There is a lot to see and do on your visit to Portsmouth Museum. Please see further down the page for information on the exhibitions. However, to make the most of your visit you may wish to book one of our Toys, Games & Pastimes workshops.
Wonder Boxes - the new-look loans collection from Portsmouth Museums
The first phase of our review of the Museum Loans Collection is complete and the first batch of loan items, rebranded as Wonder Boxes, is available for use.
Our fabulous loans boxes are the perfect stimulus for creative work across the curriculum, including science, art & design, literacy and history. Bring a little awe and wonder into your classroom with bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile specimens or skulls and skeletons. Or bring the past to life with high quality model dinosaurs and original and replica artefacts illustrating life in Ancient Egypt.
Click here to download the latest edition of the illustrated Wonder Box Catalogue.
The catalogue lists all of the loans boxes currently available and explains how to book a box and the Terms and Conditions under which the loans scheme operates. New boxes will be added to the catalogue as the review process continues.
Talking Pictures workshop or CPD session
Portsmouth Museum houses changing displays from the city's art collections. Find out how to use questions to bring paintings to life and reveal the stories they can tell with our Talking Pictures session. A great way to introduce children to looking at art. Sessions last around 45 minutes and are adaptable for KS1 or KS2. Also available as a CPD session for teachers exploring art as a resource for literacy. For details please contact Learning Officer Tracy Teasdale - [email protected]
Toys, Games & Pastimes Workshop
Delivered by a member of the museum learning team, this fun, hands on session enables children to investigate and play with a range of toys and games from the past including vehicles, moving toys and board games. Taking on the role of Toy Detectives, children will explore materials, mechanisms, graphics and packaging to compare old and new and put the toys in chronological order. The historical room settings, Portsmouth at Play and Study in Sherlock displays in Portsmouth Museum complement this session perfectly.
| Age | Suitable for Key Stages 1 & 2 |
| Venue | Portsmouth Museum |
| Times | The workshop lasts one hour. Earliest start time 10.15am. |
| Dates | Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays on request, subject to availability of staff and Activities Room. Minimum of three weeks’ notice required. Note: this workshop is not available the weeks beginning 5 November 2018, 4 & 11 March 2019. |
| Cost | £2 per pupil. Minimum charge per workshop: £40 |
| Numbers | 30 pupils maximum per workshop. Groups can enjoy self-guided visits to related museum displays before or after their workshop. |
Booking a Group Visit
For all enquiries, sessions and group visits please telephone our admin team on 023 9283 4744 / 4737 (Monday - Friday) or email us stating clearly your name, school contact details, number/age of children, which museum/exhibition/workshop you are interested in and your preferred dates/times.
Length of Stay and Group Sizes
Unless you have booked a led session the typical visit time by a group is 1 - 1½ hours. The maximum number of students we can accommodate at any one time is 60. A teacher/pupil ratio of at least 1:15 is essential. We recommend splitting large groups into smaller groups of eight to 12 students as you explore the museum to avoid overcrowding and give everyone a clear view of displays. Please note that teachers are responsible for the behaviour of the students in their group at all times.
Payment
Free admission for self-led visits. All groups must book in advance. Please see above for workshop charges. Cheques payable to ‘Portsmouth City Council’, Credit cards: MasterCard or Visa.
Displays
Discover the history of the city and its people at Portsmouth Museum:
- Stroll through historic room settings including a 19th century dockyard worker's kitchen, a 1930s kitchen, an art deco dining room and a 1950s living room.
- Find out what makes the city unique in No Place like Pompey.
- Explore seaside holidays, leisure and entertainment in Portsmouth at Play and the football gallery.
- Enjoy changing displays from the city's art, craft and design collections.
- Learn about Arthur Conan Doyle's life as a doctor in Portsmouth and the creation of his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes.
National Curriculum Links – a broad and balanced approach
Portsmouth Museum is a rich and versatile resource for creative work across the curriculum including English, Art & Design, history, Design & Technology, mathematics and geography. To discuss your ideas or book a pre-visit contact Learning Officer Tracy Teasdale on [email protected] or 02392 834752.
We look forward to welcoming you to Portsmouth Museum soon.
