Southsea Castle

About the museum

Southsea Castle was built in great haste in 1544 as one of Henry VIII's coastal forts, after fears of a French attack on Portsmouth. It is said to have been designed by the king himself. On 18 July 1545 a French invasion fleet approached after landing on the Isle of Wight, and Henry watched the Battle of the Solent from the castle; his flagship, the Mary Rose, sank during the battle.

In 1627 a fire gutted the keep. At the start of the Civil War in 1642 a large Parliamentary force surrounded the castle, and its garrison gave up without loss of life. In 1759 an accidental explosion destroyed a large part of the castle and killed seventeen men, women and children, and the damaged building was nearly demolished. It was completely renovated in 1814 to hold more guns and a larger wartime garrison, and in Victorian times it served as a military prison while its guns stayed ready for action.

The castle was withdrawn from active service in 1960 and bought by Portsmouth City Council. Today it is a visitor attraction run by Portsmouth Museums. The keep has displays on its history, including a model of Henry VIII, a replica of the Cowdray Engraving of the Mary Rose sinking and artefacts recovered when the ship was raised in 1982, and the ramparts offer views over Southsea Common and the Solent.

Highlights

• Keep with displays on the castle's history
• Model of Henry VIII and replica of the Cowdray Engraving of the Mary Rose sinking
• Artefacts recovered from the Mary Rose
• Lens from the castle lighthouse
• Ramparts with cannons and views over the Solent
• Courtyard café and rooftop bar

Permanent exhibitions

• The Keep – Displays on the castle's history including a model of Henry VIII, a replica of the Cowdray Engraving, artefacts from the Mary Rose, the effort of firing the cannons and the lens of the castle lighthouse.
• The Ramparts – A walkway with cannons and views over Southsea Common, the Solent and the courtyard.

Founded

1543

Operated by

Portsmouth Museums (Portsmouth City Council)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome.

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 courtyard, shop and microbrewery are on one level, but the courtyard and the walkway to the castle are mostly cobbled. The keep and ramparts are reached only by stairs and are not suitable for visitors with mobility impairments, although a ground-floor video covers the keep's content. The tunnels have steps, low ceilings and often wet, slippery floors. A similar sea view is available from the old fortifications on either side of the castle: the eastern path is wheelchair accessible but steep in places. There is no car park at the castle and no vehicle access. Disabled parking is in The D-Day Story car park, about 60 metres away on a short flat path, which also has a Changing Places toilet about 200 metres away, and paid spaces are available on Clarence Esplanade. An accessible toilet and baby changing are in the museum. Guide, hearing and assistance dogs with tabards are allowed in the keep; other dogs are allowed only in the courtyard.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing is available at the museum. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. The keep and ramparts are reached only by stairs.

Getting there & parking

The site is just off junction 1 of the M275. The nearest road is about 150 metres from the entrance and the courtyard is reached by a bridge over the moat.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Courtyard café, restaurant and rooftop bar are inside the castle and open all year. The shop is at ground level and the Southsea Brewing Company microbrewery is on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The castle can be hired for weddings and events; hire options are described on the event hire and weddings pages, and wedding fairs are held through the year.

Plan your visit