48 hours in Portsmouth

Here's our suggestion of how you could spend 48 hours in the waterfront city.  Check back regularly for alternative itineraries...

Day 1

Lunchtime: Arrive in Portsmouth and check into your accommodation.

Afternoon: Time to shop!  Choose from three of the city's dedicated shopping areas.  Portsmouth's City Centre has all the big names you'll recognise and some you wouldn't expect.  Enjoy the indoor mall at Cascades a great high street and a traditional market dating back centuries.  Southsea Town Centre boasts an impressive range of independent specialist retailers, two department stores and a host of high-quality shops.  From lifestyle to antiques and from toys to tea chest, there is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.  Or head to the superbly situated Gunwharf Quays and discover more than 95 designer outlet stores.  With its waterfront location and year-round events, Gunwharf Quays is heaven for any shopper. 

Evening: Spend an evening in Southsea where you'll find a selection of stylish café bars, wine bars and distinctive restaurants.  Catch a show at the majestic Kings Theatre or check out the upcoming musical talent at The Wedgewood Rooms. 

Day 2

Morning: After breakfast, take yourselves on a mini-Culture Trail of the city.  Begin at Aspex Gallery, Gunwharf Quays for a fix of innovative, contemporary visual art.  Here you'll find work of artists from Portsmouth alongside internationally recognised names.  Browse the shop for unusual gifts and one-off finds.  Then head to the City Museum to discover more about Sherlock Holmes and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the award-winning A Study in Sherlock exhibition.  Also spare a moment for one of Portsmouth's hidden treasures - the city's fine and decorative art collection - and children old and young will enjoy the 1950's room. The Museum's temporary exhibition programme ensures there is always something new to see.

Lunchtime:  If you time your visit well, you could catch one of the spectacular Lunchtime Live! performances at Portsmouth Cathedral - a series of organ, vocal and ensemble recitals with light refreshments.  Otherwise, why not move out to Southsea, with its 4 miles of seafront promenade and gorgeous green spaces.  Take a picnic and enjoy the stunning views. 

Afternoon: Portsmouth is little known for its nature reserves, so take time out to explore Farlington Marshes.  Walk along the sea-wall footpath and enjoy the views over the nature reserve and across Langstone Harbour.  The area is a haven for important wildlife and flowers giving a sense of being out in the wild, just minutes from the city centre. 

Evening:  Evenings are the perfect time to visit Gunwharf Quays, with over 20 cosmopolitan bars and restaurants.  Whether you'd like an intimate meal for two, full-on partying or something in-between, you're in the right place.  Some bars stay open until the small hours at the weekend, so it's up to you how long you stay!  Right on the waterfront, Gunwharf is even better in the summer months with alfresco dining and open terraces. 

Day 3

Morning:  Enjoy a well-deserved lie-in then take a walk along the Renaissance Trail starting in Old Portsmouth.  The trail follows a chain motif set in the pavement along the Millennium Promenade and information panels provide glimpses into the history of the area along the way. 

Lunchtime:  Now you've worked up an appetite, complete your visit to Portsmouth with a traditional lunch at one of the historic pubs in Old Portsmouth - alongside cobbled streets, a fishing port, one of our cathedrals and centuries of history.  Watch the world float by from the sunny terrace, or cosy up by an open fire depending on the weather!