Portsmouth families get a new way to explore Southsea Castle

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-05 11:15 3 min read

Father and child playing at Southsea Castle with the lighthouse in the background.

Portsmouth City Council’s announcement and University of Portsmouth project details.

Portsmouth residents now have a new way to use summer time at a local landmark: a free, hands-on family trail at Southsea Castle created through a University of Portsmouth project and supported by Portsmouth City Council. The update is practical in focus. It adds a low-friction learning option to a site that already has established opening hours, and it is built so families can choose how much context they want as they explore.

Family trail format and what children can do

The trail uses a purpose-built leaflet that guides people around the grounds. Families can answer short history questions, draw scenes, and look for specific details across the site as they move through the route. Optional QR codes are placed at points on the walk, adding extra background for visitors who want to go deeper. The design is deliberately self-guided, with no fixed tour length, no booking requirement and no ticketed gate for the trail itself.

Who it is for and how to plan a visit

The route is designed as a family activity and is especially aimed at children. It is available this summer through September and free to follow. Southsea Castle is open 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free, so the trail can be inserted into a normal weekend or evening schedule without extra cost.

The announcement confirms the trail’s core access points but does not provide a launch date within the article, details on parking or public transport, weather contingencies, toilets, or disability access steps. These practical factors are still relevant for family planning, so households should confirm them before travel on the castle’s official pages.

Portsmouth families get a new way to explore Southsea Castle

Civic learning context and local impact

Southsea Castle, built in 1544 and used as an active military base for over 400 years, is now run as a major heritage site by Portsmouth City Council. This history-rich setting is now paired with a structured educational route, which helps turn a broad historical narrative into manageable, child-friendly discovery.

The project is linked to the University of Portsmouth History degree model for second-year students, where students complete real projects with external organisations. Dr Maria Cannon, Senior Lecturer in the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature (SASSHPL), said civic collaboration is central to that approach because it gives students professional, project-based experience. Cllr Steve Pitt said he is encouraging people to use the trail this summer and explore the castle’s history free of charge.

Students involved, including Madi and Magdelana, described the project as positive professional training and a way to make local heritage more accessible and engaging for the public.

The essentials

Trail type: free, self-guided family trail with leaflets and optional QR content.
Who it is for: children and families visiting Southsea Castle.
Confirmed schedule: available this summer until September; castle opening 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday.
Cost: free entry.
What to verify before going: transport and parking logistics, any seasonal updates, and practical access details on Southsea Castle’s official website.
Publisher context: issued via Portsmouth City Council; Southsea Castle is part of portsmouthmuseums.co.uk.

Source: Portsmouth City Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

Editorial text was assembled from the council release content with explicit details carried through into schedule, format, participants and quotes.

Checks

Confirmed the trail is described as free and family-focused.
Confirmed trail mechanics include leaflet prompts, questions, sketching tasks, and QR-code...
Confirmed Southsea Castle opening hours and the stated range of Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to...
Confirmed availability is stated as for the summer period up to September.

Portsmouth City Council Independent context check