Enjoy a full day out at the unforgettable Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for a half-term that will keep the whole family entertained with activities, crafts, trails and demonstrations.
HMS Warrior 1860 will keep the younger generation amused in their Family Activity Area on the lower deck mess with pirate art and craft, costumed role play as sailors swabbing the decks and colouring and quiz sheets, or they can take part in the ‘Follow the Flag’ family trail around the ship – both run every day of the holidays from 10am-4.30pm.
Budding spies out there can ‘Crack the Code’ on board HMS Warrior (Tuesday 14th – Thursday 16th February, 11am - 12noon & 2pm - 4pm) using Signal Flags and Semaphore to spell their name and send messages from ship to shore and to become a secret agent, make a spy gadget and send coded messages to family and friends. Or let your visit go with a bang on Tuesday 14th – Saturday 18th February (10.45am, 11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 2.30pm) with a ‘Small Arms Demonstration’ on board the iron-hulled ship, where visitors can learn all about naval weaponry in Victorian times including guns, cutlasses and swords.
The Mary Rose Museum will be teaching all ages how to write Tudor style, with feather quills and ink! Running from Saturday 11th February – Sunday 19th February, 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm. They will also be embracing Valentines - An unlikely Romantic was Henry VIII, but it seems that even one of history''s most notorious womanisers had a softer side - at least in the beginning… On Thursday 16th February, The Mary Rose Museum will host their Third Thursday Talk – Love Letters From A King – 12noon-12.30pm. This talk is FREE.
There is a FREE drop in workshop at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, on Wednesday 15th February (11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm) where young explorers can make keepsakes for friends or loved ones inspired by sailor crafts and mementos from the museum’s collection.
If all that excitement hasn’t warmed everyone up then embrace the cold at HMS Victory’s Baltic Blockade (Thursday 16th February, 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm) and discover all about HMS Victory’s years in the Baltic - what life was like for the sailors, which Baltic materials were used on Victory and create a new artefact to take home inspired by the frozen seas.
For full details of ‘What’s On’ over the holiday period, please look at the listings at the end of this release and for further information about the extensive year-round events programme please visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk/events.
The ticket for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard includes entrance for 1 year. Tickets cost: adults £21.50, seniors £18.35, children £15.80, students £18.35 and a family ticket costs £62.15 (up to 5 members of the same family with a maximum of 2 adults or seniors). Entrance to the Historic Dockyard is free for those wishing to visit the retailers, cafes and Antiques Storehouse.
Spring Half Term
Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 February
All school holiday activities are included with a valid ticket unless otherwise stated. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 February 10am - 4.30pm
Follow the Flag – Family Trail
On board HMS Warrior 1860 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
FREE with a valid ticket
Saturday 11 February – Sunday 19 February 10am – 4.30pm
Family Activity Area
On board HMS Warrior 1860 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Once the lower deck mess and schoolroom for young officers, Warrior’s Gun Room is now somewhere you can bring your young “sailors” for R&R. This half term, enjoy pirate art and craft, costumed role play as sailors swabbing the decks and colouring and quiz sheets.
FREE with a valid ticket
Saturday 11 February – Sunday 19 February 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm
Writing: Tudor style
The Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Try your hand with feather quills and ink. Hands on activity for all the family
FREE with a valid ticket
Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 February 11am - 12noon & 2pm - 4pm
On board HMS Warrior 1860 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Use Signal Flags and Semaphore to spell your name and send messages from ship to shore. Become a secret agent, make a spy gadget and send coded messages to your family and friends.
FREE with a valid ticket, Drop-in activity – all ages welcome
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 February 10.45am, 11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 2.30pm
Small Arms Demonstration
On board HMS Warrior 1860 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Learn all about naval weaponry in Victorian times including guns, cutlasses and swords.
FREE with a valid ticket
Wednesday 15 February 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm
Sailors’ Keepsakes
The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Make special keepsakes for friends or loved ones inspired by sailor crafts and mementoes from our collection.
FREE drop in workshop, all ages welcome
Thursday 16 February 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm
HMS Victory’s Baltic Blockade
On board HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Brrrrrrrr! Join us to discover all about HMS Victory’s years in the Baltic. Find out what life was like for the sailors, discover which Baltic materials were used on Victory and create a new artefact to take home inspired by the frozen seas.
FREE with a valid ticket. Drop-in, all ages welcome.
Thursday 16 February 12noon - 12.30pm
Third Thursday Talk – “Love letters from a King”
The Mary Rose Museum Theatre at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
The love letters and songs of Henry VIII.
FREE - No booking or ticket required
