Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Church Ln, Portchester, Fareham PO16 9QW
Telephone 0370 333 1181
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A medieval keep built into the corner of a still-largely-intact late-Roman fort overlooking Portsmouth Harbour — the outer walls are Roman, the keep inside is Norman and later, and the outer grounds are free to walk even if you don't pay for the keep. English Heritage runs the inner castle as a staffed site.
Worth the trip
The view from the roof of the keep across Portsmouth Harbour, taking in both the medieval and Roman layers of the site at once.
Before you go
The grounds and Roman fort walls are free to explore even without paying for the keep, so it's worth a stop regardless of budget; there's a proper car park with free toilets and picnic tables if you want to make a longer visit of it.
Reviewers are consistently impressed by Portchester's scale and setting on Portsmouth Harbour, praising the free castle grounds, tower views, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. One reviewer notes that while the grounds are flat and easy, the inner castle itself has a lot of steps and uneven ground, but this doesn't appear to be a widespread complaint.
Grounds free; keep within Roman fort walls
“This has become a firm family favourite for places to visit.”— Hannah, visitor review
