School Visits at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is delighted to offer a brand new programme of interactive learning opportunities and resources to enthuse and inspire learners of all ages and abilities. Using our world-class ships, collections, expertise and facilities, our programmes provide unique and unforgettable learning experiences. Our site-based activities combine inspiring hands-on experiences with innovative digital resources to bring subjects to life.

Our brand new offer for Key Stage 1-3

Discovery Visits

A Discovery Visit is a teacher led self -guided museum visit to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 or HMS M33. We are excited to be able to offer you a choice of Discovery Visit combined with new Discovery Challenge pack for pupils and included teacher trail to support your visit. You can also now include a visit to the Mary Rose as the award-winning museum is, once again, part of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This means you can tailor your school visit to suit your curriculum, visiting multiple attractions under the same ticket. And in addition, a visit to the National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries is included with any UK school visit booked.

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Discover More

There is now even more to explore with our new Discover More! offer

Teachers can book this enhanced visit which includes a choice of Discovery Visit plus the choice of themed Discovery Chest and supporting Discovery Back Pack. Inside each Discovery Chest are suggested activities and resources designed to encourage pupil led enquiry to answer key topic questions; linking hands on learning with the gallery space.

Themes to choose from include:

Lord Nelson

HMS Victory

Second World War

Also included in a Discover More visit is a Discover More Back Pack. These portable activity packs for use on HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS M33. Each backpack contains a set of challenges and resources that encourage observation, discussion and imagination to support historical enquiry and creative writing. Your group can pause, take a moment to reflect on the experiences of the sailors who lived on board and enrich their understanding to gain a greater sense of empathy. For all the information about our brand new offer, please download the brochure >>.

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Resources:

To support your Discovery Visit at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, please download our Teachers Trail and Discovery Challenge Packs.

DISCOVERY CHALLENGE PACKS - pdf (available soon)

TEACHER’S TRAIL - pdf (available soon)

Coming Soon! Discover More at the Mary Rose!

Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding the Mary Rose Learning Programme which is currently under development for the next academic year. To be the first to find out about our brand new schools offer, sign up to our mailing list here>>

Prices:

Attractions to choose from are: HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, Mary Rose and HMS M33. The National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries are included for all UK school visits. The Harbour Tour is only available as part of the Ultimate Explorer ticket which gives access to all our attractions.

All group tickets are valid for one day only.

How to book

• To make your school booking, please complete the booking request form>>. 
• UK school visits are required to be booked at least 7 days in advance. Schools not booked in advance cannot be accepted
• To qualify for a UK school rate, a group must consist of a minimum of 12 paying persons
• Contact information: phd.learning@nmrn.org.uk

MORE INFORMATION

Lunch facilities

An indoor area is available in Boathouse 7 for groups with packed lunches. As space is limited booking is required. Food and drink is not allowed anywhere in the museum other than in the dedicated lunch room. There are no facilities on site to store lunch boxes.

Special education needs and access provision:

• HMS Victory:
  One of the decks of HMS Victory is also accessible with a handling activity and virtual tour available to enhance visits. Touch tours and Audio Descriptive tours are also available. We have multi-sensory kitbags for use in galleries. Wheelchairs, magnifying glasses and large print text can also be arranged in advance.
• HMS Warrior:
  The ship is accessed via a ramp. Because she is still afloat the gradient can change with the tides and we would recommend entering at low tide if that is a concern, tide times can be accessed by visiting the Royal Navy Tide Table>>
• HMS M.33:
  The is more accessible than some of her older counterparts. Wheelchair access to the lower deck is available via a lift and upper deck stairs are more generously spaced. There are some steep stairs in place and our Audio Visual Experience does not have subtitles and can be dark and upsetting for some.
• The National Museum of the Royal Navy Galleries:
  The National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries are fully accessible to wheelchair users including a lift and toilets in every gallery.
• The Mary Rose:
  The Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair, and the museum houses a wheelchair accessible toilet. Lifts are available to move along the visitor route. Information and guides are available in large print formats. We also offer sensory resources, including tactile plans and painting of the ship. Visitors are also welcome to handle certain artefacts, both historical objects and replicas. The light levels in the museum are kept low for conservation purposes, so if you have any issues please speak to a member of our team and they will help you with your journey. There is an audio loop system in exhibition spaces. We also provide transcripts and subtitles for the audio visual content in most areas. All guide and assistance dogs are most welcome.
• Harbour Tour:
  Two manual wheelchair spaces are available on the Harbour Tours service (depending on the vessel).
• Accessible toilets are available in the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Boathouse No.7, and the Mary Rose. Adult changing facilities are available in the Mary Rose disabled toilets.

Health and Safety

The site and all activities are fully risk assessed and subject to safeguarding and health and safety policies. For further guidance around facilities at our site can be found in the below documents: Hazard/ RA Document (available soon)

Preliminary Visits

We strongly advise a preliminary visit in order to familiarise yourself with the site and complete risk assessment paperwork. For groups already booked you will need to bring the booking reference as proof. On arrival you will issued with up to 3 adult tickets or at weekends and holidays 1 family ticket. For groups that haven’t yet booked only 1 ticket will be available for the school.

Group size

Our maximum number for a Discovery Visit is 120 students. Our maximum number for a Discover More! visit is approx. 35 students.

Visit length

The recommended visit length for each of our attractions is between 60 and 90 minutes. For a Discover More! visit, you have access to your chosen Discovery Chest and back pack for the day so you can tailor the length of the visit to suit your requirements.

Supervision of Groups

We offer free access to supervising staff members during your visit, with ratios relevant to the age of your group (found within the ‘prices’ section). We do ask that large groups divide into smaller groups to move around our attractions and gallery spaces to avoid overcrowding.

How to find us

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is located within Portsmouth Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ with entry through Victory Gate at the corner of Queen Street.

A Drop off/pick up point at The Hard and coach parking facilities provided by Portsmouth City Council can be arranged at time of booking. Price £7.50

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Visitor’s Centre, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, PO1 3LJ

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