City or town
Things to see in Portsmouth (United Kingdom): 99 places and when to go
Portsmouth is a city in United Kingdom with around 442,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 99 places in and around it, mainly History (31), Nature (25), Museums and art (17). The best known are HMS Victory, Osborne House and HMS Warrior. The best time to come is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 45. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- United Kingdom · 50.8003, -1.08
- Population
- About 442,000
- Places
- 99 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (31) · Nature (25) · Museums and art (17) · Temples (11) · Mountains (10) · Food and drink (10)
- Best time
- April to September.
- Also possible
- February to March, October and December.
- Nearest airport
- LGW London, 74 km as the crow flies
What to see in Portsmouth
The places in and around Portsmouth, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- HMS Victory1765 first-rate ship of the line2.1 km
- Osborne HouseFormer royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, UK14 km
- HMS Warrior1860 Warrior-class ironclad2.1 km
- Spinnaker TowerSightseeing tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England2.1 km
- Portchester CastleMedieval castle in Portchester, Hampshire, England, UK4.8 km
- Portsmouth CathedralCathedral2.0 km
- Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, PortsmouthRoman Catholic cathedral in Portsmouth, England1.0 km
- Southsea CastleCastle in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK2.5 km
- HMS Holland 11901 Holland-class submarine3.1 km
- Isle of Wight Steam RailwayHeritage railway on the Isle of Wight, England14 km
- HMS Alliance1945 Amphion-class submarine3.1 km
- Butser HillHill in Hampshire, England, UK21 km
- Chesapeake MillWatermill in Wickham, Hampshire, England, UK13 km
- HMS M331915 M29-class monitor2.2 km
- Mary Rose MuseumMaritime museum in Portsmouth, United Kingdom2.0 km
- Portsmouth HarbourNatural harbour in Hampshire, England3.9 km
- Royal Naval Museums, PortsmouthMuseum in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK2.1 km
- Royal Navy Submarine MuseumMaritime museum in Gosport, England3.2 km
- Spitbank FortSea fort located in the Solent, near Portsmouth, England3.6 km
- Butser Ancient FarmArchaeological open-air museum in Windmill Hill, Hampshire17 km
- Explosion Museum of Naval FirepowerMuseum in Gosport, Hampshire, UK3.4 km
- Fort MoncktonFort in Gosport, UK4.6 km
- Nab TowerLighthouse east of Isle of Wight, UK17 km
- Portsmouth War MemorialMemorial in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK913 m
And the other 75, by what you come to do:
- Temples: St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde, Domus Dei, St Agatha's, Landport, St Edmund's Church, Wootton, St James Church, Southwick, St Mildred's Church, Whippingham, Holy Cross Church, Binstead, Quarr Abbey House
- History: Warblington Castle, Fort Blockhouse, Titchfield Abbey, Hilsea Lines, Fort Brockhurst, Fort Southwick, Fort Widley, Havant New railway station, No Man's Land Fort, Quay Street Viaduct, St George's Church, Trotton, Cams Hill Viaduct, Fort Nelson, Hampshire, Northwood House, Portsmouth Naval Memorial
- Museums and art: Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum, The D-Day Story, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth City Museum, Eastney Beam Engine House, Hovercraft Museum, Little Woodham, Classic Boat Museum, Westbury Manor Museum
- With kids: Clarence Pier, Funland Hayling Island
- Nature: Broadhalfpenny Down, Catherington Down, Osborne Bay, Portsdown Hill, Windmill Down, Alan Hersey Nature Reserve, Buriton Chalk Pit, Chappetts Copse, Farlington Marshes, Head Down, Hampshire, Henwood Down, Langstone Harbour, Old Winchester Hill, Pidham Hill, Tipner Lake, Titchfield Haven, War Down, Church Field, Eastney Park Farm Nature Reserve, Pig Leg Lane Nature Reserve, Sandy Point Nature Reserve, Torberry Hill
- Architecture: Bembridge Windmill
- Hiking: Solent Way, King Charles III England Coast Path: Gosport to Portsmouth, King Charles III England Coast Path: Gosport to Portsmouth: Wicor Marine Alt Route, King Charles III England Coast Path: Portsmouth to East Head: Southmoor Alt Route, King Charles III England Coast Path: Portsmouth to South Hayling, Shipwrights Way
- Diving: Britsum, Edenwood, Vadne
- Food and drink: Fallen Acorn Brewing Co, Irving Brewers, Make Make, Rosemary Vineyard, Staggeringly Good, The Emsworth Brewery, The Southsea Brewing Company, Urban Island, Wight Knuckle Brewery
When to go to Portsmouth
The best time to visit Portsmouth is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBetter not8:12
- FebPossible9:45
- MarPossible11:32
- AprBest time13:34
- MayBest time15:17
- JunBest time16:15
- JulBest time15:51
- AugBest time14:20
- SepBest time12:22
- OctPossible10:24
- NovBetter not8:39
- DecPossible7:45
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 16 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 45. In April, 99 of the 99 places are at their best.
When to go to United Kingdom in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Portsmouth
The nearest main airport is London Gatwick Airport (LGW, London), 74 km as the crow flies. How to get around United Kingdom (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Chichester50 places22 km
- Southampton116 places25 km
- Ventnor55 places25 km
- Alum Bay24 places37 km
- Alton38 places39 km
- wisborough green35 places49 km
And all of United Kingdom, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Portsmouth?
The best known: HMS Victory, Osborne House, HMS Warrior, Spinnaker Tower, Portchester Castle. In all, 99 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth?
April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 45.
How do you get to Portsmouth?
The nearest main airport is London Gatwick Airport (LGW), 74 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Portsmouth as the destination and these 99 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
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- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.