Portchester Castle Visitor Guide

Leisure

Portchester Castle is the village's defining landmark and one of the most important historic sites in southern England. It combines a Roman fort, a Norman castle and a medieval palace in a single, remarkably well-preserved complex that spans nearly two thousand years of continuous history on the same spot.

The Roman walls date from the late third century AD and survive almost to their full original height on all four sides, enclosing roughly nine acres of ground. They are built of flint rubble with bonding courses of Roman tile, and the D-shaped bastions at intervals along the walls are a distinctive feature of the Saxon Shore fort design. No other Roman fort in northern Europe is as complete. Walking around the outside of the walls gives a powerful sense of their scale, and the view from inside, looking up at seventeen centuries of masonry, is impressive.

The Norman keep occupies the north-west corner of the Roman enclosure, rising to three storeys and offering sweeping views across Portsmouth Harbour from the roof. The climb to the top involves narrow stone spiral stairs and is not suitable for those with mobility difficulties, but it is well worth the effort for the panorama of harbour, sky and coast. The inner bailey, separated from the outer enclosure by a medieval wall, contains the substantial remains of Richard II's palace, built in the 1390s. The shells of the great hall, kitchens, lodgings and gateway survive and are explained by information boards.

St Mary's Church, in the south-east corner of the outer bailey, dates from around 1133 and is still a working parish church with regular services. Its Norman arches, carved font and plain, powerful interior make it one of the finest Romanesque churches in Hampshire. The church is open to visitors during castle opening hours.

The castle is managed by English Heritage. Entry is ticketed for non-members, with free entry for English Heritage and National Trust members (through a reciprocal agreement for certain properties). Opening times vary by season: the castle is open daily in summer (typically April to September) and on selected days (usually weekends) in winter. There is a small car park on Castle Street near the entrance, and the castle is roughly a ten-minute walk from Portchester Railway Station. A small English Heritage shop inside the gate sells guidebooks, gifts and refreshments.

Allow at least an hour and a half to explore the site properly, longer if you want to read all the information boards, climb the keep and visit the church. The walls, the keep, the palace ruins, the church and the broad outer bailey all merit time and attention. The castle is partially accessible to wheelchair users at ground level, though the keep, the wall walks and some internal ruins involve steps and uneven ground.