With our Ultimate Explorer ticket, you can split your shopping across multiple visits. Take a break with our on-site cafes or pop into one of our amazing attractions while you’re here to really make the most of your visit. Every purchase helps us in our mission to preserve our nautical heritage for future generations.
Long gone are the days of boring old gift shops, we’ve upped the gift shop game! Now you can expect some of the best eco-friendly, locally produced, or completely one-of-a-kind gifts that are perfect for Christmas.
So, if you want a cultural, educational, or just good old-fashioned fun gift look no further than Portsmouth Historic Dockyard!
To get you started we’ve collected our favourite gifts this season below. Spread the festive cheer and get ready to give Santa a run for his money.
Gift the magic of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for a full year
Best for: Experience seekers
Prices from £29 – £140
What’s better than giving a gift on Christmas? How about a gift that gives your loved one a year’s worth of fantastic experiences and unforgettable memories?
Make Christmas last a whole year by giving an Ultimate Explorer Gift Card. Available as individual or family ticket options, you’ll be able to give someone the gift of unlimited visits for a whole year. This includes all nine of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s attractions plus our two locations in Gosport. With our calendar of events running throughout the year, this really is the gift that keeps on giving!
Make bath times ‘quacking’ with a Rubber Duck
Best for: The young (and young at heart)
Prices from £5.99 to £9.99
These adorable little guys are sure to fit the bill, and for less than £10 they won’t break the bank. For Tudor history buffs you can grab King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. There’s also Rosie the Riveter, Pirate, and the new Sailor Duck, ready to create the perfect rubbery Armada for bath time.
Our friendly little ducks are great as stocking fillers or bundled together for larger gifts (or if you want to keep one for yourself).
Looking for a more ‘grown up’ bathing experience?
Try our range of bath time goodies.
Best for: The (DIY) spa lover
Prices from £6.50 to £22
Bath time isn’t just for kids and as the weather gets colder a nice warm bath helps keep the chills at bay.
Our Spiced Orange Gift Set contains everything you need for a luxurious bathing experience, complete with a festive fizzer. Missing summertime trips to the beach? Then grab them some Vitamin Sea Balm and have your loved one thinking they’re back at the seaside this winter. We’ve also got Salty Sea Dog Soap and Almond Ahoy Shaving Soap to help get that special someone looking ship-shape at the dinner table.
To really lighten the mood our selection of soy candles will add some sparkle as they soak. With base notes of driftwood, Tide uses Sea Salt to transport us back to nature. Meanwhile Ocean has hints of citrus to remind you of warmer days. Alternatively, our Eco Tea Light Holder is made from recycled EVA plastics. So, you can relax knowing that this gift is helping to keep our real beaches clean.
Time to get into the festive spirit with our rum range!
Best for: Rum lovers (and wannabe pirates)
Prices from £7.50 to £55
Name a better duo than the Navy and rum? The rum ration is one of the most iconic things that come to mind when thinking about a sailor’s rations. We’ve continued in that proud tradition with an incredible range of rum and rum-themed gifts (just the thing to help you get through charades).
From the classic Pusser’s Gunpowder Rum, the aptly named Depth Charge, and the specially distilled HMS Victory Rum, which is rested in barrels using HMS Victory’s own oak stave, like the Royal Navy of old we have rum to spare! Go a step further and add a grog mug or a half gill rum measure to really toast in the New Year in style.
Show your Tudor colours with the Cowdray Scarf
Best for: Historical fashionistas
Price – £19.99
This beautiful scarf is inspired by the famous artwork from which it takes its name. The Cowdray Engraving is famous for capturing the moment in which the Mary Rose sank, but it also depicts Tudor life in incredible detail.
The patterns of the Cowdray Scarf are inspired by the many tents shown in the engraving. It’s a subtle but colourful reminder of our Tudor heritage and a gorgeous statement accessory all in one.
Add some sparkle to the tree with these beautiful
Christmas decoration
Best for: The over-the-top tree decorator
Prices from £5 to £20
We love a Christmas tree, they’re the perfect chance to get out all the decorations and relive memories past as you celebrate the future.
We’ve got baubles for everyone. From our twists on the classic bauble style to the intricately made mini versions of our iconic ships, the Mary Rose, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, give a gift that your loved ones will enjoy year after year.
If you want to add even more nautical charm to your Christmas decorations, then our Rope Christmas Wreath will add the perfect touch.
Take home a cuddly friend for Christmas
Best for: Someone looking for a new friend
Prices from £7 to £25
We all know that dogs (and cats) aren’t just for Christmas but there is one I’d happily see under the Christmas Tree. The super-adorable Hatch the Dog is just begging to be taken home this Christmas. Based off his famous namesake from the Mary Rose this pint-sized puppy will be a great cuddly companion for someone you love.
If you wanted more dockyard buddies than Miss Muggins the Cat, complete in sailor uniform, is a great match. Or you could consider some friends from further down with our range of eco-friendly maritime soft-toys.
It’s a tradition for a reason – get them some socks!
Best for: Anyone who needs socks
Prices from £8 to £20
The greatest gift you can receive. Socks are fab, they keep your feet warm, and somehow you always end up with one less sock then expected when doing the wash, meaning you can never have too many.
These outrageously festive Christmas socks are brimming with cheer and will keep your loved one’s feet toasty to boot. Looking to give a little extra? Then bundle up with our range of travel mugs, scarfs, or beanies.
Spark a love of learning with a book
Best for: Book worms
Prices from £5 to £30
The Icelandic tradition of giving a book on Christmas eve is known as ‘Jolabokaflod’. Not only does it encourage reading, but we can’t think of anything better than curling up with a new book and some hot chocolate.
This Christmas the top of my reading list is “Mary Rose – Her story, their story, our story”, which covers every-thing from her inception to her current day. For younger readers check out the ever hilarious Horrible Histories or give some inspiration with “Fantastically Great Women Who Made History”.
Wrap up warm with our Christmas jumpers
Best for: Cosy comfort seekers
Prices from £15 to £130
Winter is the time for chunky knits and cuddly clothes, and nothing says cosy like our range of Christmas jumpers!
We have matching adult and child sized sweatshirts, perfect for family photos in front of the Christmas tree. Or we have our special edition Christmas jumper, made with regenerated cotton using pre-consumer textile waste cuttings and recycled polyester from PET plastic bottles. So not only will they look great, but you’ll be also helping out the planet as well.
If you’re looking to keep the cosiness but tone down the Christmas than our Mary Rose Dive Team Hooded Sweatshirt will keep you warm. Or if you know any submariners then they’d all recommend the Submariner Wool Pullover, made from pure Merino wool.
Experience something truly incredible with our VIP Experiences
Best for: The in-depth experience lover
Prices from £300 to £400
Do you know someone that absolutely loves history? What about someone who loves new, never seen before experiences? Then our VIP experiences are the perfect, unforgettable memory to give to someone this Christmas.
Get behind the glass with the Ultimate Mary Rose VIP Ship Hall Experience and gain access to the final resting place of the Mary Rose. Have an expert guide you round this carefully controlled environment, followed by a behind the scenes tour of the Reserve Collection. After which you can enjoy refreshments in Wardroom, with access to the VIP balcony overlooking the Harbour.
Or enjoy the VIP HMS Victory Experience, complete with a private tour of the flagship of the Royal Navy. Start your day with a champagne High Tea, served in Captain Hardy’s Cabin, before enjoying an hour and a half tour with one of our experts. At the end of the experience your loved one will be gifted a coaster made from reclaimed wood from HMS Victory – so they can take a piece of history home with them.
So that’s just the highlights of the Christmas gift ideas available at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard!
Be sure to tag us into any pictures using @PHDockyard OR be sure to tag us in your social pictures using #PHDChristmas
If you want to plan your perfect Christmas day out than you can see our entire range of Christmas activities, must-see attractions, and seasonal opening times on our dedicated Christmas Page
If you prefer to do your shopping in person, why not make a day of it and buy yourself a ticket today. Portsmouth and Southampton residents can receive 30% off ticket prices thanks to our Local Residents Offer. So, you can treat yourself and your loved ones in one visit.