portus Adurni, the site now associated with Portchester Castle, then moves forward to the development of Old Portsmouth in the late 12th century.

You will not be entering Portchester Castle on this tour, and the walk does not replace a visit to the Historic Dockyard. Its purpose is different. It shows how Portsmouth grew as a place shaped by ships, sailors, military needs, trade, war, and the people who made their lives around the water.

I find that approach useful because Portsmouth can be easy to read as a collection of naval buildings and attractions. A local guide can add the human details that a plaque often leaves out. The focus here is on how people lived and how the city changed around them.

Stories about sailors help explain the character of Old Portsmouth. The area’s past was not tidy or polite all the time. Expect tales that move from funny incidents to love stories, murder, and martyrs. That range gives the walk a lighter touch than a formal military lecture, while still providing a clear sense of the city’s importance.

Old Portsmouth’s odd facts and local characters

The tour’s main selling point is its quirky material. Steve does not simply point at an old building and give you a construction date. He uses the setting to explain the strange, surprising, or easily missed details connected with it.

That suits Old Portsmouth well. A short stroll can reveal layers of naval, civic, and social history, but you may not know which details deserve attention. The guide’s stories help you notice the character of the place instead of passing through it on the way to a larger attraction.

The humor is important. Steve is described as friendly, funny, and enthusiastic, and the experience works best if you enjoy history told through anecdotes. Several people have found the walk entertaining as well as informative, with the guide remembering names and speaking to a mixed group in a personal way.

You should not expect a lecture packed with technical facts at every minute. One point of feedback suggests that some people may want more straight historical content. If your main goal is a detailed account of naval battles, ship design, or military strategy, the Dockyard museums will give you more depth. If you want a lively introduction to Portsmouth’s old town, this format is a better fit.

Using old maps and pictures to see what changed

A strong feature is the use of historic photographs and maps during the walk. Portsmouth has changed through redevelopment, changes in ships and seafaring, and wartime bombing. A modern street can tell only part of that story.

Old images help you compare the city you see with the city that came before. Maps can show how the waterfront, streets, and working areas developed. This is especially helpful for children and anyone who finds dates hard to connect with real places.

The visual material also keeps the group engaged during explanations. Instead of asking you to imagine the past from words alone, Steve can show how a location looked before major changes. Bring a camera, but also keep your attention on the guide’s pictures. In this tour, the old images are part of the experience, not just decoration.

The result is a walk that works for first-time visitors and local residents. People who already live in Portsmouth may still learn something new, while those with only a short stay can quickly understand how the old town fits into the wider city.

From Portus Adurni to the modern dockyard

The historical span is wide. The story begins with the Roman period and reaches into the modern era, including today’s aircraft carriers in the dockyard. That broad sweep gives the walk a useful sense of continuity.

You will hear how Portsmouth developed from an early settlement into a key naval city. The emphasis is not only on famous ships or national events. The guide connects the city’s role to ordinary lives, showing how naval work shaped the people and neighborhoods around it.

The modern aircraft carriers provide a striking endpoint to that story. They remind you that Portsmouth is not simply a preserved historic town. It remains linked to the Royal Navy and to large-scale maritime activity.

This long view is one of the tour’s best qualities, though it also means the treatment of each era must be selective. Ninety minutes is enough for an overview and a set of memorable stories. It is not enough to cover every century, building, or naval campaign in detail.

What the 90-minute route feels like

The pace is leisurely rather than rushed. You move around Old Portsmouth, stopping at points of interest and less obvious places while Steve explains what you are seeing. The route includes enough locations to give you a sense of the area without becoming a full-day walking commitment.

Even so, do not treat it as a completely effortless stroll. One person found the length well judged but still had tired feet later. Wear comfortable shoes, especially if you plan to continue sightseeing afterward.

The route is wheelchair and scooter accessible, which makes it a practical choice for many visitors. Accessibility can vary in real life with weather, crowds, and individual needs, so it is sensible to contact the provider if you need specific route information.

Dogs are welcome. Children receive an activity book and pencils, with content suited to their age. That makes the walk more family-friendly than many history tours, though younger children will still need to enjoy walking and listening for 90 minutes.

If weather becomes very poor, contact the provider before setting out. The tour may be changed or, in very inclement conditions, delivered in a pub with pictures and stories instead. That is a sensible backup in a city where wind and rain can quickly affect a waterfront walk.

What you pay for, and what you do not

At $13 per person, this is a modest-cost way to understand Portsmouth before spending money on larger attractions. The guide, the walking route, local stories, maps, and historic images are included.

The price does not include entry to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or access to its ships and other attractions. It also does not include the Spinnaker Tower. This distinction matters because the walk starts close to the Dockyard, and it would be easy to assume that a museum or ship visit forms part of the ticket.

I see the tour as a useful companion to the Dockyard rather than a substitute for it. If you have limited time or a tight budget, the walk gives you context without committing to a longer museum visit. If you want to go aboard historic ships, plan and pay for that separately.

The tour also has a charitable purpose. Funds raised and gratuities are split with Cancer Research UK. More than £1,200 had been raised so far in the previous year, so your booking supports a local guide and a wider charitable cause.

Who will get the most from this walk

I would choose this tour if you want a friendly introduction to Portsmouth and prefer stories to a formal audio guide. It suits first-time visitors, families, cruise or ferry passengers with a short window, and local residents who want to see familiar streets differently.

It is also useful at the start of a longer stay. The walk can help you decide which parts of Old Portsmouth deserve more time and whether the Historic Dockyard or Spinnaker Tower fits your plans.

History fans will appreciate the maps, photographs, and wide time span. Still, you should set your expectations correctly. The tour offers a broad, human account with unusual facts, not a specialist seminar on naval history.

The experience may be less suitable if you dislike group walking, need frequent indoor breaks, or want guaranteed access to ships and museums. It is also delivered in English, so you will need a good working understanding of the language to follow the stories and explanations.

Useful booking details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

The advertised rating is 4.8 from 44 reviews, with repeated praise for Steve’s friendliness, humor, local knowledge, and ability to make the walk personal. Specific feedback also highlights his communication before the tour, his use of maps and pictures, and his ability to keep the pace manageable.

The meeting point is close to public transport, but bring comfortable shoes and a camera. If rain or strong weather looks likely, contact the provider to confirm the plan.

Should you book the Portsmouth of the Past walk?

Book it if you want local stories, odd facts, and useful historical context before exploring Portsmouth on your own. Steve’s long connection with the city is central to the experience, and the combination of humor, photographs, maps, and naval history gives you more than a simple street tour.

At $13, the value is strong, especially for a 90-minute introduction near the station, ferry, bus interchange, and Historic Dockyard. Choose a different activity if your priority is entering ships, visiting the Spinnaker Tower, or getting a detailed specialist account of naval events.

For most visitors with comfortable shoes and an interest in how Portsmouth became Portsmouth, this is a sensible first stop.

FAQ

How long is the Portsmouth of the Past Walking Tour?

The tour lasts 90 minutes, or one and a half hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Mudlarks Statue, showing a small girl and a man, about 30 metres from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. A Portsmouth of the Past board and banner may help you find it.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk returns to The Hard Interchange.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair and scooter accessible.

Are children and dogs allowed?

Yes. The tour is dog friendly, and children receive an age-appropriate activity book and pencils.

Does the ticket include the Historic Dockyard or Spinnaker Tower?

No. Entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, its ship attractions, and the Spinnaker Tower are not included.