Victoria Park
🏟 Playground & park · City Centre, Portsmouth
Victoria Park
Portsmouth's first public park, opened in 1878 in the heart of the city, with a children's play area, an aviary and a much-loved pets corner.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 The park is an open public space; no fixed closing times are published by the council. · Free · No booking needed
About Victoria Park
Victoria Park is a traditional city-centre park dating from 1878 and originally known as 'The Peoples Park', the first public park ever opened in Portsmouth. Managed by Portsmouth City Council, it covers around 15 acres close to the Guildhall and the railway station, making it an easy stop on foot, by bike or by public transport. The park is laid out with many mature trees, formal flowerbeds, shrubs, hedgerow and native grassland and wildflower meadows, and is dotted with interesting monuments reflecting the city's naval history. Families come for the children's play area, but the real draw is the aviary at the centre of the park, which has housed rare birds and animals since shortly after opening; the current aviary was rebuilt after the great storm of 1987. There is also a pets corner where children have long enjoyed seeing rabbits and guinea pigs. With its combination of heritage, greenery and gentle wildlife attractions, Victoria Park is a quiet place to escape right in the middle of Portsmouth. The park has been recognised with a Green Flag Award for the quality of its management and grounds.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Aviary
- Pets corner
- Flower gardens
- Mature trees and wildflower meadows
- Historic monuments
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Accessibility: Located in the city centre, the park is easy to reach on foot, by bike or by public transport.
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's play area
📍 Nearby places to play
- Buckland Park · approx 0.9 miles · Buckland
- Kingston Recreation Ground · approx 1.1 miles · Fratton
- Southsea Common play area · approx 1.1 miles · Southsea
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Victoria Park free to visit?
Yes. Victoria Park is a free public park managed by Portsmouth City Council, including the children's play area, aviary and pets corner.
What is there for children to do?
There is a children's play area, plus an aviary and a pets corner where children can see rabbits and guinea pigs. The lawns, flower gardens and monuments make it a pleasant spot to explore.
Where is Victoria Park?
It is on Anglesea Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3HJ, in the city centre close to the Guildhall and Portsmouth and Southsea railway station.
Does Victoria Park have an aviary?
Yes. There is an aviary at the centre of the park that has housed birds and animals since shortly after the park opened in 1878; the current structure was rebuilt after the 1987 storm.
How old is Victoria Park?
It opened on 25 May 1878 as Portsmouth's first public park, originally called 'The Peoples Park', and has been welcoming visitors for well over 140 years.