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Original poster

Things to do in Portsmouth?

17 replies

stridesy · 12/02/2022 17:06

My parents are relocating to Portsmouth from London and want me to stay over Easter for a week with my 12 year old asd son and my 5 year old daughter. What is there to do there? Are there any really good parks that would be suitable for the two of them? Probably won’t have a car so is the public transport good?

OP posts:
NandorTheRelentlessCleaner · 12/02/2022 17:15

Historic dock yard was always very good fun (not been for ages)

Shopping and Spinnaker Tower and lunch in harbour at Gunwharf

Pebbly beach/seaside and canoe lake/ park

It’s not a pretty kinda “twee” place, but I like visiting Portsmouth every now and then as it’s near us

londonmummy1966 · 12/02/2022 17:21

Dockyard is very easy to get to as it is right by the Harbour Station and bus station. Can easily spend a day there with the Victory Mary Rose etc to visit.

Day trip to the Isle of Wight - boats leave from the Harbour Station - if it isn't beachy weather (and Easter won't be) you can get the Island train from the pier to Smallbrook and take a stem train ride.

Exploraria at the Pyramids centre should be good fun for both DC despite the age difference.

Roman Palace at Fishbourne is easy to get to on the train

Onionpatch · 12/02/2022 17:22

There is lots to do in the area - the docks and gunwharf as mentioned.

If you can walk (i have done this) or get train/ a bus to southsea there is a 'castle' which is a tiny but it
has one of those splash pond things (tarmac with water that squirts), there is a bluereef aquariam which is small but nice in rain. Ots good scootering along the prom
There is also a d day museum.
There is a noisy peer

Wowzel · 12/02/2022 17:28

The submarine museum in Gosport is really good - you can get the Gosport ferry from outside Portsmouth Harbour station.

Public transport is ok - there are buses that go most places.

Qwill · 12/02/2022 17:32

Get a train to Southampton

Sprig1 · 12/02/2022 17:34

Ferry to the Isle of Wight definitely.

itsgettingweird · 12/02/2022 17:39

Depends where in Portsmouth.

Bus and train links are really easy to use from the north of the city to the harbour and city centre.

All the above mentioned.

For north of the city there is play zone which is a soft play centre for all ages. North harbour lakeside is a lovely walk and has a trial with gym.

Mountbatten centre for swimming.

Cumberland house museum and canoe lake on the beach front.

In the main centre and surrounding areas there are loads of public parks and many have large play equipment and zip wires.

There's a fair on the beach front with crazy golf.

D day museum/ south sea castle - my ds with asd loves all the history stuff including the dockyard etc.

Original poster
stridesy · 13/02/2022 07:49

Thankyou for the ideas. My son loves crazy golf and swimming is an option depending on what it looks like (my son likes the deep end while my daughter gets nervous at anything over a meter). Plus Isle of Wight. Just want to keep them busy as opposed to being stuck in what basically is a retirement flat.
Can anyone name an specific parks?
Thanks

OP posts:
CaptainSmartarse · 13/02/2022 07:52

Don't bother . Go to the New Forest instead .

Loopytiles · 13/02/2022 07:57

I like southsea, windy walk or bike along the promenade, get an ice cream, watch the boats and hovercraft. There’s a park there that’d be good for the younger DC, it has decent loos too! don’t think it has equipment for older DC but there’s the beach and sea very nearby.

I like gunwharf quays shops but not many shops there now for DC, apart from food places and the cinema.

Loopytiles · 13/02/2022 07:58

The council do history trail booklets for DC

Forshorttheycallmecomp · 13/02/2022 07:59

If you head down to Clarence pier (and lots of buses go that way) there’s a play park there, that’s where youll find the funfair/crazy golf, the (pebbly) beach is there… my kids can spend hours just throwing stones into the sea. From memory there are quite a few geocaches in that area. Depending on how much they like to walk you can walk from there to old Portsmouth or from there up to south sea pier.

DaisyDozyDee · 13/02/2022 08:03

Portsmouth is rammed with activities for kids. The park by Canoe Lake in Southsea has good play equipment and a splash park. The lake has pedal boats and some children fish for crabs. There’s a nice cafe, a model village and a free museum with a butterfly house. And it’s two minutes from the pier attractions. Easy walk to the castle and the D Day museum too. That’s all just in one tiny area.
Hovercraft or ferry for Isle of Wight are both very quick. All the Historic Dockyard museums are brilliant. The aquarium’s nice.
Genuinely, there’s no need to be bored. It’s a great holiday destination with kids.

Loopytiles · 13/02/2022 08:12

Isle of wight trips quick but expensive, IMO plenty to do in portsmouth itself.

itsgettingweird · 13/02/2022 09:05

Parks specifically on the beachfront are all fantastic.

We could name all sorts of specific parks. Would be helpful to know a general area - Portsmouth is huge!

itsgettingweird · 13/02/2022 09:05

Parks specifically on the beachfront are all fantastic.

We could name all sorts of specific parks. Would be helpful to know a general area - Portsmouth is huge!

FruminariaBandersnatcheosum · 13/02/2022 09:09

Isn't the Mary Rose in Pompey? I went with my DDad years ago and loved it.

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