Christmas is wrapped up at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Inspirational ideas for hard-to-buy-for presents and a refreshing blast of sea air make Portsmouth Historic Dockyard an ideal choice to visit this Christmas period. The retailers on site including Nauticalia, the Mary Rose shop, the Royal Naval Museum shop and Antiques Storehouse stock ideal Christmas present solutions for those tricky to-buy-for friends and relatives from weather stations to thermometers, Action Man figures to books on naval history.

The world famous attractions, HMS Victory, Mary Rose, HMS Warrior and the Royal Naval Museum prove a popular choice for visitors looking for days out to entertain visiting friends and family over the Christmas period.

There’s a chance to get out on the water with Harbour Tours and to try out a new Digiwall climbing frame in interactive showcase Action Stations.

All the ships, museums and shops are open, except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The site will open at 11am on New Years Day. It’s free to wander through the site and enjoy the many shops, restaurants including Costa Coffee and Antiques Storehouse, the largest antiques showroom on the South Coast. Tickets are only required to visit the attractions.

There’s a packed programme of entertainment to appeal to all ages and interests.

Action Stations is introducing a new climbing favourite for visitors to enjoy over the Christmas period only.

The new DigiWall combines lights and sounds with the physical challenge of a climbing wall and computer game giving a complete work-out for the whole body.

On the 18th December, the Mary Rose Museum will be staging a free talk on Tudor Christmas between 12.00 – 12.30pm. Visitors will learn many fascinating facts about how the Tudors celebrated Christmas.

Between 20th December and 5th January there will be numerous guided tours of the Mary Rose Museum with costumed interpreters to bring the story of Henry VIII’s famous warship alive. Each session lasts about 40 minutes and tours are at 10.30am & 3.30pm

The Mary Rose Museum will also be hosting Tudor Christmas trails for all the family at 11.30am and 2.30pm daily during the Christmas school holidays. . .

A Ropes and rigging weekend on 20th & 21st December allows visitors to learn all about the rigging on the Mary Rose and try their hand at making anti-boarding netting and knots. These sessions take place between 11-12noon & 2-4pm. A weekend of Tudor dressing up at the Mary Rose Museum on 3rd & 4th January between 11am - 12noon & 2pm - 4pm.

Bring a torch to explore HMS Warrior 1860 and help Santa find the missing presents on Saturday 6th & Saturday 13th December 11am & 2pm. This event is free with a valid attraction ticket and all ages are welcome.

A daily ‘Hunt the Slipper Family Trail’ activity is taking place on board HMS Warrior 1860 from Saturday 20th December – Sunday 4th January 2009. This activity is also free with a valid attraction ticket.

On Saturday 6th December and Saturday 13th December there will be a special free drop-in workshop (a valid attraction ticket will be required) at the Royal Naval Museum. Visitors will be able to create a festive lantern inspired by objects in the galleries in the ‘Christmas Ship Lanterns’ workshops between 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm.

Visitors will be able to make Maritime Calendars for 2009 at the Royal Naval Museum on Saturday 27th December and Saturday 3rd January 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm. This is a free drop-in workshop; however visitors will need a valid attraction ticket.

Guided tours of Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory will be available throughout the Christmas period. These are on a first come first served basis and must be booked on arrival at the Historic Dockyard.

An Annual Admission Ticket is available for one year with unlimited entry to Action Stations, HMS Warrior 1860 and Royal Naval Museum and valid for one entry to HMS Victory, Mary Rose Museum and Ship Hall and Harbour Tours. It is priced at £18.50 adult, £16.50 senior, £14.00 child and £51.50 family (up to 5 members of the same family, maximum 2 adults/seniors).

For further information, log on to Historicdockyard.co.uk.