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Portsmouth visit tips

28 replies

RaininSummer · 24/08/2026 07:38

Hi all. Never visited Portsmouth before but going for three days next month. I asked for Cardiff tips a couple of years ago and had some great ideas so if you know Portsmouth, I would love to hear your suggestions. We like to explore new places and don't just want the big attractions. Staying quite near to Southsea beach I think. Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Chairoverthere · 24/08/2026 07:52

The Historic Dockyard is fantastic, could spend 2 days there

TheAnnoyingSatsuma · 24/08/2026 08:03

Historic dockyard is a must. Google for a discount code, and the ticket lasts a year so you can go back and visit different elements. They run a ferry across to Gosport for the submarines, and a harbour boat trip.

Southsea sea front has been recently redone (for flood defence) but also for the public.

Gunwharf Quays for shopping and chain restaurants.

Portsmouth Old Town for a wander.

Trip on the hovercraft to the Isle of Wight. Ryde is nice for a few hours.

Ferries to Hayling Island and Gosport.

The Kings Charles coast path and the Solent Way.

EBearhug · 24/08/2026 08:20

Yes, if you do all the Historic Dockyard, you definitely need at least 2 days. I enjoyed the harbour boat trip, if the weather is clear.

The beach goes basically from the Harbour entrance down to Eastney, which is miles. Water quality is generally better at Eastney. They're still doing up some of the esplanade round Southsea Pier. There's also Clarence Pier untoward the harbour end - if you walk along the front back towards the old town, they've got new information boards, which went up last year with the sea front works, tells you quite a bit about the history. There's also the Garrison church on the orherside, which you can go in sometimes, but uess you've got English Heritage or are really into church history, I probably wouldn't bother. Then as you go round, you've got the Round Tower and the Square Tower.

I like Portsmouth Museum, which is quite a traditional one. It's got quite a bit on Conan Doyle as well.

The D-Day museum with its embroidery is great.

Gunwharf Quays has lots of shopping and restaurants, mostly chain places. Spinnaker Tower is worth going up if the weather is clear, but not if it isn't.

You can walk pretty much all the way from whichever Tower is closest to the harbour entrance to Eastney. There are various naval memorials along there, on the sea side and on Southsea Common. Also the hovercraft to the IoW goes from Clarence Pier, which can be fun to watch if you've never seen it.

Walk further along, there's the D-Day museum, as mentioned, (public toilets in the car park there, too.) Also a good chippy there, can't remember it's name, Blue something. Southsea Castle is interesting if you find the history of forts interesting.

Up by Southsea Pier, there's the model village.

If you have transport, do go up on Portsdown Hill and look at the view - it's brilliant. It was really clear Saturday morning, might not be so great if the weather's bad... There's also Mick's burger van up there, which is a bit of an institution, but it can get long queues. And it's probably not do great if you're vegetarian. Fort Nelson with the Armouries museum is also up on Portsdown Hill. It does tell you about the history of the Palmerston Forts, but unless you're interested in the history of cannons and artillery, I'd probably give it a miss. If you are into that, it's great.

You need a week...

EBearhug · 24/08/2026 08:23

If you like sea swimming, the water quality is better at Eastney than Southsea. Parking along the seafront is free after 6pm.

LukaModricsMidriff · 24/08/2026 08:31

Restaurant recommendations, if you like meat/bbq food Bear Bones is amazing. Located at King Street Tavern or Staggeringly Good Brewery.
If you like craft beers we have 4 excellent breweries in the city!
Southsea Beach Cafe (currently 2 locations on the seafront) is excellent, especially for lunch as you have a beautiful view.
Fun trip is across to Hayling Island on the little ferry. Can either eat at the first pub you come to, or if you fancy a walk the Inn on the Beach is lovely.
Definitely a must visit is Natty’s Jerk. The best Caribbean food, rum punch and if the weather is good can sit outside “on the beach”. Opposite the train station in the city.
I haven’t yet been but Ugly Bird looks to be an excellent Japanese restaurant (in city centre)
For pizza both Sourdough Ted and FarFarOut bar are outstanding

LukaModricsMidriff · 24/08/2026 08:32

If you like swimming the newly refurbished lido is worth a visit. There’s also 2 lovely cafes up that way

LukaModricsMidriff · 24/08/2026 08:33

And if you like walking the newly refinished coastal path is great, can walk the perimeter of the city nearly! Eastern Road side is lovely as is the side that runs from Hilsea to Tipner.
Enjoy your visit to the UK’s only “island city”

inkgirl · 24/08/2026 08:37

So near southsea you have the D day museum, there's spinnker tower that looks over the solent, Portsmouth and gosport. There's the dock yards where the Mary rose is i believe, if you've got kids theres the blue reef, and theres a massive indoor park along the seafront cant remember what its called though. There's also southsea castle.

EBearhug · 24/08/2026 08:51

theres a massive indoor park along the seafront cant remember what its called though.
The Pyramids?

inkgirl · 24/08/2026 11:04

EBearhug · 24/08/2026 08:51

theres a massive indoor park along the seafront cant remember what its called though.
The Pyramids?

Yes, its what it used to be called before they closed the swimming pool down

RaininSummer · 24/08/2026 22:23

Thanks guys. Just what I needed. If you think of any more keep them coming x

OP posts:
ElegantDress · 24/08/2026 22:39

Yes to all of these, if you can get up Portsdown Hill, the views are amazing. I used to frequent Mick’s Burgers 40 years ago and it is an institution but it gets rammed in that particular viewpoint and the food isn’t that great (I tried it again last year). The best views IMO are from the lay-bys towards the Portchester end. I haven’t been to Portchester Castle for a long time but if you have EH membership it might be worth a visit. Watch out for the new speed cameras.

The D Day Museum is a personal favourite, the Overlord Tapestry is incredible. I have also been to the newly refurbished Hlisea Lido and enjoyed that.

You can follow the Millenium walkway from Gunwharf to Old Portsmouth, it is definitely worth a bit of time mooching round Old Portsmouth. I also like the two Southsea Beach Cafes.

Do not bother with the Commercial Road shopping area.

If you are there on a Saturday and the football team are playing at home, avoid the Eastern Road and the area around the ground, it gets VERY busy. But those aren’t touristy parts really.

Yewlez · 24/08/2026 22:41

Definitely do the Mary Rose at the Dockyard, it's amazing the way they have put the museum together, we spent four hours there.

spritzwiththat · 24/08/2026 22:42

Southsea beach cafe

spritzwiththat · 24/08/2026 22:43

Could get the bus to Chichester too

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 24/08/2026 22:46

We had afternoon tea at the top of the spinnaker tower. Fantastic views!

Beachbodyready · 24/08/2026 23:00

there Is loads of street art, you can follow the railway line from Portsmouth Harbour Station to Portsmouth & Southsea station (about a mile) or you’ll find loads around Albert Road.
go to Tenth Hole for coffee and incredible cakes

Carzycat · 24/08/2026 23:36

Just came on to teco
mend The Tenth Hole but previous poster beat me to it 😊

joeymaynardssandwiches · 24/08/2026 23:41

Hovercraft to Ryde

Tenth Hole for pitch and putt and cake

Gunwharf for a drink by the water plus a trip up the Spinnaker tower

Historic dockyard - especially Mary Rose and Victory

joeymaynardssandwiches · 24/08/2026 23:42

Yewlez · 24/08/2026 22:41

Definitely do the Mary Rose at the Dockyard, it's amazing the way they have put the museum together, we spent four hours there.

Yes we thought we would be 20 minutes in there with the children but we were in there for ages and could all have happily stayed longer!

joeymaynardssandwiches · 24/08/2026 23:43

There are two really lovely and historic theatres too - Kings Theatre and New Theatre Royal.

RaininSummer · 25/08/2026 17:58

Amazing. Am going to enjoy making a plan.

OP posts:
somekindofdoughnut · 25/08/2026 19:11

Portsmouth is great, I grew up there but went for an overnight stay recently with adult dd.

We did: shopping and lunch at Gunwharf Quays (got a bargainous dress in Reiss); hovercraft to Ryde for a couple of hours and back; dinner and drinks in Old Portsmouth - lovely to sit outside the pub and watch the shipping go by; breakfast at Southsea Beach Cafe, SO GOOD; walk up the promenade to Eastney for a cuppa at the Coffee Cup; chilling in Canoe Lake park looking around the rose garden and dd's favourite spot, the Butterfly House. That was a 24 hour whizz, there is so much more to see and do. I can't wait to go back.

ElegantDress · 25/08/2026 21:54

I grew up near there too and am seriously considering retiring to Southsea (if I can persuade DH). The city just fills my heart with joy.

somekindofdoughnut · 26/08/2026 08:05

ElegantDress · 25/08/2026 21:54

I grew up near there too and am seriously considering retiring to Southsea (if I can persuade DH). The city just fills my heart with joy.

My feelings exactly, I am constantly scoping Rightmove for property.

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