Portsmouth: Portsmouth of the Past Walking Tour

Portsmouth’s odd stories are worth a walk. This 90-minute tour brings Old Portsmouth’s naval past to life through sailors’ lives, local characters, and unusual tales, with Steve’s friendly humour helping the city feel personal. I especially like the use of old photographs and maps, and the fact that the walk costs only $13 while supporting Cancer Research UK. The main consideration is that the tour gives you an engaging overview rather than entry to Portsmouth’s major ship attractions.

I also like how easy the meeting point is to reach from Portsmouth Harbour Station, the bus interchange, and the Gosport Ferry. Guide Steve has spent more than 40 years living in Portsmouth, and his local stories range from funny episodes to love stories, murders, martyrs, and wartime change. If you want a more formal, detail-heavy naval lecture, you may find the storytelling style a little lighter than expected.

Key points to know before you book

• Steve’s four decades in Portsmouth give the walk a strong local voice, with stories that go beyond standard dates and famous names.
• Historic maps and photographs help you picture streets, ships, buildings, and wartime damage that are no longer easy to see.
• The route links Roman beginnings to modern aircraft carriers, giving you a useful sense of how Portsmouth developed as a naval city.
• The tour is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters, and dogs can join the walk too.
• Children receive an activity book and pencils, with material designed to suit their age.
• The $13 fee offers good value, especially since funds and gratuities are shared with Cancer Research UK.

Starting beside the Mudlarks Statue

The walk begins at the Mudlarks Statue, a small girl and man positioned about 30 metres from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Look for the Portsmouth of the Past walking tour board and banner. This is a practical meeting point, not a remote corner of town: Portsmouth Harbour Station and The Hard Bus Interchange are about 75 metres away, while the Gosport Ferry is roughly 100 metres from the start.

I like this location because it lets you combine the walking tour with other parts of a Portsmouth day. You can arrive by train, bus, or ferry without needing a taxi or a long walk through unfamiliar streets. It also puts you right beside the dockyard, though the tour itself does not include admission to the Historic Dockyard or its ships.

The beginning is likely to feel informal and personal. Steve has more than 40 years of experience living in Portsmouth, and that matters here. A local guide can explain not just what a building is, but how the area changed, how its people lived, and why certain corners mattered.

The group then sets off around Old Portsmouth for about an hour and a half. This is a walking tour, so wear comfortable shoes. One useful tip comes directly from the nature of the route: even though the pace is described as leisurely, your feet may feel it later because the walk covers many parts of the old town.

From Portus Adurni to a naval city

The story reaches back to the Roman period, including Portus Adurni, the Roman fort now associated with Portchester Castle. You do not enter Portchester Castle on this walk, but its place in the story helps explain that Portsmouth’s importance did not begin with modern warships.

From there, the guide moves toward the development of Old Portsmouth in the late 12th century. This gives you a useful frame for the streets you see today. Instead of treating the old town as a collection of attractive buildings, the walk connects its growth to people, trade, seafaring, and the demands of a naval port.

The focus is on how ordinary lives were shaped by the sea. Sailors, dock workers, families, and local characters all form part of the story. That human angle is one of the tour’s strongest features. You are not only hearing about ships and battles. You are hearing about the lively, sometimes strange world that grew around them.

The walk also reaches into Portsmouth’s modern naval role, including the aircraft carriers in the dockyard. This gives the tour a long time span, from Roman defences to today’s large naval vessels. It is a useful introduction if you are visiting Portsmouth for the first time, and it can also fill in gaps if you already know the dockyard but want more context about the town around it.

Old Portsmouth’s unusual stories

The tour’s main appeal is its quirky side. Steve focuses on stories you might miss if you simply wandered around Old Portsmouth taking pictures. Expect unusual facts, local oddities, and tales about people who helped shape the city in less obvious ways.

The subject matter can move from humour to darker material. The stories include love affairs, murder, martyrs, and other episodes that show Portsmouth as a place of real human drama rather than a polished historic display. That variety keeps the 90 minutes moving and helps explain why the city has such a distinctive character.

I would choose this walk if you enjoy history told through personalities and anecdotes. The guide’s humour is repeatedly praised, and he has a knack for making the information feel social rather than academic. He also remembers people’s names and adjusts his stories to the group, which can make the walk feel more like a friendly outing than a speech delivered to strangers.

That approach may not suit everyone. One visitor felt there could have been a little more historical content. If you want a dense sequence of dates, military campaigns, and architectural details, a specialist museum or dockyard visit will offer more. This tour works best as a lively introduction, with enough facts to give you bearings and enough stories to make the places memorable.

Seeing the past through photographs and maps

Old Portsmouth has changed dramatically. Ships and seafaring altered the waterfront, while bombing during the Second World War changed parts of the town itself. The tour uses historic pictures and maps to help you compare the Portsmouth of the past with what is visible now.

This is more useful than it may sound. A modern street can tell you only so much when the buildings, shoreline, or working port have changed. A photograph can show what stood there before, while a map can explain how streets and waterfront spaces once connected.

I particularly value this part of the experience because it gives you something to look for during the walk. You are not just passing a location and hearing a name. You are trying to picture how it looked, who used it, and what has disappeared.

The visual material also helps mixed groups. A child may not follow every naval detail, but an old photograph can make the past clear at once. Someone interested in architecture can compare buildings and street plans. Someone with family ties to Portsmouth may recognise a place in an older form.

Bring a camera, but do not expect the photo opportunities to be limited to grand naval subjects. The old town, harbour setting, statues, historic streets, and dockyard surroundings all give you useful places to stop for pictures. The tour adds context to those photographs, which makes them more than simple holiday snapshots.

The route’s pace and physical demands

The walk lasts 90 minutes and is described as leisurely. That makes it manageable for many people, especially compared with a full-day historical tour. You cover several areas of Old Portsmouth, so the experience is active without taking over your entire day.

Still, leisurely does not mean motionless. You will be on your feet for the duration, and the route has enough distance to make comfortable footwear important. One practical lesson is to avoid treating this as a quick stroll in smart shoes. Supportive shoes will make the experience more enjoyable.

The tour is wheelchair and scooter accessible, which is an important strength. It is also dog friendly, so you do not have to leave your dog behind if that fits your plans. The supplied information does not promise specific facilities along the route, so you should handle your own comfort needs before setting off.

For families, the activity book and pencils are a thoughtful touch. The content is age appropriate, giving children something to do while the adults listen. The tour still depends on stories and spoken explanation, so very young children may have limited patience, but the activity material can help keep them involved.

What you get for $13

At $13 per person, the tour is priced well for a 90-minute guided walk, particularly in a city where the major attractions can quickly add to the cost of a day. You receive a live English-speaking guide, local interpretation, historic images and maps, and a route through Old Portsmouth.

The strongest value comes from the personal knowledge. Steve does not simply point out places. He connects them to the people who lived there and to the wider naval story. That sort of local explanation is difficult to get from a map or a self-guided walk.

The price does not include Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or access to its ship attractions. It also does not include the Spinnaker Tower. This is important when planning your budget. The walking tour can introduce the area, but it does not replace a dockyard ticket if you want to board ships or visit the full attraction complex.

I see the tour as a good first step before spending money on the dockyard. It can help you decide what interests you most and give you a clearer sense of how the dockyard fits into the town. If you already plan to visit the ships, the walk adds the local and social background that a ship-focused visit may not provide.

Another worthwhile point is the charity support. All funds raised and gratuities are split with Cancer Research UK. More than $1,200 had been raised so far in the reported period, so your payment supports both a local experience and a useful cause.

Who will enjoy this Portsmouth walk?

I would recommend the tour to first-time visitors who want a quick introduction before exploring Portsmouth on their own. The walk gives you a broad view of Old Portsmouth in 90 minutes, then leaves the rest of the day open for the dockyard, the Spinnaker Tower, the ferry, or further wandering.

It is also a good fit for people who prefer stories to formal lectures. Steve’s style is friendly, funny, and personal. He has been praised for tailoring stories to the backgrounds of the people on the walk, and that can make a mixed group feel included.

Local residents may find more here than expected. The guide’s local knowledge and less familiar anecdotes can reveal details even if you already know Portsmouth’s main sights. One local group enjoyed learning new facts despite living in the city.

Families have a clear reason to consider it because of the activity book and pencils. Dogs are welcome, and the route is wheelchair and scooter accessible. If you have mobility concerns, it is still sensible to contact the provider when the weather is poor, since conditions can affect the walk.

You may want something else if your priority is entering historic ships, spending hours inside museums, or receiving a highly specialised military lecture. Those are not included. This is a people-centred walk around the old town, not a ticket to the dockyard attractions.

Weather, timing, and practical planning

Bring comfortable shoes and a camera. You should also dress for changing English weather, although the supplied information specifically asks you to contact the provider if conditions are very inclement.

In especially bad weather, the tour may be cancelled or delivered in a pub using pictures and stories. That option preserves the conversation and visual material, but it will not feel the same as walking through Old Portsmouth. Contacting the provider before you set out is the sensible move if the forecast is poor.

The tour is offered in English, with a live guide. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve while paying later. These terms are useful if your Portsmouth plans depend on train times, ferry arrangements, or changing weather.

The route starts and finishes at The Hard Interchange area. Returning there makes it easy to continue your day by public transport or head back toward the harbour. It also means you can schedule the walk around a larger visit without arranging separate transport at the end.

Should you book the Portsmouth of the Past walk?

Book it if you want a friendly local introduction to Old Portsmouth, especially one built around people, odd stories, maps, and old photographs. At $13, it offers strong value, and Steve’s humour and long connection with the city are the main reasons to choose it.

I would book it early in a Portsmouth visit, before spending time at the Historic Dockyard. The walk can help you understand the city beyond its ships and decide where you want to return. It is also a sound choice for families, dog owners, wheelchair and scooter users, and anyone with only a short time in town.

Skip it if you want admission to ships or the Spinnaker Tower, since those cost extra. Also think twice if you prefer a tightly academic account with maximum dates and military detail. For most people seeking a personable, affordable, and slightly quirky way to get oriented, this 90-minute walk is an easy recommendation.

FAQ

How long is the Portsmouth of the Past Walking Tour?

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Mudlarks Statue, showing a small girl and man, about 30 metres from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Where does the tour finish?

The walk returns to The Hard Interchange.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $13 per person.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. It includes a live English-speaking guide.

Is the walking tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair and scooter accessible.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. The tour is dog friendly.

Are children provided with anything during the walk?

Yes. Children receive an age-appropriate activity book and pencils.

Does the price include Portsmouth Historic Dockyard?

No. Admission to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and access to its ship attractions are not included.

Does the price include the Spinnaker Tower?

No. Entrance to the Spinnaker Tower is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and a camera.

What happens in very bad weather?

You should contact the provider to confirm whether the walk is taking place. In very inclement weather, the tour may be delivered in a pub using historic pictures and stories.