About
Escape the winter weather! On Saturday 21st February 2026, experience Portsmouth's incredible D-Day history right on your doorstep at Fort Southwick near Portsmouth.
Built in 1942, this labyrinth of tunnels was home to 700 men and women of the Royal Navy, Army, RAF and Allied nations that directed Operation Neptune - the naval phase of D-Day. Meridian TV recently came to film Mark Selwood of Hampshire-based Hidden History Tours UK leading the D-Day tunnel tours which Mark started here over 10 years ago. Mark is the leading expert in this amazing local history - formerly of The Royal Armouries and English Heritage.
On our tour, history and statistics mix with people and stories. Among them the memories of eyewitness Leading Wren Maureen James from Portsmouth who, before she sadly passed away, gave us a wealth of personal anecdotes of her time here, including being on duty the night before and the morning of D-Day itself. These anecdotes, as well as film screenings, now form part of the story that will unfold in the dark and atmospheric tunnels... In addition to Fort Southwick's D-Day story, we also lead regular tours at nearby Southwick Park and Eisenhower's D-Day Map Room & HQ.
The Fort had a direct link to Southwick House where Supreme Commander General Eisenhower was based in the weeks leading up to D-Day. It is an operational military base and not open to the general public so tickets are limited. Subscribe on our website to be the first to hear of all new dates and tours!