Portsmouth: HMS Queen Elizabeth

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

My son and I have recently finished watching the documentary on the new aircraft carrier and saw that it's docked at Portsmouth.

We'll be going there over the summer, and I wondered whether it's easy to see the carrier? And where from?

I see the Historic Dockyard promotes having some viewing platforms but I'm not sure how much time we will have, and whether I want to pay to go into the Dockyard itself if I don't have to??

[QuinionsRainbow]

You can see it from the top of the Spinnaker Tower - or at least you could two weeks ago.

[Sidge]

It's away at the moment, so don't rush down!

When it is alongside, you can see it best from one of the boat trips that tour the harbour, that will also give you an idea of its size (i.e. absolutely massive). Otherwise if its in its usual spot the view from the Spinnaker Tower will be good.

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

Thanks both! Yes, that's my concern: that it'll be out at sea when we arrive (3 weeks).

OK, I will look into some harbour boat trips!! Forgot about the Spinnaker Tower - is that worth a trip up anyway?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes]

The Spinnaker Tower is very good. The kiosks where you get tickets for the bost trips usually have boards up saying what ships are in harbour, although probably easier to google it.

[OtherUsername]

You don't have time pay to go in the dockyard, just for the specific things in there (eg Mary rose museum, hms victory etc) you can see it well from the free bits and the dockyard is nice for a mooch around.

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

Oh, thanks OtherUsername I completely didn't get that from their website!!

WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes that's super, thank you. Depending how much time when we arrive I will decide if we can make it (but will check, as you said!!).

[combatbarbie]

She's currently out on sea trials. If she is in when you are there and want a good close up view to acknowledge her size then paying to get into dockyard and do the waterboat you will do good.

You can see her shoreside from gosport but youd need to jump on the gosport ferry £3.50 rtn and runs every 15 mins...it leaves from the train/bus station.

[winklegirl]

She's back in again now, but no idea how long for. We were up the Spinnaker Tower yesterday and it is great anyway. My kids love it, we live locally so we go often!

Worth doing both spinnaker and dockyard to get different perspectives on her size etc. Gunwharf (where tower is) is next door to Historic Dockyard, so easy to do.

If you know someone who lives in Portsmouth, they give entry discount to local residents with proof of ID....

[3SteaksPam]

It's in at the moment, just returned.
I can see it really clearly from portsdown hill where I park for work. The view is amazing on a summers day with a picnic and binoculars I think it would be great! Although u can see her without.

Or a trip on the gosport ferry one side to the other would allow you to see different angles of her.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes]

Oh, when did she get back? We went along Portsdown Hill yesterday and didn't see her, but I was driving and couldn't look properly anyway.

[Firstaidnovice]

She came back on yesterday morning (messed up the hovercraft timetable). It used to be true that you could go into the dockyard free if you weren't actually going to visit any of the shops or museums, but I'm not sure if that's true now, I'm sure someone told me they were stopped recently.
I'd recommend a boat trip and the view from portsdown hill anyway, will give you a really good idea of scale. Watching her actually going in and out of the harbour is amazing, but very hard to plan a trip around!

[Sidge]

She came in yesterday morning.

[Singadream]

Oh this is all good to know as we are down mid August