Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery — Attraction in Portsmouth

I went to the Museum and Art Gallery today as a group of 3 people. I really loved it. I never even knew about this building before.

It was not that busy at all and there was lots of art, models, interactive elements and more to see! The designs are set up really well with all of the information at the side of the displays.

Each room seemed to have different genres or themes to explore. The Paintings they have there of the local area are fantastic pieces. I was also very interested in the Sherlock Holmes section and I did not think I would be! I've never read or watched anything Sherlock before but I really enjoyed learning about him.

There is also a big section devoted to the local area through the ages which is great. You get to see different displays with models showing what each age was like. There is even sound effects from that age playing too.

The section about the seafront through the ages was also interesting since I did not know about the local history of Portsmouth. I had a go on Laughing Jack, a Puppet in a box who laughed with glee. There was also a mini ball game that I put 5p inside and had a go on. I lost though but oh well. Was fun.

One section near the exit shows sealife and birds from the local area with models and sound effect buttons you can press. Very cool. I got some nice pictures here.

There is also a gift shop with lots of different items. From old fashioned kids toys, snacks/sweets, gifts showing off the local area, Books from the author of Sherlock Holmes, soft teddies and more!

Near the Gift Shop is also a small cafe with a nice selection of food and drink on offer. I had a cup of tea with a sandwich. Very nice staff members served us at the cafe and gift shop.

Finally there is also a leaflet collection board where you can find out about all of the different events that are happening in the local area.

Basically I saw this building and its attractions as being like how a Tourist destination used to be like. Where it gives you the feeling of the local area. It introduces you to the history and provides a kind of rest stop too where you can get information before you go onto the next adventure.

You know you want to visit the building and check it out, right ;) Free entry too! Visit and see...

Fantastic local museum, if you are local and haven't been it's a great idea to check it out - it's free!

First thing, it is 100% wheelchair accessible as far as I can see, there is a lift to the upper floors and gently sloping ramps around the exhibits, as well as some onsite parking.

Second, this is perfect for kids. Plenty of interactive exhibits, some drawing, some touchy-feely, some video watching there's plenty to do if the kids enjoy a museum environment. As it's Easter there is an Easter hunt going on, with chicks in various exhibits and a maritime themed search for little crochet/knit creatures as well.

The ground floor has a Sherlock Holmes/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle exhibit which is thorough while being a little bit dark - I assume to protect the items?

The second floor has examples of house interiors (complete with some semi-creepy models of people) as well as history of Portsmouth. Up top there is decorative arts (closed for renovation), football and the 'collections'.

While some of the interactive buttons don't work, small kids probably won't mind and there's enough stuff to look at overall. And if it's sunny there's a little outdoor area as well.

The cafe is very small, and quite loud however that is to be expected. The shop is well appointed and has a nice variety of goodies if you are so inclined.

There is some parking onsite, and some paid parking directly on the road. About 7-10 minute walk away around the Norfolk Street area there is on-street parking 3 hours for free, no return...

Drastically needs updating, it vaguely has the topics and subject matters right, but what people expect from the content and language of the display descriptions have changed. I want to know more about the people of Portsmouth who aren't sailors and "their women". I want to know about the waves of migration into the city, about the pressures, physical and political on the city. I want to know more about little-explored communities and how they experience Pompey. Too much of the material is built on misplaced nostalgia, and not even very well - after visiting the museum I went to a coffee shop in Southsea and in the toilets they had a "lost cinemas of Portsmouth" poster that was better than anything in the museum.

The historical content is lacking as well. I think a trip to other great city-based British museums is in order; I recommend the museum of Liverpool (not the nearby world museum), to see a comprehensive and emotional handling of maritime heritage, as well as everything else people expect from a museum, complete with a timeline of the city from prehistoric times to now. York museum is also worth a look.

Other than that, staff are lovely and engaged and the cafe, grounds and outside of the building are beautiful, worth a visit...