Portsmouth Natural History Museum
BEST FOR
Ages 0-13
ENTRY
from £2
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Portsmouth
What it’s like
A dinosaur, a Butterfly House and an A-Z of natural history under one small Southsea roof.
You come here for the dinosaur, mostly. The museum's own A-Z of Natural History leads you past a proper big skeleton before you get anywhere near the Butterfly House, and that room is the one your kids will bring up at tea time. It's a small, old building though, so don't expect wide open galleries to wander through, this is a look-closely, take-your-time sort of place.
The catch is buggies aren't allowed inside, which is a genuine faff if you've got a nap-time toddler in tow, though there's a buggy park with lockers near reception for a refundable £1 coin. Wheelchair users get the downstairs fine but the upper galleries have stairs only, no lift, and the Butterfly House itself has narrow paths and only lets a limited number of people in at once. Entry is properly cheap either way: £5 for an adult, £2 for a child, and under-5s go free, so a family trip isn't going to dent your day out budget.
There's no need to book ahead unless you're coming for the Friday 10am to 11am relaxed session set aside for additional needs visitors, which is capped at 15 and needs pre-booking the day before. Last admission is 4.30pm to the museum and 4pm to the Butterfly House, which closes earlier in winter when the light drops or on very hot days, so if the butterflies are the whole point of your visit, aim for the middle of the day rather than the end of it.
Once you're done inside, Southsea's sculpture trail is right there to wander around, which is a decent way to stretch legs after a small, quiet building where you've been asked to keep your voice down near the glass cases.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 0 to 13, with under-5s going free and the Butterfly House the highlight
- Last entry
- 4:30pm to the museum, 4pm to the Butterfly House
- Booking
- Friday 10am-11am relaxed session for additional needs visitors (limited to 15, pre-book by 4pm previous day)
- Parking
- Two disabled bays outside museum
- Pushchairs
- Buggies not permitted inside. Buggy park with secure lockers available for storage (£1 refundable coin or trolley token)
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair available on request
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus: Cumberland House stop 50m away (First Bus route 1) or South Parade Pier 500m away (routes 1, 7A, SD7, 18, 23)
- Worth knowing
- Free admission for Portsmouth residents (postcodes PO1–PO6)
- Buggies stay outside in the lockers, so plan for carrying little ones round.
- The upper floors are stairs-only with no lift, worth knowing if wheelchair access matters.
- Butterfly House numbers are limited and paths are narrow, so it can feel snug when busy.
- Friday's relaxed session for additional needs visitors runs 10am to 11am and needs booking the day before.
- Free street parking on Eastern Parade only runs to three hours, so keep an eye on the clock.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£5 for an adult, £2 for a child, and under-5s go in free. Disabled visitors pay £2.
Do we need to book?
No booking needed for a normal visit. The Friday 10am to 11am relaxed session for additional needs visitors is the exception, and that needs pre-booking by 4pm the day before.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday, with Friday starting later at 11.15am. Last admission is 4.30pm to the museum and 4pm to the Butterfly House.
Can we bring a buggy in?
Buggies and pushchairs aren't allowed inside the museum itself. There's a buggy park with secure lockers near reception, using a refundable £1 coin or trolley token.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Downstairs is fully accessible with ramp access at the front, and a wheelchair is available on request. The upper galleries have stairs only with no lift, and the Butterfly House has narrow pathways that aren't great for larger wheelchairs or scooters.
Is there parking?
There's no dedicated car park, but there are two disabled bays right outside and free street parking on the south side of Eastern Parade for up to three hours. Lumps Fort car park and the seafront are other options nearby.
Is it good for a toddler?
Under-5s go free and there's plenty to look at up close, but remember you can't take a buggy inside, so you'll want to be happy carrying or letting a toddler walk.
Does the Butterfly House ever close early?
In winter it can shut before 4pm once light levels drop, and on very hot days it may close early too because of the temperature.
Is the museum open on bank holidays?
It opens on Bank Holiday Mondays, apart from around Christmas and New Year. It's closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
How do we get there without a car?
The Cumberland House bus stop is about 50 metres away on route 1, and South Parade Pier stop is roughly 500 metres away with several more routes. Fratton train station is 2km off, around a 25 to 30 minute walk.
Do Portsmouth residents get any discount?
Admission is free for residents with a PO1 to PO6 postcode.
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