Portsmouth Natural History Museum
Museums & Science Centres · Portsmouth, Hampshire
No reviews yet
Closed — opens Tuesday at 10am
🏠 Indoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🐐 AnimalsEducational
What’s there
- Limited parking
- Baby changing
No dedicated car park. Two disabled bays outside the museum, free parking for up to three hours on the south side of Eastern Parade, and Lumps Fort car park nearby.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Portsmouth Natural History Museum occupies Cumberland House on Eastern Parade, a short walk from the Southsea seafront, and is run by Portsmouth City Council. Families can walk through an A-Z of natural history, see a large dinosaur, and look at displays on the wildlife of the local riverbank, marshes, woods and urban areas. Many children enjoy the Butterfly House, which opens seasonally and lets visitors watch butterflies close up. The collection includes taxidermy, fossils and local geology, so older children can pick out specimens and read the labels. The garden and nearby seafront give a quiet spot to pause between exhibits. The building is historic, with the upper galleries reached only by stairs, so it suits families who can manage steps and are looking for a calm, indoor visit.
Butterfly House is seasonal and may close early in winter.
Questions parents ask
- Is the museum manageable with a buggy, and can I take both a toddler and older child round it?
- We haven't confirmed whether the museum is buggy friendly, so contact them directly before your visit. The museum is indoors across multiple displays including the Butterfly House, so accessibility with a buggy depends on the layout.
- Is there a café, or should we bring a picnic?
- We haven't confirmed a café at the museum, so you may want to bring snacks or a packed lunch. It's worth contacting them to check what's available before you visit.
- How long should we allow for a visit?
- A typical visit duration isn't recorded, but with the main museum, A-Z of Natural History displays, the dinosaur, and the Butterfly House to explore, you could easily spend two to three hours.
- Which ages will get the most out of it?
- The museum suits all ages from babies through to teenagers, with a huge dinosaur and a wonderful Butterfly House as highlights. Younger children especially tend to enjoy getting up close to the animals.
- Will bad weather affect our visit?
- The museum is entirely indoors, so rain won't spoil your day. Note that the Butterfly House may close earlier than usual in winter due to low light levels, so check before you visit if you're planning a winter trip.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
Wet wipes
Small first aid kitPlasters solve more days out than anything else here.- Children's paracetamol sachetsThe one thing a farm shop never sells.
- Muslin cloths
Snack pot- Face wipes
Refillable coffee cupA lot of cafés knock money off.
Baby carrier or slingBetter than a pram anywhere with steps or mud.
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Photos: 維基小霸王, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renée Kools, CC BY 4.0 · Nema Evin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY 4.0
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