Who doesn't love a good castle? Well I certainly do and my recent visit to Portchester castle was a pleasure. I went inside the part of Portchester castle in which you have to pay to enter. This part gives you access to a lot more views of the castle and a gift shop is also inside. If you don't want to pay, you can simply go inside and enjoy the views on the large grass areas, which are accessible to the public. You can actually see most of the castle, simply from walking around these areas but if this is your first visit, I recommend you pay the entry fee and explore that part of the castle too. On a sunny day this place is excellent to visit for either a picnic on the green, to take in the views or to take a look at the historical aspects of the castle. If you look at my photos I added, you will see how large the grass areas are you can actually walk around for free. Infact you can walk around outside the castle to not only take in the views of the castle walls but the sea too. A definite visit for anyone with a historical interest in castles but also good for anyone who appreciates somewhere nice to visit.

Impressive ruined castle that began as a Roman Saxon Shore fort, subsequently expanded with a Norman keep, before becoming a royal palace in the 14th century. The ruins are extensive and largely accessible, with information boards and a handheld audio guide (which only worked intermittently when I visited). From the top of the keep there are excellent views over the grounds, church and across Portsmouth harbour. The keep houses exhibitions and restored wall paintings. Dogs on leads are allowed in the grounds there's wheelchair access to the grounds and lower levels of the keep. Entry charges for non-members can be found on the English Heritage website but seemed reasonable when I visited at £9.00 for adults, £8.10 for concessions. There are two paid parking lots near the castle (not free for English Heritage members), though both get busy by late morning so arrive early if you want to find a space easily. Toilet facilities are available by the larger parking lot. Inside the grounds there's a coffee van serving great refreshments.

Managed by English heritage, but there is no free parking for members. Also the place is very popular so parking can be challenging on holidays. There are two parking spaces at walking distance. The entry to the castle grounds is free and great for picnic. The entry into castle is paid and there is audio guide available at the site. There are no toilets and the one in church/tea room is only for tea room customers.

Amazing place for a walk, sit down and relax with a nice coffee. Take on some history at the same time. Views a plenty. Kids playing outside as they should, dogs walking and families being familes once again. Remember fresh air and good walk is so important to us. Enjoy.

This is a slightly biased review as I love castles and I love ruins, but without that, this was a lovely place. Very quiet with plenty to see, and a few things for the kids to do. The remains are fantastic and the plaques around are full of interesting information. The kids had the audio commentary too which they loved and found fascinating. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and the shop was well stocked too. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the little dress up area in the old theatre. The Keep was spectacular, with so much information on the way up and all that work and information is rewarded with a fantastic view of the entire layout, including the church, and of the bay. Well worth a trip if you have a love of history and if you enjoy the English Heritage sites.

Interesting place full of history. Only used the audio tour which was easy and good to use. Can see some of the site for free but the inside of the castle you will need to pay for. There is parking which is not very expensive. Only Downside is the toilets as they were not very clean and needed some work on the hand-wash station when we visited.

Really nice area, well kept and peaceful. Good parking, easy to find. There are proper public toilets just between carpark and the castle grounds. Also a cafe by the church inside the walls. Can't comment as did not use, we opted for the little French cafe van, which was nice and to be fair actually reasonably priced. Just to note at 12.15 on the 28th Jan 2022 the actual castle which you pay to go in was closed?? That said still worth a visit. Great views of the cliffs, Gosport and Old Portsmouth in the distance, can see the aircraft carrier, etc.

Fantastic!! Worth the visit, it's a gorgeous castle with lots of information about the history. Amazing views from the top of the tower!! Definitely recommend, amazing

A really nice castle that we and the kids really enjoyed. Complete enough that you don't need to overly use your imagination. The views from the top of the keep are breath taking, but it can be very windy at the top. You have to pay for parking even if you are an English Heritage member as it's not run by them.

We have been here so many time but now we are English Hertiage members, we went inside, for the first time in years. The views are beautiful and we picked a great day for it. Inside is informative and easy to get around but equally, we just wondering around outside is good. Lovely hot chocolate from the Seahorse coffee bar too.

Lovely castle, small but lots to see. They have audio boxes for you to use, you just tap and it give you info of that part of the castle. Be mindful you have to pay for the car park, can pay by pay by phone app. Toilets are in the large car park and not one in the castle itself.

I enjoyed attending this place. It was nice to see so many other people enjoying themselves and it was lovely to walk along the beach. When we arrived, we were greeted very nicely by one of the volunteers. She made a concerted effort to be friendly and explain things. It was, however, slightly frustrating because people had to wait for ages to gain entrance to the Castle. I concede that everyone was doing his or her best, but it could have been better organised. Once people purchased tickets in the gift shop (which took a long time), they then had to wait again at the gate. Everyone was really nice, but it took a long time to enter. I recommend going up the stairs to see a wonderful view of the castle and of Portsmouth. It is also nice to walk along the beach. I also recommend the tea room at St. Mary's Church: ***When I first entered this beautiful tea room, I did not expect that it was going to be so lovely. I also did not think that the menu was going to be so plentiful and include so many wonderful choices. It took me quite some time to select something because everything seemed so delicious. The sandwiches were extremely filling and the man (Ron?) who made them did a great job. What really stood out was the way people were treated. From the moment we walked in, we were made to feel exceptionally welcome and the woman who was taking people's orders had a wonderful sense of humour, was enthusiastic and was just extremely kind. In fact, I went back to thank her afterwards because the experience had been so wonderful. I revealed to her that it was my birthday and that she just made my day a lot better. I do not tell many people when it is my birthday (it has been that way for years now) but just the way she treated people made me want to tell her that she had made my day feel extremely special. It was a great Birthday Lunch, thank you!!!***

The Castle and grounds exceeded our expectations. The children (aged 10 and 11) really enjoyed it, as did our dog. (Dogs are allowed inside the grounds and up the tower). It's really informative with guides around (both in person and also using the portable electronic hand guides). We had coffee and cake at the Church there, which wasn't great, but there was a coffee van also in the grounds. Definitely would recommend if you're in Porchester.

Very lovely historic place to visit. And the cafe is great for coffee and snacks. We sat at the table and chairs amongst the gravestones. It was nice. We didn't go inside the ruins of the castle as we couldn't afford it. Quite happy to wander outside

Great place to visit with lovely surroundings and great views over the harbour. St.Mary's Church is located within the walls.

This was a really amazing, well preserved castle. Loved the volunteers there, who obviously love the place and the history. English Heritage site, very much worth buying the membership! Parking is municipal, pay, but very convenient and low priced. A sweet little Ale House is adjacent to the parking, bathrooms off site but easy. And the town is a beauty. We could have explored the town more thoroughly, and if I ever get to return I will do that! This is a big site, has an active church on site. Plan for a long visit!

Visiting family up from Cornwall. Took myself on a road trip and found this gem. The grounds are free to walk around, but it is well worth paying the entrance fee to climb the stairs to the top of the keep and look at the exhibits and interior walls. Interesting history. Nice little mobile coffee van or a tea shoppe at the church. Spent a couple of hours here. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't buy tickets in advance but a small discount if you do.

Free for English Heritage members. There is a car park nearby, but there is a charge. Audio guide available to give information on the castle and the role it played in protecting England from invaders. The walk to the top of the keep is worth it for the view alone. The only downside is the lack of toilets; however there are public toilets on the car park, a short distance away. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Ruins of a castle dating back to Saxon times, it even Roman times. The current castle was largely built up during Norman times and saw use through to the 19th Century. It was a fortress, a royal castle and a prison. The tower still stands and on good days you can climb up, though the final staircase is very steep, and subject to weather constraints if I understood correctly. Its steps were far too narrow for my feet. This is an English Heritage site. Free entry for members (I can't recommend that membership enough).

Lovely 11th century castle which overlooks the ocean. Big thanks to the guy in the little blue van for the coffee. Awesome walk along the beach, heaps of dogs running around. I was annoyed by the St Mary's cafe, as they have built it on top of the cemetery and on top of the grave stones. Seriously common sense either build the cafe somewhere or don't build it at all if you're building on-top of a grave. As per normal church only think about how they can make money and not let the people in the graves rest in peace. Really disappointed, as there is plenty of room to build this cafe anywhere else on the empty land.

What a fantastic castle ruine. Steeped I'm history and in brilliant location. Well worth going up the tower and taking in the history and development of this huge hidtorical site. Free into and around the grounds and to pay to see the palace and tower is definitely worth it. It's not expensive like some places are. The staff are friendly too. You can definitely take a picnic or go to the tea rooms or there is a coffee/cake van. The only thing we didn't like was the ice cream van in the car park...the ice cream Mr Whippy tasted very strange and tangy but wasn't cheap, we love our ice cream and that didn't taste right at all so be warned! Two large car parks are paid but very reasonable. It does get busy, but you'll be ok as people are coming and going. Dogs on leads if you pay to go into the tower but can be going around the outside and inside. The church is beautiful, too, some headstones as old as the 1700s.

I visit here often with my friend who grew up in the area, and I just love it. There is cheap parking, facilities if needed, view of the water. It is beautiful. The perfect place to walk around no matter the weather, or to sit and bask in the sun with a book. The history behind the place is also amazing!

On my journey today my first stop was Portchester castle which is just a mile away from Portchester railway station. The preservation of the castle and keep is incredible and truly special to walk around. What's is good about Portchester castle is you can walk around the castle grounds for free and you pay to walk around the keep. There are many floors you can walk around and you can ask for a audio tour device which is easy to use. I did manage to get to the top of the keep and the view is simply outstanding. But do take good care walking up and down the steps. The volunteers and staff working in the gift shop are very cheerful and have alot of knowledge so do ask questions. For food I brought myself a sausage roll from the seahorse coffee and waffle bar but next time I will try the tea room which is located near the church. Overall I had a fantastic time at Portchester castle one of the best castles I have visited in the UK. And considering it only cost me £8.10 for a student ticket, good value for money. I will definitely visit again in the near future.

Very pleasant visit. Beautifully peaceful with plenty of open spaces for a picnic or just quiet reflection. Right by the waterfront with nice views of Portsmourj harbour and surrounding areas. Well worth a visit.

We really enjoyed our visit to the castle. It's the first time we have been inside and we had previously only attended an event in the grounds. We particularly liked the way the Keep has been simply restored to allow access to the roof, mainly via sturdy but steep wooden steps, and the splendid views across the harbour. We used the audio guides which provided lots of useful information as we walked round. Well worth a visit.

Beautiful. Really enjoyed this castle. You can even climb up to stand on the roof. Lots of informative points and done artifacts that have been uncovered. There is a lovely little church on site as well. Good sized car park. Very lovely staff member on site and gift shop at the end. Toilets are located in the car park.

This Castle is full of history, especially the history of England - France conflicts over the centuries. The ruins are extensive and there is much to see. The audio guide is free and give some interesting background the what is still visible among the ruins. A climb to the top of The Keep takes some effort, but is rewarded with great views of Portsmouth Harbour and beyond. Well worth the entrance fee

Beautiful place, nice easy parking, just walking around the area is great, but going into the castle is a must. Incredible castle, the amount of history and changes it has been through and it's still standing is amazing. Really nice staff, special thanks to Bob who spoke to me and gave me lots of insight into the castle.

Easy parking....also cheap !!lovely walk in castle ...dog friendly which is what us and a million other dog lovers just love.. .. lovely little cafe there.....

Interesting location with historic castle, church and village. Well worth a visit for a good local walk and to climb this impressive castle keep with great views from the tower.

Free to walk round the outside and inside of this impressively large castle walled area, just have to pay to go in the far corner keep tower. But reasonable price and good views from the top. Gift shop in keep accessible though if dont want to go up, and a church cafe or coffee van inside the grounds too. Pay and display parking but not expensive. Great for dog walks and view of the Portsmouth harbour and cliffs. Can walk along beach to costal foot path around the harbour too if want a longer walk.

A lovely warm welcome in shop. A very friendly guide happy to point out points of interest inside the inner bailey. Great space within the Roman walls for family picnic. Crabbing on the waters edge outside the castle.

Great bit of history, you can look around parts of the castle, go into the church, there's also a little coffee shop to sit and have a coffee and the proceeds go to the church, there's plenty of space for the kids to run around inside and a nice look beyond into the harbour as you stroll around the castle grounds

We had a great cycle ride out to Porchester Castle. The catering unit was open for fresh coffee. The Castle grounds are immaculately kept. The keep is open most days for a reasonable entrance fee with great view from the top of the harbour and port solent. Well worth a visit.

Paid parking. Free entrance to Castle grounds. Paid entrance to main keep. Lovely location, over looking Portsmouth Harbour. Large open grounds within outer walls. Currently, an exhibition on the use of the castle for prisoners of war. (Jul 3023)

An impressive, practical fortification with Roman and English period structures and well-presented information. Stopped by and thought we might be castled-out, but we were pleasantly surprised by the engaging presentation of information. The story of the site was easy to understand and well worth the price of admission.

Impressive castle on the bay, complete with a lovely church. The keep and the interior exhibit wasn't open, on my day of visit. That section is operated by the English Heritage.

Fantastic experience, free access to most of the site- outside and inside of the outer wall. Have to pay or be English heritage members to access the Norman tower and immediate area by the tower. There is a tearoom at St Mary's Church positioned inside the outwall. Free small car park close to castle and another larger car park with toilets.

Good interpretation of the whole of its history. Kids love the spiral stairs up the tower, great for picnics and Hide & Seek Clean, free, public toilet outside in the car park.

Awesome castle and grounds. Immaculately maintained, great staff and lots of signage, as well as an audio guide that is very informative. Right up there with the best castle experiences in England! So much history at this site that I didn't know about.

Love to come here with the children. Well worth to be English heritage members as so many places to visit. The staff knowledge is amazing! Visited at least 8 times and there is always something new I learn.

Ancient monument located on the north west side of Portsmouth Harbour. Started by the Romans and added to by the Normans. Picturesque setting with walks along the coast path. Entry is free other than for the keep. Free parking and toilets close by.

What a fabulous day out and so interesting. It’s in a beautiful setting. If you are fascinated by history then this is the place for you

Lovely place for family day out. Very large castle. Fantastic views of Portsmouth Harbour from the top of the tower. Stairs are an interesting challenge for the physically challenged😄. Nice little museum and shop. Ice cream etc available and tearoom at the church inside the castle walls Very long and varied history going back over 2000 years. Easy parking inside the castle, free to members. Pay for parking just before you get there, but, very small and very busy at peak times. Huge picnic area, park and walks.