Things to do in Portsmouth
With loads going on, Portsmouth is a great city to explore. There’s no shortage of shopping, food and drink venues and attractions and you won’t need to travel far to find something to suit the whole family. A wide range of hotels in Portsmouth also means you can stay for as long as you like.
Where is Portsmouth?
The city of Portsmouth is located in Hampshire, England and is full of history. Many visitors ask – is Portsmouth an island? Nicknamed Pompey, the city is mainly built on Portsea Island and, as such, is the only island city in the UK.
Adding to the city’s unique character is Portsmouth Harbour, home of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the famous Emirates Spinnaker Tower. Our Portsmouth to Fishbourne vehicle ferry route and Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head FastCat service operate out of the Harbour.
What’s nearby?
Nearby cities include Southampton, Reading and London, with nearby towns including Gosport, Fareham, Havant and Waterlooville.
Culture
There are plenty of attractions that take you on a trip through time to tell the story of Portsmouth. Take an exciting and educational day out at Portsmouth Museum, discover the history of the sea in interactive ways at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, or visit the birthplace home of Charles Dickens.
Beaches
With Portsmouth set on the coast, you’ll always be moments from the beach during your time in the city. Southsea is the go to area if you’re in search of the shoreline, with miles of beach to explore. The popular Clarence Pier in Southsea is only a 5 minute drive from our Portsmouth Gunwharf port and it’s a great place for views over the Solent.
Arts and entertainment
Portsmouth is home to a number of venues showing the finest performances the city has to offer. Aside from Portsmouth Guildhall, there’s also the King’s Theatre, opened in 1907, and the New Theatre Royal, located in the heart of Portsmouth. If art is more your fancy, then Aspex is the city’s leading contemporary art gallery and completely free to enter.
£14 Foot Day Returns
Make the most of our evening flyer foot passenger offer for even longer on the Lymington – Yarmouth route. If you travel out after 2:00pm and return by 4.30am the next day, your day return ticket will only cost £14, down from £17.
