10 great things to do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard during February half-term
1. Travel back in time on board a Victorian Warship
Where: HMS Warrior
Sail back to yesteryear in 1863 and hear about the Victorian’s greatest battleship and explore her depths. Meet the characters on board who live on the ship and enter the newly-opened areas including the captain’s cabin and even the officer’s toilet. Can you prove your worth on board and master knot tying, semaphore, and cutlass drills?
2. Encounter the modern stories of the Royal Navy
Where: Hear My Story Gallery
The Hear My Story gallery tells the undiscovered stories from the ordinary men and women of the ships which have shaped the navy’s amazing history over the last 100 years, the century of greatest change. Hear My Story brings you closer than ever before to the real Royal Navy; Get immersed with technology to disguise your ship, hunt a submarine and send messages in code. See the veterans who can tell you first hand their stories of living and fighting at sea.
3. Test your pirate skills in Horrible Histories® Pirates: The Exhibition
Where: Horrible Histories® Pirates: The Exhibition
Batten down the hatches sailor! Horrible Histories® Pirates: The Exhibition ‘lands ahoy’ at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Follow a bossy pirate parrot and his ratty shipmate on a hilarious journey as you discover wicked weapons, terrible tactics and prisoner punishment used by Blackbeard himself. Argh ye pirate enough?
4. Beat the rest in Laser Quest!
Where: Action Stations
Set in a modern-day pirate stronghold and hijacked container ship, groups will work together to defeat the opposite team through billowing smoke effects and an exhilarating atmosphere. Based on our action movie, Command Approved, each session will transport those who dare to a deserted pirate base – the perfect backdrop for your laser tag game! Book your session now!
5. Explore the secrets of HMS Alliance
Where: Royal Navy Submarine Museum – Gosport (access from Portsmouth via Harbour Waterbus)
Take a peek through the working periscopes onboard HMS Alliance, and see, hear and even smell how life was lived under the sea. Test your metal and learn whether you could survive conditions below the water.
6. Walk the decks of history on board HMS Victory
Where: HMS Victory
Walk the decks on HMS Victory and look out over the rest of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard from her poop deck. Join us on Tuesday 18 and you’ll meet the daring Captain Hardy! Discover where the heroic Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson fell and imagine how the men onboard fought for survival during her most glorious battle at Trafalgar.
7. Discover the secrets of the Jolly Roger
Where: The National Museum of the Royal Navy
Change your viewpoint on the Jolly Roger flag and learn about how Royal Navy submariners turned things around and started to fly their own, original Jolly Rogers upon return from mission. See the fearsome red Jolly Roger and explore how they’ve changed through time.
8. Get up close with real naval ships
Where: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Head out on the water on a Harbour Tour and get up close and personal with serving Royal Navy ships. Explore the vast range of ships that this unique tour has to offer and learn about how they’re used across the oceans today.
9. Test your swashbuckling agility in Action Stations
Where: Action Stations
Are you a fierce buccaneer? See if you have what it takes to be a pirate in Action Stations. Take on the dizzying heights of the climbing wall and tackle the assault course to see if you have the agility to capture treasure better than any other pirate.
10. Build a pirate ship
Where: HMS Warrior
Are you the ship builder of the future? Sails, rigging, a ship’s wheel – what will your ship have? See if you can create the master vessels of the future with Lego and whether you can gain the Royal Navy’s stamp of approval. Drop in to this fun family activity at half-term on 20th February on board Queen Victoria’s pride and joy, HMS Warrior.
Click here to book.