Mum's 80th — Portsmouth Excursion

The Day at a Glance

A family picnic by the water, a wander round the castle, then all aboard for a harbour cruise — with cake to finish.

🏰

FROM 12:30

Picnic Lunch

Porchester Castle — bring & share on the lawns by the water. PO16 9QW

⛵

3:00 PM SHARP

Solent Cruise

40-minute harbour cruise from Gunwharf Quays. PO1 3TZ

🎂

~3:45 PM

Drinks & Cake

Patisserie Valerie mango & passionfruit — quayside at Gunwharf.

🏰 Porchester Castle

A grand medieval castle set right on the shore of Portsmouth Harbour — flat green lawns, sea views and plenty of room for a family picnic. The perfect spot to gather before the boat.

Picnic lunchFree outer baileyFree inner for English Heritage membersCar park & toilets on site

Running Order

Aiming to be at the castle for 12:15, picnic at 12:30, and boarding the boat by 2:45.

~9:00

Mum & Dad set off

Bus 8 from Ludgershall → Salisbury, then the direct train to Portsmouth Harbour.

10:45–11:00

Drivers depart

Paul from Ludgershall · Grace & Richard from Verwood (with the cake) · Matt collects Marie & Chick in Salisbury.

~11:45

Mum & Dad reach Portsmouth Harbour

Met and driven the short hop to the castle.

12:30

🥪 Picnic lunch — Porchester Castle

Bring & share on the lawns. Time to explore the castle too.

~2:00

Head to Gunwharf Quays

~20–25 min drive. Park in the multi-storey (pre-book online).

3:00

⛵ Solent Cruise departs

40-minute harbour cruise — back on land ~3:40.

~3:45

🎂 Drinks & birthday cake

Quayside at Gunwharf to round off the day.

⛵ Gunwharf Quays & the Solent Cruise

Our 3:00 PM boat leaves from Gunwharf Quays, in the shadow of the Spinnaker Tower — a 40-minute cruise around the historic harbour, past the naval dockyard and warships.

Boarding 2:45Multi-storey parkingShops & cafés for after

Who's Getting There How

Five parties, one castle. (Home addresses shared privately — this shows the plan only.)

Paul & familyDriving

From Ludgershall

Leave ~10:45

Grace & RichardDriving

From Verwood

🎂 Bringing the cake

Leave ~11:00

Mum & DadBus + Train

From Ludgershall

Bus 8 → Salisbury → train to Portsmouth Harbour. Met on arrival.

Leave ~9:00

Matt, Liz & familyDriving

From Salisbury

Collecting Marie & Chick on the way.

Leave ~11:00

Marie & ChickLift

From Salisbury

Riding down with Matt & Liz.

Good to Know

Porchester Castle: pay-and-display car park on Castle Street; toilets on site; free to roam the outer grounds.
Gunwharf parking: pre-book the multi-storey online — cheaper than the gate on a Saturday.
Castle → boat: ~9 miles, 20–25 min. Convoy or share a pin to the meeting point.
Wet-weather Plan B: Mum wants a picnic — we'll grab a dry window; cafés and cover nearby if needed.
Cake: check if it can come aboard; if not, straight after the cruise, quayside.

Still to Confirm

A few things to lock in before the day.

Exact bus & train times for Sat 11 July (check National Rail / Traveline)
Who meets Mum & Dad at Portsmouth Harbour — and their journey home
Solent Cruises booking name, boarding point & cake-aboard policy
Picnic food — who's bringing what for the bring & share
Websters B&B Saturday-morning cover so Matt & Liz can get away