Outer Defences Tour
Fort Nelson, Portsmouth · 19 September to 20 March 2027
Image: Fort NelsonA 90 minute outdoor tour at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth, descending into the fort's large defensive ditch. Visitors learn how the ditch was made and the part it played in protecting the fort. Tours run at 10:30am and 2pm on 19 September 2026 and 20 March 2027, with pre-booking recommended and up to 16 people per tour. Not suitable for under 12s.
Highlights
- 90 minute outdoor tour of the fort's defensive ditch
- Tours at 10:30am and 2pm on selected dates
- Pre-booking recommended, 16 places per tour, £12 per person
Getting there
Fort Nelson, PO17 6AN
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against royalarmouries.org, royalarmouries.org. Details change, so please confirm with the organiser before you travel. How we check
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Guided 50-minute tours of Fort Nelson, near Portsmouth, trace the fort's origins in the 1870s and its roles in the First and Second World Wars. Tours run at 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm on listed dates between 21 October 2026 and 31 March 2027. Tours suit visitors aged 12 and over, with under 16s accompanied by an adult.
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Photo: Julian Colander, CC BY-SA 3.0Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson is a restored Victorian fortress on Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour. Its artillery collection from around the world includes a 15th-century Turkish bombard, a 200-tonne railway howitzer and the Iraqi supergun known as Big Babylon.