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Great British Heritage

The Mary Rose and Portsmouth’s Maritime History

On his ascent to the throne in 1509, faced with ever-present threats from France and Scotland, Henry VIII began to build up his navy. Mary Rose was to become the pride of Henry’s fleet, but after 34 years of service in 1545, she sank in the Solent whilst leading an attack on a French invasion fleet. 

Here she lay undisturbed until her rediscovery in 1971 and then excavation and salvage in 1982, a milestone in the field of maritime archaeology which uncovered a wonderfully preserved Tudor time capsule. On 31 May 2013, the brand new Mary Rose Museum opened in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts, one high tea and one dinner.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Two nights’ accommodation at the four-star Marriott Portsmouth, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
  • Discover the Story of the Mary Rose
    Enjoy expert talks from Christopher Dobbs, Curator Emeritus at the Mary Rose Trust, alongside a private evening viewing of the Mary Rose Museum, visits to Fort Nelson, Spinnaker Tower and Southsea Castle, and a full day exploring Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior.
  • Tour Manager
    Expert tour manager throughout the tour.
  • Talks & Tours
    All talks, guided tours and admissions as per the itinerary.
  • Transport
    Coach touring as per the itinerary.
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Stunning view of Portsmouth's skyline featuring the iconic Spinnaker Tower with a sailboat in the foreground.

Day 1: Arrival in Portsmouth and Diving on the Mary Rose

Arrive independently at the Marriott Portsmouth Hotel from 15.00. This evening there will be a welcome reception and private dinner with wine followed by a talk by Christopher Dobbs, Curator Emeritus at the Mary Rose Trust, ‘Diving on the Mary Rose’.

On October 11 1982, the Mary Rose was finally raised to the surface after 17 years of search, survey and excavation. Christopher Dobbs, a maritime archaeologist and professional diver was on the team that worked on the excavation and salvage of this historic ship between 1979 and 1982.  More recently he was a leading member of the team that created the new museum.  

Christopher’s fully illustrated lecture will include recounting what it was like to find objects inside the wreck during the excavations and to be one of the divers under the water as the ship was raised from the seabed.

Day 2: Fort Nelson, Spinnaker Tower and Private Mary Rose Museum Viewing

A full day will take us to Fort Nelson, home to the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery – the Big Guns. Positioned atop Portsdown Hill with panoramic views across Portsmouth Harbour, we will be able to view the development of artillery from pre-gunpowder siege machines to modern-day super guns.

Next, we go up the Spinnaker Tower to gain a magnificent view across to the Isle of Wight and see the layout for the Battle of the Solent during which the Mary Rose capsized and sank in 1545. We will have a short coach tour of old Portsmouth, viewing the sites that remain from the Tudor period and stop at Southsea Castle, one of Henry VIII’s forts built to defend the south coast of England in 1544. It was from here that Henry witnessed the sinking of his flagship Mary Rose in the Battle of the Solent in 1545.

Return to the hotel with time to freshen up before a late afternoon high tea with a glass of prosecco in the hotel before travelling to the Mary Rose Museum for the highlight of the weekend, a private evening viewing of the newly updated museum. On arrival, you will enjoy a reception drink and an exclusive introduction from Chris to the new 4-D film to help you visualise what it was like diving on the Mary Rose.  

After this you will have a private viewing of thousands of the objects raised during the excavations, many of which were not on display in the old museum, ranging from bronze guns bearing Henry VIII’s ciphers and crowns to whole sets of pewter, and even chests full of the men’s possessions, some of them found and raised by Mr Dobbs himself.

Day 3: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior

We will spend today exploring the museums and ships of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The historic dockyard plays host to Admiral Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory and the Trafalgar Experience, the Victorian iron-clad HMS Warrior, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, and HMS M33 a gunboat that fought in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915-16.

There is also the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy a harbour tour with live commentary from the skipper detailing the ships in dock and important landmarks. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.00.

Post-tour extra nights at the hotel are available at a supplement.

Please note: You must bring photo ID for this tour. A passport or driving licence is required for this tour as the Naval Base is Ministry of Defence property.  When we enter the dockyard on Saturday night after public hours, it is a secure area, and all personnel entering must have a valid photo ID.  If you do not bring photo ID on this tour, you may not be allowed access on Saturday night.

Our ticket to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is only valid for a one-day visit.

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02/10/2026
Portsmouth
£999
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £106
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Marriott Portsmouth 
The four-star Marriott Portsmouth is located near to Port Solent Marina and a short drive away from the historic dockyards and Spinnaker Tower. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and lounge, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and comfortable bedrooms with private en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, air-conditioning, minibar, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.

Complimentary car parking is available at the hotel. 

Marriott Portsmouth Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. A reminder will be sent to you approximately 10 days before the balance due date. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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