Things to see and do at Portchester Castle
Portchester Castle offers a whole host of interesting historic stories for visitors. Read about the highlights of your visit here, from learning about its Roman beginnings to exploring sculptures and exhibitions marking the castle’s history as a prisoner-of-war camp.
Visit the Castle Keep
Explore Portchester Castle’s 12th-century Norman keep, one of the tallest in the country. It's the best-preserved Roman fort in northern Europe and the only one whose entire defensive circuit survives with little altered from when it was built.
Inside, you can discover the varied stories of the many people — from royals to prisoners of war — who called the castle home throughout its lifespan. Read Portchester Castle’s full history before you visit here.
Uncover the story of Portchester's Prisoners
From 1665 Portchester served as a prisoner-of-war camp. This part of Portchester’s varied history reached its height during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars of 1793–1815. During these wars, Portchester housed up to 8,000 prisoners, of many nationalities and backgrounds, at any one time.
Today, the exhibition at Portchester tells the story of these prisoners, and explores their life at the castle.
See the Prisoners Theatre
If you associate prisoner-of-war theatricals with the Second World War, it’s time to think again. The tradition goes back much further than that. Portchester Castle has a remarkably well-preserved Georgian theatre, created within the Norman castle keep by French prisoners of war in 1810.
Here, local people came to watch the prisoners perform up-to-the-minute Paris productions, as well as plays they had written themselves. Today, you can explore this unique part of Portchester’s history within the castle itself.
Enjoy rooftop views and prime picnic spots
Climb to the top of Portchester's 30-metre (100 ft) keep to take in breathtaking views across the Solent.
Make the most of Portchester’s wide open grounds and castle courtyard, and enjoy a family picnic surrounded by history.