Students from the University of Portsmouth have teamed up with Southsea Castle to create a free interactive family trail.
Created by second-year History students Ben, Madi, Magdalena and Charlie as part of their degree, the trail uses a specially produced leaflet to guide visitors around the castle grounds. As they explore, participants answer questions, sketch scenes, and search for details across the site, while QR codes provide access to additional information .
Southsea Castle , built in 1544 and used as an active military base for over 400 years, is now a popular south coast attraction that offers visitors an insight into its fascinating history. The castle is run by Portsmouth City Council and is open 10am - 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday, and admission is free. The trail is available over the summer until September and will provide children and families with an engaging and accessible opportunity to explore the castle, providing opportunities to connect with its heritage.
The project also forms part of the students' History degree at the University of Portsmouth, which pairs students with external organisations to take on real, professional projects.
University of Portsmouth student Madi said: "The project has been invaluable in building my confidence in working as part of a team in a professional setting. It felt really good to do something that could help the public appreciate the heritage sector."
Student Magdelana added: "The project was a really rewarding experience and gave me the opportunity to contribute to making local heritage more accessible and engaging for the public. I particularly enjoyed working as part of a team and seeing how our ideas came together to create something meaningful for visitors to Southsea Castle."
The trail is free to follow and open Tuesday to Sunday. You can plan your visit and find more information on the Southsea Castle website.
Dr Maria Cannon , Senior Lecturer from the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature (SASSHPL) at the University of Portsmouth, said: "Civic collaboration is at the heart of what we do at the University. Year on year, our history students take on real projects with real partners, from museums and heritage sites to charities and local authorities - developing the kind of professional experience that genuinely matters to employers. The trail at Southsea Castle is a wonderful example of that in action."
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, added: "It's great that we can work together with the University to share skills and knowledge so that everyone benefits. I'd encourage people to follow the new family trail this summer and explore the castle's rich history, free of charge."
Southsea Castle is part of portsmouthmuseums.co.uk
