About this tour
A 90-minute guided walk through Portsmouth's layered past, led by a lifelong local who unpicks 900 years of the city's shadier chapters. You'll navigate Old Portsmouth's narrow streets discovering forgotten figures—smugglers, spies, naval outcasts and society's cast-offs—whose stories contradict the polished versions in guidebooks. Expect dark humour alongside genuine historical intrigue as your guide reveals what the blue plaques deliberately omit.
Highlights
- Uncover the untold lives of Portsmouth's rogues and rebels
- Navigate tight medieval lanes where history genuinely happened
- Discover Nelson's actual role in local lore
- Learn what made Old Portsmouth a notorious den
- Hear accounts suppressed from official histories
- Meet characters: pirates, spies, paupers and worse
What to expect
Your guide—someone with deep roots in Portsmouth—walks you through the old quarter's twisting alleyways, stopping to reveal stories that archives and heritage plaques gloss over. You'll piece together lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances: what drew women into piracy, how espionage shaped the docks, why certain streets earned fearsome reputations. The tone shifts between genuine historical detail and wry observation. Expect to reconsider what you thought you knew about the city.
The route involves plenty of standing and some steep or uneven cobbled passages. Most sections are accessible, though a few narrow lanes are tight.
Good to know
Runs 90 minutes at street level with several short stops. Suitable for prams and wheelchairs on most of the route, though some tight medieval lanes present challenges. Dogs on leads are welcome. Not ideal if you have cardiovascular concerns, as there are hills and pacing is brisk.
Frequently asked
- How long does Old Portsmouth Historical Walking Tour - an infernal den of Diabolical Demons take?
- Old Portsmouth Historical Walking Tour - an infernal den of Diabolical Demons runs for approximately 1h 30m.
- How much does Old Portsmouth Historical Walking Tour - an infernal den of Diabolical Demons cost?
- Prices start from AUD $24 per person. Final pricing varies by date, group size and any add-ons — confirmed at checkout via Viator.
- Where does Old Portsmouth Historical Walking Tour - an infernal den of Diabolical Demons run?
- This tour operates around United Kingdom. Specific meeting points and pickup options are listed by the operator at checkout.
- Who runs Old Portsmouth Historical Walking Tour - an infernal den of Diabolical Demons?
- The tour is sold and operated by its supplier through Viator. New Forest National Park earns a small commission on bookings made via the link, which keeps this site free for travellers.
- Is the tour confirmed at the listed price?
- The price shown is the operator's "from" price as of our last sync. Final price, currency conversion, group discounts and cancellation policy are confirmed at checkout — always review before paying.
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original New Forest National Park summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.