2025 Events

IN-PERSON Guided Tour Illustrated Talk Gosport Museum and Art Gallery (GMAG), 19 Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS The building that today houses Gosport Museum and Art Gallery was designed in 1901 in the Art Nouveau style. This tour and talk will demonstrate both the architecture and the use of the building in its early […]

IN-PERSON Guided Tour Medusa will be moored by The Lightship. Entry to the marina is via the gate adjacent to the public pier. A guide will be there to meet you. Harbour Defence Motor Launch, HMS Medusa is the last of her class in sea-going condition. Medusa was a navigational leader for Omaha Beach on […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Ann’s Hill Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3JX Enjoy a guided walk around Ann’s Hill old Victorian cemetery. You’ll learn about its history, the meaning of symbology on the headstones, the layout and the purpose of the buildings, the importance of the landscaping, and the hidden meaning of the flora in this […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk The Pump House Cafe, Cooperage Green, Weevil Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1AX Enjoy a guided walk of Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, the former supply base for the Navy. Hear about how this victualling yard developed over time from the mid-1700s, with a focus on the supply of food and drink to […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour St Marks Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2DA Join a guided tour of St Mark’s Cemetery, covering the history of the site of St Mark’s church and some of the famous people buried there. You’ll learn about the influence of Robert Cruickshank in the building of St Mark’s church as part […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Hornet Services Sailing Club, Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AQ A fascinating insight into how Royal Navy submarines and submariners came of age in the cauldron of World War 1 – their first combat experience… This story is told by Chris Munns, a submariner himself for 20 years experience, and once […]

In Person Guided Tour Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BY Enjoy a guided tour around one of the Palmerston Forts, built to defend Portsmouth from a possible French invasion… Visit the Tunnels, Caponiers, haunted Keep, and Fort Museum within the grounds of the Royal Navy training establishment HMS Sultan. Family-friendly but children must be fully supervised. Not […]

In Person Guided Tour HMS Sultan, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BY Enjoy a guided tour around the different aircraft used for training at HMS SULTAN. The types represent the different aircraft flown by the Royal Navy from the 1960s. Although many are no longer in active service, they still have a valuable role in […]

In Person Guided Tour HMS Sultan, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BY Explore this fascinating museum within the grounds of HMS Sultan with displays spanning 120 years of naval engineering The Marine Engineering Museum gives the history of marine engineering in the Royal Navy. Displaying a collection of Records, Artefacts and Memorabilia covering Marine Engineering […]

In Person Guided Tour HMS Sultan, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BY Explore this fascinating museum within the grounds of HMS Sultan. The Airfield Museum gives the history of the surrounding area used as an airfield from 1909-1956. Learn about the world’s first “Top Gun” establishment 1917-19, and how the ‘Gosport’ method of flying training […]

In Person Guided Walk Alver Valley Garden Centre car park, off Barrington Close, Gosport, Hampshire, PO13 8AS Enjoy this guided walk, exploring the historic importance of Rowner and Alver Valley to the Gosport area. An introduction to the historic importance of Rowner and Alver Valley to the Gosport area. During the walk learn about over […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Crescent Garden, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2DH Discover the gardens’ significance to the building of Angleseyville, how this historic Regency garden fell into abandonment, and the subsequent resurrection to its former glory with wonderful planting. Visitors will enjoy a guided tour of the garden, originally laid out in the Regency period, […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Gosport Museum & Art Gallery, Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS Based on his book ‘Capsized in the Solent’, author and historian Richard M Jones explores the 1972 SRN6-12 hovercraft disaster and dramatic rescue operation involving air and sea units from miles around. On 4th March 1972, a hovercraft capsized in […]

IN PERSON Talk This talk will be available at two locations: 14. Hornet Services Sailing Club, Haslar Road, Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AQ Needs to be booked and 57. Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park Community School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BF No need to book – Just turn up and enjoy The story […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Meet outside St Marys Parish Church Hall, Green Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2ET Explore Gosport’s rich heritage with a walk from St Marys Church, Alverstoke, passing by the Regency Crescent Gardens to Victorian Fort Gilkicker. Learn about the civilian battery men who manned the Fort and its history… Learn about […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Hornet Services Sailing Club, Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AQ Submarine warfare in World War II was a vicious and dangerous business. Learn why, as told through personal experiences of humour and tragedy… The little-known story of RN submarines operating from Malta in the Mediterranean, which did much to hobble Rommel’s […]

In Person Talk Onboard the Princess Anne at Hovercraft Museum, Marine Parade West, Lee on Solent, Gosport, Hampshire, PO13 9NS  Journey through the intriguing history of hovercrafts at the world’s only Hovercraft Museum. Learn about their creation, the innovators who brought them to life, and the obstacles they faced. Explore the diverse and unexpected applications of […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Studio Centre, Thorngate Hall, Bury House, Bury Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3PX This is your chance to visit a live radio station and see what happens, how it happens, warts and all… Only six people at a time will fit inside the little studio space, so these tours will be small […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Meet at the Diving Museum, No 2 Battery, Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QU Enjoy this guided walk along Stokes Bay, starting at the Diving Museum. You’ll pass great houses surrounded by a glorious open parkland and formal garden, and even discover chocolate blocks that you can’t eat! You’ll learn from […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk The Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT September marks the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the wreck of the Titanic. It was this that sparked off Richard M Jones’ journey into researching shipwrecks and disasters. He will bring the story of the Titanic wreck alive for you… […]

In Person Illustrated Talk Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT Meet the author of ‘Shipwrecks of the Solent’, and learn about the underwater history that happened just a few miles from where we are now… Richard M Jones reveals the stories behind some of the shipping disasters in the Solent. The stretch […]

IN PERSON Talk Gosport Museum & Art Gallery, Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS You will hear about several missions of the Second World War that were so outlandish they could never work… Or could they? Your Speaker, Richard, will tell you all about these missions and their, perhaps unexpected, outcomes. He’ll also offer visitors […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Talk The Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT Explore the history of Victorian Fort Gomer in this informative talk, held close to where the fort once stood. A virtual 3D model of the fort will help you to envisage what can no longer be seen… Fort Gomer is […]

In Person Guided Tour Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2DL An introduction to the history of INM and the Historic Collections displayed in Monckton House, a Grade II listed building. After a brief presentation, you will see displays of heritage materials related to the history and practice of naval medicine. The […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk The Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT This presentation explains the Royal Navy’s use of Press Gangs. Mike Williams will be giving a talk about the Royal Navy Impress Service, better known as the Press Gang. People were never sure if this practice was really legal. So in […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Powder Monkey Brewery , 67 Heritage Way, Priddys hard, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4FL Enjoy an insider’s tour of the Powder Monkey Brewery and hear about the history of brewing beer and its connection to the Navy… Housed in a historic gunpowder store, learn the story behind Powder Monkey. We will take […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk The Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT This presentation tells the story of the Royal Navy’s role in suppressing piracy during the ‘Golden Age’ of Caribbean pirates. Mike Williams will be telling the story of the Royal Navy’s role in catching Pirates. We all know pirates could make […]

IN-PERSON Illustrated Talk Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT In this 85th anniversary year since the Battle of Britain, we invite you to hear real stories from pilots who took part… The Battle of Britain ran from 10 July until 31 October 1940. It was a military campaign of the Second World […]

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to the ill health of speaker. IN-PERSON Illustrated Talk The Alverbank Hotel, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2QT In this 80th year since the end of WW2, Gosport D-Day Fellowship presents this illustrated talk on the key roles that Gosport played during that time… Sitting in the […]

IN PERSON Activity The Park Tavern, Park Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2HH Come along to test your local knowledge in a light-hearted quiz about Gosport, past and present. You may be amazed at what you know or what you learn! How well do you know Gosport? Find out within the welcoming atmosphere of The Park […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Grange Farm Wardens Office, The Wildgrounds, Little Woodham Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO13 8AB Visit Gosport’s special haven, an SSI in the Alver Valley. You’ll pass through butterfly fields and curiosities, while learning about the flora & fauna in this peaceful and beautiful area. There’s some surprising history to boot! Alver Valley’s […]

IN PERSON Show / Display Royal Naval Association, 66 Fareham Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO13 0AG  A traditional craftsman at work with stained glass. Listen as he relates stories from his working life, and then leads you through the process of creating a work of art with cut and coloured glass before your eyes… Enjoy a […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk The White Hart, 195 Stoke Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1SE A guided stroll along Stoke Road to discover Gosport’s unique character with diverse architecture and commercial areas, finding out about the shops, owners and businesses from 1907 onwards. Hear snippets of history and stories all along the route… Enjoy this walk […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Main Gate of Haslar Hospital site (Guides will direct you to St Lukes Church), Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2FB Learn of Haslar Hospital’s history and current-day development on this tour of the grounds and Church. Royal Haslar Hospital was the first naval hospital in the country, receiving its first patients […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, 19 Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS Following the success of the Seekers Gosport Heritage Trail, we’re setting sail once again! Join us for a storytelling stroll along the Gosport Marine Festival Trail — uncovering colourful flags, cherished memories, and hidden gems along the way. As […]

IN-PERSON Talk Gosport Museum & Art Gallery, The Roberts Room, 19 Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS Learn about the Criterion Cinema’s proud past, the current restoration plans and its future as a community-led cinema, theatre and live entertainment venue, from a Project Team speaker. Hear about the Criterion Cinema’s past from 1912 until 2020, […]

IN-PERSON Illustrated Talk Grand Magazine @ Explosion Museum, Heritage Way, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4LE Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP). Learn about Hampshire Commandos’ key clandestine WWII role – from North Africa and the Med, to northern Europe and the Far East… Get engrossed in an informative display of photos and material relating to the activities […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Haslar Jetty Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AS Join us for a free spotlight tour of HMS Alliance and the Memorial Garden at The Submarine Museum. Learn about the history of the Submarine service and those who have served in it… Join the Royal Navy Submarine Museum for […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Haslar Jetty Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AS Join us for a spotlight Naval Architecture tour of Submarine HMS Alliance, at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. The National Museum of the Royal Navy are taking part in Heritage Open Days 2025, England’s largest festival of culture, offering the […]

IN PERSON Activity The Book Shop, 142 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, PO13 9DD Join us for a display on the history of Lee, every day in the shop, and on both Saturdays there will be children’s beach-related activities. The Book Shop is a gem in the heart of the community of Lee. There’s always so […]

IN PERSON Self-led Tour Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Green, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1HL If you have only seen the rather stern Victorian-looking red-brick exterior of the church, then the elegance and simplicity of the interior will come as a complete – and delightful – surprise. Visitors to this church, dating 1696, will find two marvellous […]

If you can’t visit this exhibition, let this exhibition visit you! From the comfort of your home, you can enjoy this video compilation of photographs from the Exhibition. IN-PERSON Show/Display Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Green, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1HL  The Gosport Camera Club, which has been producing interesting images for over 70 years, is turning […]

IN PERSON Show / Display Your Space, 51-52 High Street, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1DF This exhibition delves into the world of sail training—a field with deep historical and current ties to Gosport. Since sail training can be difficult to define, Heave! brings it to life through the personal stories of Gosport residents who have experienced […]

IN PERSON Display YourSpace (previously the Imagination Refinery), 51-52 The High Street, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1DF 1945: What a War it had been… And what a party people had when it was over! These images of local street parties held to celebrate Victory in Europe & Victory over Japan give an insight into those times […]

IN PERSON Show / Display Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, 19 Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS This project directly links to Gosport’s vibrant cultural heritage by delving into the town’s historical nickname, “Turk Town,” and its connections to the Turkish Navy, effectively bridging historical events with contemporary experiences. At the core of this history […]

IN PERSON Self Led Trail Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Green, Haslar Road, Gosport, PO12 1HL Come and see the defensive line that used to surround Gosport Town with skyline views of the area. Meet the Friends and learn about it’s past and those that manned it. Enjoy the natural surroundings and garden. View the exhibition, […]

IN PERSON Guided Walk 51 Clayhall Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2BB On this guided walk, within the tranquillity of Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, you’ll learn about the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar from the 1740s, and where they buried the dead. You’ll hear many stories and find out about Dead Man’s Mile! Gathering in the Mortuary […]

IN PERSON Display CI Lookout Station , Beach Road Car Park , Marine Parade East, Lee-On-The-Solent, Hampshire, PO13 9LA Wherever there is a National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) station, a watchkeeper will be looking out for danger and ensuring safety on the water and along the coastline. Drop in to hear about NCI’s vital voluntary work […]

In Person Show / Display Old House at Home, 92 Priory Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4LQ Captain Bruce Bairnsfather, who served in France, became world-famous during the First World War for his ‘Fragments from France’ cartoons depicting life at the Front. As the creator of Old Bill, a walrus moustachioed old soldier who appeared in […]

In Person Activity On the beach close to Jolly Roger Pub, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4LQ Try your hand at shipwreck archaeology on the beach! Under guidance from the Nautical Archaeology Society learn how to record a real shipwreck, then use that information to discover the history of the vessel when it was still afloat… At […]

IN PERSON Talk Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park School, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BX Several generations of people have given the nickname ‘Palmerston’s Follies’ to the massive Victorian forts along the crest of Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth and its harbour. Learn all about the forts and the reason for their nickname… Local Victorian fort enthusiast, Ian, […]

IN PERSON Show / Display The Memorial Gardens, Haslar Hospital, Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2FA Discover the secrets of the Memorial Garden at Royal Haslar and find out about the horticultural therapy work being carried out by Shore Leave Haslar, because gardening is good for you. The Memorial Garden was part of the burial […]

IN PERSON Show / Display Fort Brockhurst, Gunners Way, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4DS Fort Brockhurst, one of several forts built in the 1850s and 1860s to protect Portsmouth and its vital harbour against a French invasion. The Keep of Fort Brockhurst will be the centre of activity for Heritage Open Days. The Fort Cumberland Guard, […]

IN PERSON Show or Display Fort Brockhurst, Gunners Way, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4DS Immerse yourself in a bold collusion of history and creativity – projection, texture and light turns Fort Brockhurst inside out. Experience heritage differently through this multi-media event. Take part in immersive installations, listen to book readings and see how we use art […]

IN PERSON Guided Tour Show / Display St Vincent College, Forton Road Entrance, Gosport, PO12 4QA HMS St Vincent Association Museum meet and greet, Site Tour and light hearted interactive PowerPoint presentation. HMS St Vincent, a training establishment where ‘Boys’ joined the Royal Navy. On site at what is now St Vincent’s College, the ‘Old Boys’ have […]

IN PERSON Show / Display The Hovercraft Museum, Marine Parade West, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, PO13 9NS A great visit for serious enthusiasts and families who just want to have fun! An ideal base for a day out, with views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. An extensive collection of Hovercraft, including the World’s Largest […]

IN PERSON Show / Display The Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team Clubhouse (by entrance gate), Explosion Museum, Heritage Way, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4LE The Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team present a display of radio-controlled model ships and tanks. There will be some “Have a go” models and also some WW2 model re-enactment action. The Clubhouse […]

In Person Talk Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BF Richard will call on his experience in the Royal Navy along with his detailed research into disasters at sea, to bring you this illustrated talk packed with information and detail, as always, with deepest respect to those who were impacted… […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk The Queens, 143 Queens Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1LG Enjoy this illustrated talk on the history of pubs in Gosport, many are no longer standing but some are still serving beers… In its fifth year, the Gosport Pubs: Past & Present talk details the history of local pubs from the last […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk In this talk by The Pompey Pals Charity, you’ll hear about some of the campaigns which resulted in the ultimate sacrifice for so many local servicemen and intense grief to hundreds of families in our area. The personal stories of some will be told… You’ll learn who the Pompey Pals were, […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BX This talk explains the Royal Navy’s use of Press Gangs. Mike Williams will be giving a talk about the Royal Navy Impress Service, better known as the Press Gang. People were never sure if this practice was really legal. […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BX This talk tells the story of the Royal Navy’s role in suppressing piracy during the ‘Golden Age’ of Caribbean pirates. Mike Williams will be telling the story of the Royal Navy’s role in catching Pirates. We all know pirates […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk Gosport Community Hub, Military Road, GOSPORT, Hampshire, PO12 3BX A talk with our ‘Time Traveller’ that takes us from the present day back to the dawn of the Earth. What was Gosport like 10,000,000 years ago? 100 million years ago? Our ‘Time Traveller’ will describe scenes of prehistory, even before the […]

IN PERSON Show / Display Presentation The Ballroom, Thorngate Halls, Bury Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3PX Be transported back to the time of silent films with the history and sound of this unique Compton Cinema Organ, usually hidden away behind the stage! .. The Compton Cinema Organ has been in the Ballroom at Thorngate Hall […]

IN PERSON Illustrated Talk The Vine, 64 Stoke Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1PA Be transported back to a time of travel by tram, through a great presentation of postcards and photographs about the Gosport area… Peter Greenaway is well-known locally for his wonderful photography of Gosport scenes, spanning over more than a few decades. There […]

IN PERSON Activity Gosport Museum & Art Gallery, 19 Walpole Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NS Last Orders is a board game that brings Gosport’s rich history to life through the lens of its pubs—past and present. Bring some friends to have a game (up to 6 players)… Blending fascinating historical facts with a playful revival […]

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED IN PERSON Self led Tour Lee-on-the-Solent has a fascinating history, amazing stories, and important buildings, some of which are now long gone, some of which you might pass by without realising their relevance. Walk this Trail to discover more… This self-led Trail was designed for exploring Lee […]

Digital       How did Gosport smell 50, 100, or 150 years ago? Why are smells, perfumes, odours, and fragrances so evocative?  Click Here for link In this light-hearted recorded session, Peter Cardy invites you to remember once-familiar smells like Jeyes Fluid, Lifebuoy Soap, town gas, cough mixture, and antiseptics. Rain on a dry […]

Digital      Listen to an informative and witty video about three aspects of Gosport’s maritime history that the town and its inhabitants can be rightly proud of! Click Here for link In this well-illustrated video presentation by a director of Gosport Museum of the Sea, Max Mudie will both entertain and educate as he […]

Digital     A digital delight with this short film highlighting the heritage of Hardway and its position on the edge of historic Portsmouth Harbour, accompanied by a poetic description. Click Here for link Enjoy this poem, written and narrated by Richard Bourke, relating to his views from his home at Hardway in Gosport. Max […]

Please accept our apologies. This event is not happening now. In its place you might like to attend 66. GOSPORT TIME TRAVEL ADVENTURES Same venue and time. IN PERSON Talk Gosport Community Hub, Brune Park Community School, Military Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3BX A narrative of a “future fiction” attack on Portsmouth by a French […]