What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 5:30pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery

Name: Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery
Address: 3 Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO12LJ, GB
Telephone: 023 9283 4779
Price range: $
Rating: 4.6

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Home to Portsmouth’s impressive heritage and fascinating works of art. Open Tues-Sun.
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13/10/2026

🌟 Activities for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups! 🌟
Join us for our next Mini Museum Explorers session in the beautiful garden at Cumberland House Natural History Museum !
📅 Friday 16th October 2006
⏰ 10.15am-11.15am
📍Portsmouth Natural History Museum - Cumberland House (Eastern Parade, Portsmouth PO4 9RF)

Designed for children under 5 and their parents/carers, this fun-filled creative session includes sensory play, arts and crafts, storytelling and songs, all inspired by the wonders of autumn! 🍂🍁🎃

🌦️ The session will take place outdoors if possible. Please dress for the weather and activities.

💷 £3 per child or FREE with a Leisure Card
📞 Book your place: 023 9283 4779

Find out more: https://portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/events/mini-museum-explorers/

28/09/2026

Few spaces left! Join Mathilde from Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery, Hannah from Parks and Gardens, and our lovely Jackie the Tuk Tuk from Official Portsmouth libraries for Palette in the Park as part of the 60+ Festival!

Discover local wildlife, seasonal changes, and fascinating stories from Portsmouth's past, then create your own sketchbook and draw together.
🌿 1 Oct | Gatcombe Gardens, Copnor road, Hilsea | 10:30am to 12:30pm
🌳 8 Oct | Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea | 10:30am to 12:30pm

✅ Free to attend (This activity is part of Portsmouth City Council’s 60+ Festival for participants aged 60 and over)
✅ All art materials provided
✅ Booking required: [email protected] | 023 9283 4180

This activity is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of our Portsmouth100 engagement programme.

23/09/2026

As part of the 60+ Festival, on Thursdays 1st and 8th October, slow down, look closely, and connect with Portsmouth’s hidden nature. Together we’ll wander through the park discovering trees, wildlife, seasonal changes, and the stories held through architecture and social history from the past 100 years. We’ll then create our own sketchbooks and draw the scene together.

- Thursday 1st October at Gatcombe Gardens (Copnor Road, Portsmouth, PO2 0TQ) - 10.30 to 12.30
- Thursday 8th October at Highland Road Cemetery (Highland Rd, Southsea, PO4 9NS.) - 10.30 to 12.30

Free event, all art materials provided.
Booking is required by contacting [email protected] and 023 9283 4180.

Please wear suitable outdoor footwear and clothing.

This activity is part of Portsmouth City Council’s 60+ Festival. Anyone 60 years and older can take advantage of a variety of activities, ranging from cooking to ballet, and from guitar lessons to bingo. With lots of activities to choose from, the festival provides an exciting opportunity for anyone wanting to try something a bit different, learn new skills or meet new people:https://tsedmsmedia.newmindmedia.com/wsimgs/60_Festival_booklet_2026_829323046.pdf

The Palette in the Park activities are delivered together with Countryside Services and Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, and are funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund , thanks to The National Lottery players.

17/09/2026

🌟 Activities for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups! 🌟
We have just 3 spaces left for our next Mini Museum Explorers session at Cumberland House Natural History Museum's wonderful garden!
📅 This Friday 18th September 2026
⏰ 10.15am–11.15am
Designed for children under 5 and their parents/carers, this fun-filled creative session includes storytelling, songs, sensory play, arts and crafts. This session will be inspired by our wonderful Solent marine creatures! 🦈 🐬 🪼 🐡 🐚 🐠
💷 £3 per child or FREE with a Leisure Card
📞 Book your place: 023 9283 4779
Find out more: https://portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/events/mini-museum-explorers/

14/09/2026

Heritage Open Days 2026: Portsmouth at Play
What poem is hiding inside an old photograph?
Join us on Wednesday 16th September at Portsmouth History Centre for an epic poetry workshop together with Jackson Davies, Portsmouth Poet Laureate!

07/09/2026

PORTSMOUTH AT PLAY: Free poetry workshop with Jackson Davies, Portsmouth's Poet Laureate at Portsmouth History Centre (in Central Library).

Ever looked at an old photograph and wondered about the people in it? Their stories, their lives, where they were going next?

As part of Heritage Open Days and Portsmouth100 festivities, join Portsmouth's Poet Laureate Jackson Davies on Wednesday 16th September between 10.30 and 12.30 for a free and friendly poetry workshop inspired by historic photographs of Portsmouth at play. We'll be turning photographs into poems through humour, memory, storytelling and imagination, exploring everything from deckchairs and day trips to football matches, seafront adventures and family memories.
By the end of the session we'll create a collaborative Portsmouth poem together, which will be published on the Portsmouth Poet Laureate webpage.

No experience needed. All materials will be provided, and you are welcome to bring your own Portsmouth photographs too. Booking is essential by contacting Portsmouth History Centre. More information here: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/portsmouth-at-play-poetry-workshop.html

Photo: Jackson Davies

This workshop is organised by Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery , Official Portsmouth libraries 's Portsmouth History Centre, with the support of Pompey Poetry Party.

This poetry workshop is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

06/09/2026

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery's Heritage Art Club #4 in Hilsea:

Back in August, we spent a creative morning exploring the stories, memories, and hidden history of Hilsea Lido. Through historic photographs and local anecdotes, participants discovered how this much-loved Portsmouth landmark has changed over the years, before stepping inside the beautifully refurbished and colourful Lido building itself.

For this session, we were lucky to be accompanied by professional photographer Paul Gonella from Strong Island Co who encouraged the participants to look into Hilsea Lines and Lido through a different lens. What a wonderful morning in a beautiful part of the City! Take a look at some of the fantastic photographs captured by our participants.

Our next Heritage Art Club takes place on Saturday 12th September at Milton Locks, where local artist Simon Whitcomb will lead a sketching and landscape painting workshop inspired by this unique corner of the city. There are still a few places available. Book your space here:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/portsmouth-100-wonders-milton-locks-tickets-1988384316015?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true.

Our Heritage Art Clubs are funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

01/09/2026

IMPORTANT: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is now closed for redevelopment and will reopen in late October with our exciting new exhibition, "Portsmouth100: Your museum. Your stories. Your city." https://portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/events/your-museum-your-stories-your-city/

A huge thank you to everyone who visited us over the summer — the museum was wonderfully busy!

Keep an eye on our events taking place at other sites during this period. Did you know that you can visit Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum every day during Heritage Open Days ? (11-20 September) https://portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/what-to-see-do/events/

We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

28/08/2026

🦄 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗼'𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! The Unicorn from the Pride of Portsmouth Trail is settling in beautifully at the Museum! Make sure to stop by and spot it while you can.

🚨 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧: This is the last weekend before we close throughout September and October to prepare for our exciting new exhibition, "Portsmouth100: Your Museum. Your Stories. Your City."

Before then, why not make the most of the bank holiday weekend and enjoy:
☕ Our café
🛍️ The Museum shop
🌳 Our beautiful garden with outdoor games
🦁 The Lion Trail Gallery
✨ Fun, Fear & Familiarity: VE in 80 Objects exhibition
💃 Whispers from the Dance Floor exhibition

Don't miss your chance to visit before our temporary closure. We look forward to welcoming you this weekend. 😊

27/08/2026

🌟 Volunteer Opportunity available at Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery !

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to support our "Portsmouth100: Your Museum. Your stories. Your city" major exhibition opening in October 2026, marking 100 years of Portsmouth's city status and celebrating the stories, people, and places that make our city unique.

By becoming a volunteer, you'll join our Portsmouth100 Exhibition Team and help create a welcoming, engaging, and memorable experience for visitors within the exhibition's galleries and as part of our exciting range of engagement activities. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a high-profile cultural project, meet new people, and play a key role in bringing Portsmouth’s rich history and stories to life!

You can find out all the details and how to apply here: https://portsmouthmuseum.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

Portsmouth100 exhibition is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Address

3 Museum Road
Portsmouth
PO12LJ

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5:30pm
Thursday	10am - 5:30pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

023 9283 4779

Website

https://portsmouthmuseum.co.uk/

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