England’s coastline is one of its greatest assets, packed with places and experiences that make us all proud. Portsmouth is no exception, with stunning seafront walks, a year-round events programme, and some world-class attractions - all located right on the water's edge.
That's why we're joining Visit England's 'My coast has the most' campaign - to really shout about what makes this unique island city such a great place to live, work and visit.
Places to be proud of
Portsmouth has plenty to be proud of - and there are awards to prove it! A host of city attractions were granted TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice status for 2026 (most of them having won the award in previous years too), putting them in the top 10% worldwide.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, The Mary Rose Museum, Spinnaker Tower and Fort Nelson were just some of those named the 'best of the best' by TripAdvisor - which is especially pertinent as it comes from real reviews by real visitors.
It wasn't the only accolade that Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and The Mary Rose could be proud of, though. The two also secured prestigious Museum + Heritage awards in recent years for its partnership work and use of digital media.
Over at Portsmouth International Port there were three reasons to be cheerful. Last year it won Best Port at the Wave Awards (referred to as "the Oscars of the cruise world") for the third year in a row. The port's success can be felt across the city; as it's council-owned around £10 million in profit from last year alone has gone directly into funding vital services.
Last but not least there have been a slew of awards for some of Portsmouth's best-loved restaurants. The Briny, on Southsea seafront, has been granted an AA Rosette award for culinary excellence, whilst its sister restaurant, The A Bar in Old Portsmouth, has earned a place in the Good Food Awards. It was joined in the list by the King Street Tavern - a pub serving quality low-n-slow BBQ that has picked up so many Good Food Awards over the years that it has been given a rare Gold Seal.
Stories to be proud of
We are a city of stories - with a literary heritage that's famous around the world. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, and the city is where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the very first Sherlock Holmes stories.
Other writers to have called Portsmouth home at some point in their lives include HG Wells, Rudyard Kipling and Michelle Magorian.
Equally strong is Portsmouth's naval heritage, which tells many stories of its own. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard takes visitors through centuries of the Royal Navy - putting visitors actually on-board ships that changed the course of history.
Alternatively, a walk along the Millennium Promenade that links Old Portsmouth and Southsea tells of the area's importance in protecting Britain from invasion. Information panels along the way tell of the centuries-old fortifications and their various uses over the years.
Of course, you can't forget The D-Day Story - the museum that uses personal testimonies alongside artefacts from 1944 to put visitors in the shoes of those who took part in Operation Overlord. From tiny items (the so-called 'pencil that started the invasion') to huge landing crafts (able to transport up to 10 tanks and their crew), the museum has countless stories to tell.
People to be proud of
A city that is fiercely proud of its independent culture, Portsmouth has many people and communities to be proud of.
Down at the Hotwalls Studios a there's a community of artists and makers creating unique items across a range of disciplines - everything from ceramics to textiles, jewellery, and even taxidermy! Visitors can pop along to the studios to see the work or even have a try at regular workshops.
A number of our region's artists will be put front and centre this summer as the Pride of Portsmouth roars into life. The art trail - organised as part of the Portsmouth100 celebrations to mark a centenary of city status - will involve more than 40 lion sculptures, each painted by a talented artist to highlight some element of Portsmouth and its heritage. A dedicated app will guide visitors around the location of each lion.
So what are you waiting for? Come see what we're proud of, it's all on the Portsmouth coast!
