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21 FREE things to do in Portsmouth

Southsea CommonA great place for a family picnic, flying a kite or having a game of rounders, theCommon was recently voted the best picnic spot in the South East region in WarburtonsBritain’s Best Picnic Site Awards 2010.

Portsmouth City Museum and Records OfficeCome and see the exciting exhibition that allows you to explore the life and works of SirArthur Conan Doyle, creator of world renowned character Sherlock Holmes. Learnabout life in Portsmouth and at the seaside, both past and present through theirexhibitions and reconstructions.

Royal Armouries at Fort NelsonSpend the day discovering the Fort including the historic guns and cannons, make yourway through the secret tunnels and underground chambers, and watch the costumedactors bring times past to life.

Cumberland House Natural History MuseumCome and explore the British wildlife and its many habitats. The museum tells the taleof the wild riverbank, marshes, woods and urban areas of the city, and includes a freshwater aquarium. Between May and September you can also take an exciting walk

through their butterfly house, see how many species you can spot as they fly aroundyou.

Fun at the LibraryIf you are not yet a member, just go to any Portsmouth library and join, your ticket willallow you to use all of the Portsmouth libraries. With hundreds of wonderful books tochoose from you will never be bored. You can also rent DVD’s for a small charge,borrow talking books, language packs and make use of their computer facilities.Contact libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for more information.

aspexPortsmouth's leading contemporary art gallery invites you to explore the innovative,

contemporary and visual art on display. With exhibitions, workshops and eventsthroughout the year from international and local Portsmouth artists.

Children’s Play AreasChildren of all ages and abilities will love our city play areas. With a variety ofchallenging activities for children, the facilities can include swings, spring rockers,climbing bars, slides and bridges. Some of the larger sites include skate parks, BMXtracks, sand pits and ball game areas. Parents can relax whilst the children play.

Adventure PlaygroundsThere are 5 adventure playgrounds within the city, offering a wide range of challenging

play opportunities for children between the ages of 5-13 years. They provide a safe, funand friendly environment for all children to play in.

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Circular Cycle Ride around Langstone HarbourThis 15-mile ride takes in mud flats, salt marshes and reclaimed land as it loops aroundthe harbour. Pick up your route map from the Visitor Information Centre or download itfrom the ‘what to see and do’ section of the website.

Seafront Cycle Ride 

This is a 4.5 mile ride from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard along the seafront to Eastney.This route makes a great day out, you can stop at one of the bars and restaurants alongthe way or one of the many attractions along the seafront. Pick up your route map fromthe Visitor Information Centre or download it from the ‘what to see and do’ section ofthe website.

Famous Figures Cycle RideA 7.5 mile ride that takes you on a tour of Portsmouth’s most famous inhabitants of thepast. From famous faces in history such as Nelson and Henry VIII, to literary giants,famous engineers and architects, this ride will open your eyes to some of the manyfamous people with Portsmouth connections. Pick up your route map from the VisitorInformation Centre or download it from the ‘what to see and do’ section of the

website.

Healthy walksA fantastic programme of 12 healthy walks in 12 exciting locations around the city.Discover and learn about hidden parts of the city, whilst improving your health andkeeping green. Most of the walks are on flat paved areas with a pace to suit all agesand abilities, it is a great sociable activity for all the family. Visitwww.portsmouth.gov.uk to download your copy of the Portsmouth Healthy WalksProgramme.

Eastney Beam Engine House

Housed in their original high Victorian engine house of 1887 this pair of James Wattbeam engines will be in full steam. You can also enjoy a variety of pumping engines,many of which are still in running order. Open the last full weekend of each month1pm– 5pm (except December).

Hilsea LinesAn eighty-hectare site surrounding the fortifications of Hilsea Lines ancient monument,including woodland, meadows and fresh brackish lakes. It is remarkable that it containsthe only area of woodland on Portsea Island. The site is of particular interest to botanistsand offers easy to use self-guided trails.

Millennium Trail

Three kilometres of promenade links Portsmouth’s historic waterfront. The route startsfrom Spur Redoubt near Clarence Pier, Southsea and finishes on The Hard, taking in OldPortsmouth, the Camber and Gunwharf Quays. A printed handout is for sale at theVisitor Information Centres, which provides full details of the route and the historyassociated with the Millennium Promenade.

Farlington Marshes Wildlife ReserveFlower-rich grazing marsh and a saline lagoon, supports a wide variety of wildlife,including internationally important populations of migratory wildfowl and waders suchas the black-tailed godwit. Enjoy the circular walk, mostly on the sea wall, which isapproximately 4km.

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Genesis ExpoThe Genesis Expo is a creation museum, the first of its kind in the UK on this scale. Theexpo is run by the Creation Science Movement, also known as CSM. The CreationScience Movement is the oldest creationist movement in the world, founded in 1932 as"The Evolution Protest Movement", by a small group of Christians who believed thatthe theory of evolution was science propaganda.

St John’s Roman Catholic CathedralThis Victorian church was built in five phases from 1882-1925 and consecrated in 1887.During World War II it was extensively damaged, including the Bishop's House whichwas destroyed by a bomb. All the stained glass windows, except the rose window overthe organ, were either damaged or destroyed, and subsequently repaired or replaced.Everyone is welcome to come in and explore the splendour of this cathedral.

St Thomas’ Anglican CathedralFor centuries the Cathedral has watched, listened and helped the people of Portsmouthnavigate the passage of time. It has witnessed wars and peace, famous marriages, beenbombed and rebuilt. Everyone from all religious backgrounds is able to come along and

enjoy this beautiful cathedral.

Victoria ParkA haven of green tucked away in the city centre adjacent to the Guildhall and CivicOffices. It covers 15 acres of grassed area, well-planted flower borders and trees. In thecentre of the park is an area containing an aviary with peacocks, parrots and otherexotic birds, as well as rabbits and guinea pigs that children can feed. Take some time torelax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of this city getaway, or join one of theGuided ‘Tree Walks’ that take place during the year.

Canoe Lake

A popular park dating from 1886, Filled with some of the mature evergreen oaksplanted in 1910, as well as an impressive display of floral bedding. The main attraction isthe man-made boating lake. There is a large children's play area with equipment for allages and a sand pit. Aadjacent to the lake are the remaining walls of Lumps Fort whichis now a peaceful and restful setting for Southsea Rose Gardens. Canoe Lake is knownas a swan's nursery as it is one of the Mute Swans chosen sites in the Solent. At timesup to 60 juveniles can congregate here for comfort and security during the winter.