Overnight in Portsmouth, or Portsmouth Southsea

[3timeslucky]

I've be taking the train from Gatwick and overnighting before getting the IoW hovercraft to the IoW which departs Southsea Hoverport. It looks like there's about a 30 minute walk between Portsmouth Harbour and Southsea but it might possibly be nicer to stay near Portsmouth Harbour.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? It is only an overnight but I'll be on my own so being able to wander, have a bite to eat etc might be on the cards.

Even better if you've somewhere specific you'd recommend.

Thanks.

Southsea is nice. We recently stayed overnight at The Queen’s hotel and the rooms were nice and you’d be a stone’s throw from the hover terminal. There are various bars/restaurants within walking distance.
When you say Portsmouth Harbour, I’m not quite sure where you mean- but there are also bars/restaurants at Gunwharf Quays, which is very near to the train station. These are more generic chains, but still quite nice. Alternatively you also have two pubs on spice island in old Portsmouth, which are popular.
It is very easy to walk from Gunwharf to Southsea and you can make it a nice walk along the seafront.

Gunwharf Quays is a nice place to wander and eat. There is a Holiday Inn Express hotel there too - however it might be a bit too far to walk with luggage to the hover terminal.
The hover terminal is near to Clarence Pier and there is a Premier Inn there. It's a nice enough area and very handy for the hovercraft - but not so much to as at Gunwharf.

That's helpful thank you. And thank you for your patience with my lack of clarity about what's where. Between stations, hovercrafts, other options, trains and flights this is the messiest trip I've ever organised (and that's before I get to the buses). I appreciate your help. And Queens hotel looks lovely!

I would second the Queens Hotel. There are lovely restaurants nearby (a place called Bonitas does the best Mexican food!) and you will be close for the hovercraft.

Forgot to say the 23 bus will take you directly from the Harbour station to Queens hotel!

We have 2 ds's at Portsmouth uni. Both did/are doing their first year in halls at Southsea, which is lovely. We don't live far enough away to warrant staying over when we visit them, but there is a very nice looking boutique hotel in Old Portsmouth called something like Ye Old Spotted Dog, which I am trying hard to justify staying over at, just because! That would be an easy walk to the hovercraft.
Everywhere in Portsmouth is a pretty easy walk as it's on an island (so naturally confined by water, meaning the city can't sprawl outwards) and it's flat! Second ds is there because he saw how easy first ds was finding getting around and thought he fancied that too. We love visiting; hope you enjoy it too!

I am assuming you mean the Gunwharf area by ‘Portsmouth Harbour’, as that’s what the train terminal is called.. 😀

www.yespotteddogge.co.uk/

Here you go. I would very much like a night or two here.

Wanders off, nonchalantly leaving iPad open with website showing, hoping dh takes the hint...

Go for portsmouth harbour as a station, its in Old Portsmouth and is a nice enough walk to southsea, you can go by the seafront and past the pubs and nice places to go out and eat etc.
Portsmouth and southsea station is right in the city centre and you'd have to walk for a while through the city before you get to the bit of southsea people go to visit.

Southsea is much nicer than Gunwharf. I’m not up to date with places to eat but Palmerston road will no doubt have places and the sea front is lovely for a mooch. And there is a Waitrose for stocking up on snacks if needed.

We recently stayed in an apartment in gunwharf quays (booked through booking.com I think). It was highish up so you could see the ferries coming and going from the terminal. I could wander round the shops at the quays which I liked, and there are also restaurants and a supermarket. I don’t know southsea so not comparing, but we liked gunwharf quays

Portsmouth Harbour train station is next to Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyard. Loads to do around there and there is a hotel in Gunwharf, as PP said, from memory, is Holiday Express.

Don't walk from there to the hover terminal in Southsea. Takes bloody ages, especially with luggage and if it's a miserable weather day. You can get the 'hover bus' from The Hard (same place as the Portsmouth Harbour train station), takes 10 minutes and drops you right at the hover terminal.

Bear in mind, if the weather is bad, the hover is first to be cancelled. You will be able to use your ticket on the Fast Cat (in Portsmouth Harbour train station) which takes you to the top of Ryde Pier Head. If the weather is too bad for the Cat, you can use the passenger ferry from Portsmouth (not too far from Gunwharf) and that will deposit you in Fishbourne.

The Hard has the bus station and the train station (train station is called Portsmoth Harbour to be confusing). The Fast Cat terminal is in the train station and you can get the Hover Bus from The Hard (bus station!) right to the hover terminal.

I hope that makes sense!

In short, I'd rather stay in Gunwharf Quays - which is next to the train and bus stations.

You're a mine of information. Thank you!

I'm going to bookmark Ye Spotted Dog for a proper stay and not when I'm just passing through. It looks very special. @MrsCratchitstwiceturneddress I hope your dh spots your open iPad and does the decent thing!!

Southsea is great- slightly eclectic but amazing restaurant selection. Portsmouth harbour outside the new shopping area is very rough and mainly chain restaurants

Tbh unless you have a specific reason to use the Hover I'd suggest using the fastcat from Portsmouth harbour station instead. Much easier and you can stay at Gunwharf ( right nextdoor to Portsmouth harbour station) where there are lots of eating places You can get the train down the pier at Ryde or its a short walk .