British Tour: Echoes of the Battle of Trafalgar at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Due to his towering frame, Captain Hardy had to crouch under the beams of the lower deck of the Victory. It was quite a spectacular scene. There was still a thick layer of gunpowder in the air. A legend is dying. Hardy was tasked with informing Nelson of their victory that day at the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson was later recorded in history and the scene was immortalized in paintings and drawings.

The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 was a day that changed British history. It marked British maritime supremacy and ended Napoleon's global ambitions. But that's just one day in the Royal Navy's 250-year history for HMS Victory.

It is the oldest commissioned ship in the Royal Navy. It also has a commander. Although it sits in dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, it is still used both as a function and as a living symbol of the Royal Navy.

When the Royal Navy ordered 12 new "first-class" battleships to challenge the French invasion in 1759, the keel of victory was laid down. The ship will cost ￡63,176, equivalent to the billions of dollars needed to build aircraft carriers today. Victory was very much the aircraft carrier's day.

The ship is huge. It was intended from the outset to be a flagship, projecting British power across the globe. When it was built, it was basically a small city. There are 820 crew members spread across 8 decks. It is the engine of British life and culture that can operate anywhere in the world.

In battle is a powerful enemy - it has more than 100 guns. This is not a ship you want to encounter in combat! "In 1799 this victory was generally considered to have been past her prime, but the need for a flagship meant that she was refitted, at great expense, and put back into service. She suffered at the Battle of Trafalgar Severely wounded, she had to be towed into port, but she was restored to her former glory. Few ships survived the Age of Sail, but Victory is an exception preserved for history (although she was not always treated so well. , almost sent to the shipyard).

Today HMS Victory is in dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a working Royal Navy dock that has been converted into a Popular tourist attraction, among several ships you can visit, is the National Museum of the Royal Navy and an excellent museum dedicated to the British Royal Navy's triumphs throughout history

The ship is currently undergoing a long-term restoration. , so she is not currently on full display. Her masts and rigging are not fully raised yet, so the ship looks rather sad in its current state. That said, it is still well worth visiting. It's the beautiful surface of the ship, but it's very obvious that the interior of the ship is its soul

Because the Victory is a work ship - you can't just get on board and wander around. Take a guided tour (at least in winter - it's different in summer), this must be booked and arranged in advance. Do this when you enter the historic boatyard or book online in advance before arriving, so don't be late! "Nelson's Cabin"

"The boat inside, it's just amazing. Part of the thing that strikes you about the boat is how big it is, but how cramped it is. It's hard to imagine there were more than 800. People are bumping around on the boat, and it's hard to imagine the giant stove cooking for them.

If you're as tall as me, you spend a lot of time hunkered down on the boat (Mrs. Angelo Topia). No need to do this as she is quite short so the Nelson's was the perfect size for her). You were taken on board by a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide (we were visiting with two small children). Good to show you the important parts of the boat and also give you a good idea of ??life on a sailboat. The tour lasts about an hour and you have to park your stroller on the boat. Parking lot outside. Be sure to wear a raincoat, we didn't expect it to start raining by the time we finished our hour long tour and our stroller was soaked, which we honestly wouldn't recommend with a very small one. Children visit this attraction. But older children will love it and I can't wait to bring ours back when they are older. There is an excellent children's play area at the HMS Victory Museum if parents want to take a turn. Visit the Victory Tour, which is a great place to park the kids.

The rest of the dockyard is more kid-friendly and you can wander around the new Mary Rose exhibit and on-site museum. If you want to explore any of the boats, you have to park the stroller further away.

: Within walking distance of the docks is Gun Wharf, a modern shopping/dining/entertainment development. Walk along the street, under the railway bridge and there you are (follow the people). There are plenty of places to eat (a wider variety of food than the shipyard offers) and plenty of shopping if that's your thing. Spinach Tower is also a popular attraction now, but we didn't have time to visit it. I heard it was great, with a wide view of Portsmouth Harbour. How to get there:

Portsmouth is located on the southern coast of England. This is a map of the city and its surrounding areas.

By car: We drove from Dorset to Portsmouth, where we were living at the time. It's easy to drive, and Portsmouth is a small city with easy access. The route to the boatyard is well signposted so you can get there without a map. There is a car park before you get to the dock, very close to the dock, but it's not free (you'd be hard-pressed to find free parking in most UK cities). The Dockyard is 5 miles from the M27

Railline: you can catch a train from all directions to Portsmouth Harbor Railway Station, from where it is a short distance to the Dockyard (200 yards from the entrance). If you're in London, it's only a 90-minute direct train ride, so you can definitely do it on a day trip from London. View South West train timetables and fares.

Disclosure - Our admission is provided free of charge by Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.