Portsmouth Natural History Museum

About the museum

The museum is housed in Cumberland House on Eastern Parade in Southsea, a villa that dates from around 1830 to 1840 and is now a listed building. It is run by Portsmouth Museums, the museum service of Portsmouth City Council, and is one of several museums the council operates in the city.

The displays cover the natural history of Portsmouth and the surrounding area. They include an A-Z of natural history, local habitats, geology and the history of the earth, fossils and dinosaurs, and a working observation beehive. The collection is much larger than the display space, so many items are kept in an off-site store, and tours of the store are sometimes offered between April and September.

In the grounds is a purpose-built Butterfly House, home to neo-tropical butterflies from Central and South America during the summer season. The museum also looks after a sculpture trail in Southsea by the chainsaw sculptor Chris Bain and has been certified under VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme.

Highlights

• Butterfly House with tropical butterflies from May to September
• Observation beehive showing the inside of a working hive
• A-Z of natural history display
• Fossils and dinosaur display
• Southsea sculpture trail by Chris Bain

Permanent exhibitions

• A-Z of Natural History – A tour of the natural world from arthropods to zoology, using the museum’s collections.
• The Butterfly House – A purpose-built greenhouse with tropical plants and neo-tropical butterflies, which fly freely from May to September.
• Observational Beehive – A glass-sided beehive that lets visitors watch the bees at work inside the hive.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Portsmouth City Council (Portsmouth Museums)

Admission & discounts

Residents of Portsmouth with postcodes PO1 to PO6 enter free. All visitors are asked for their postcode.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground floor is fully accessible, with a ramp beside the five front steps and a short ramp down to the Butterfly House. The first floor is reached only by stairs, as the historic building has no lift. Reception has limited space for large wheelchairs or scooters, and some paths in the Butterfly House are narrow. A wheelchair is available on request, and an Evac+Chair with trained staff can help visitors who can use stairs. Induction loops are installed. Assistance dogs are allowed in the museum but not in the Butterfly House. There are two disabled parking bays outside the museum. The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Exploria at Portsmouth Pyramids, about 1.2 km away.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities

The museum describes itself as family friendly. It runs creative sessions for children under 5 and offers downloadable activity sheets. Buggies are not allowed inside because of limited space; a secure buggy park with lockers (refundable £1 coin or trolley token) is provided next to the building. Baby changing facilities are available. Schools can book hands-on learning sessions for all key stages.

Getting there & parking

From the Eastern Road follow signs for Central Southsea, take the A288 and then turn right onto Eastern Parade. The what3words location is number.woods.called.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The gift shop is next to reception and sells toys, gifts and souvenirs linked to the displays. A buggy park with lockers is next to the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The whole museum or the Butterfly House and reception can be hired for evening functions, and the garden can be hired for outdoor events. Prices are available on request.

Plan your visit