Portsmouth...

'Portsmouth is confounding expectations with new galleries, a 170 metre tower with spectacular views and homage to its most famous literary son: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.' (Guardian supplement May 5th)

As well as the new Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth has a strong Festival programme for 2007 including events marking the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict and the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Set this alongside Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyard and you have a fantastic offering.

Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Chasing Freedom: The Royal Navy and the Suppression of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (1807 -2007).
www.royalnavalmuseum.org

6th-7th May - Heavy Horse Weekend - including seafront parade on Bank Holiday Monday

6th - 7th May - Fort Nelson WW1 spectacular walk through a recreated trench system, plus see guns, horses and even an incredible biplane dogfight and aerobatics! www.armouries.org.uk

10th May - Absolute Swing - The music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and many more is brought to life in this fabulous new show from Calibre Productions. www.kings-southsea.co.uk

12-13th May - Celebration of Steam - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard -Displays of Traction Engines, Road Locomotives, Miniatures, Steam Boats, Steam Fairground Attractions and Model Railways. HMS Warrior 1860 will be brought to life by a skeleton crew at work from the age of steam ships. Tel 023 9286 1533

13th May - Italian Job - Gunwharf Quays For the past 5 years Gunwharf Quays, in association with The Italian Job have been honouring the classic movie. They pay their own homage by allowing Minis of all shapes and sizes to join together in and around the shopping centre complex to help raise money for charity. Showing during retail hours. 11am-5pm. Tel 023 9283 670

14th May - 1st June 07 - Odyssey - an exhibition by Robert Koenig - Portsmouth Cathedral -The exhibition consists of a crowd of 26, 2.5m tall monumental carved figures in wood. The artisit will be carving a special figure for Portsmouth Cathedral during the week of 28th May, visitors are welcome to watch him at work. www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

22nd June - 'A Study in Sherlock: Uncovering the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection' opens at the City Museum - Tel 023 9282 7261

28th July - 29th July - Victorian Navy Days - Historic Dockyard - To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of HMS Warrior's at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard see gun drills, guards of honour, piping parties, idlers and Victorian messing authentically re-created complete with Pepper's Ghost Magic Lantern Show, Punch & Judy and rip-roaring storytelling. www.historicdockyard.co.uk

More details and many more events can be found at www.visitportsmouth.co.uk