Name: Portchester Castle
Rating: 5.0

Portchester Castle

Church Lane, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 9QW, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

Portchester Castle began life as a vast Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ fort built to defend the south-east coast of Britannia and it still retains most of its Roman defences. Today, you can climb to the top of the 100ft high Norman keep, added in the 12th century, and enjoy brilliant views across the Solent.

Look out for displays telling the stories of prisoners of war from the Napoleonic wars; as well as a dramatic installation about Portchester’s most surprising prisoners – around 2,000 African-Caribbean soldiers who were captured while fighting on St Lucia. Discover how they encountered kindness as well as cruelty and prejudice.

Price starts from £9.00 for Adults, £5.00 for Children(5-17) and £14.00 for Family of four. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

The Castle Keep: Explore Portchester Castle’s 12th-century Norman keep, one of the tallest in the country. It's the best-preserved Roman fort in northern Europe and the only one whose entire defensive circuit survives with little altered from when it was built.
The Story of Portchester's Prisoners: From 1665 Portchester served as a prisoner-of-war camp. This part of Portchester’s varied history reached its height during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars of 1793–1815. During these wars, Portchester housed up to 8,000 prisoners, of many nationalities and backgrounds, at any one time.
The Prisoners Theatre: If you associate prisoner-of-war theatricals with the Second World War, it’s time to think again. The tradition goes back much further than that. Portchester Castle has a remarkably well-preserved Georgian theatre, created within the Norman castle keep by French prisoners of war in 1810.
Magical Creatures: Looking for an adventure with your little ones? Uncover English folklore with our Folktale Creature Trails, where children can discover magical creatures from English myths and legends.
Prime Picnic Spots: Climb to the top of Portchester's 30-metre (100 ft) keep to take in breathtaking views across the Solent.

Facilities

Parking: Charged parking 200m from the castle entrance, not managed by English Heritage.
Food And Drink: Small selection of snacks, hot and cold drinks are sold on site.
Toilets: There are no toilet facilities on site. The nearest toilets are located in the large car park outside the castle walls.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Advance online tickets:

Member: Free.
Adult: £9.00 with donation & £8.10 without donation.
Child(5-17 years): £5.00 with donation & £4.50 without donation.
Family(2 adults, up to 3 children): £23.00 with donation & £20.70 without donation.
Family(1 adult, up to 3 children): £14.00 with donation & £12.60 without donation.

On the day tickets:

Member: Free.
Adult: £11.00 with donation & £10.00 without donation.
Child(5-17 years): £6.00 with donation & £5.40 without donation.
Family(2 adults, up to 3 children): £28.00 with donation & £25.40 without donation.
Family(1 adult, up to 3 children): £17.00 with donation & £15.40 without donation.

Membership: Become a member today from just £42

For more information please visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/portchester-castle/prices-and-opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm)

Address: Church Lane, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 9QW, UK

Post Code: PO16 9QW

Council: Fareham

County: Hampshire

Road Access: Portchester Castle is on the south side of Portchester off the A27; Junction 11 of the M27.
Bus Access: First service 3 to within 1⁄4 mile.
Train Access: Portchester station is 1 mile from the castle.
Bicycle Access: Find your cycling route to Portchester Castle at sustrans.org.uk, the National Cycle Network.
Parking: Charged parking 200m from the castle entrance, not managed by English Heritage.