King James's and Landport Gates, Portsmouth

About

King James's and Landport Gates are two surviving reminders of the defences that once enclosed Portsmouth. King James's Gate was built in 1687, dismantled in the nineteenth century and later rebuilt on Burnaby Road. Its large central arch and smaller side openings give it an imposing presence beside the recreation ground. Landport Gate, built in 1760, still stands on its original site on St George's Road, with a stone arch and an octagonal turret above. It once formed the main entrance to the fortified town. Reviewers describe King James's Gate as an easily missed but worthwhile stop while exploring the area. These are exterior monuments rather than buildings with rooms to tour, and English Heritage confirms there is no interior access. Approach on foot from the surrounding streets and use public parking where permitted. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Historic SiteDog friendlyDogs on leads

Open in daylightFrom English Heritage's calendar

Open any reasonable time in daylight

From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.

Opening times may change at short notice.

Open during reasonable daylight hours; check the official visitor page for access notices before travelling.

External viewing only: King James's Gate is on Burnaby Road and Landport Gate is on St George's Road. There is no public interior access.

Photo: Landport Gate, one of the two Portsmouth gateways in this listing. Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Landport_Gate_2.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.

Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome for exterior viewing.

Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome for exterior viewing. Normal admission or the advertised opening arrangements apply.

Leads: Keep dogs on leads.

PricingFreeFree for all visitors

Free entry for everyone

Entry

Free for everyone

Pricing details

Free for everyone, independently of membership. Any opening restrictions, parking or transport charges apply separately.

ParkingParking not known

The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.

Parking details

No dedicated English Heritage parking is confirmed. Use lawful public parking in Portsmouth and walk to Burnaby Road and St George's Road; tariffs and restrictions apply separately.

Google's King James's Gate listing matches the official Burnaby Road approach. This street-side arrival point is not permission to park or drive through the recreation-ground gates.