The place to be in '23

Portsmouth is the place to be in '23. Where else can you see icons of history, bag a bargain at the waterfront and enjoy huge events - all within easy walking distance of one another? So get planning your summer escape to Portsmouth: the UK's only island city.

Don't forget, Portsmouth may be an island but getting here couldn't be easier. There are direct trains into the heart of the city from London, Brighton, Cardiff, Southampton, Winchester, Bristol and beyond. Book your ticket in advance and you can secure some of the best prices.

Check prices and book online through the South Western Railway website. Plus, don't forget the SWR Rewards platform, to save even more on your trip with discounts on attractions, things to do and places to stay.

Alternatively, there's a motorway that brings you right into Portsmouth; regular bus and coach services; the world's only year-round passenger hovercraft service; and regular ferries not just from Gosport and the Isle of Wight, but also France, Spain and the Channel Islands.

   

Centuries of history

If taking a walk through centuries of British history sounds like your thing, how about a trip to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and The D-Day Story? It's where you'll find some of the objects - from tiny artefacts to huge ships - that changed the course of history.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to a whole host of museums, attractions and historic vessels - all of which you can access with just one ticket, the Ultimate Explorer. This pass gets you entry to the Mary Rose Museum, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, and more. It also allows you to go out on a harbour tour to see the current crop of naval vessels up close, and try your hand at historic shipbuilding skills inside Boathouse 4.

Don't miss the Mary Rose Museum, where Henry VIII's beloved flagship is on display after it was raised from the seabed some 436 years after sinking in the Battle of the Solent. The only 16^th century warship on display anywhere in the world is now more accessible than ever before, with the air lock letting you go through to the top deck where you can enjoy stunning, uninterrupted views of the ship's hull.

Also on display are various personal artefacts discovered alongside the Mary Rose, which tell the stories of those who served on board. There's also a brand new 4D cinema experience, which takes you down to the bottom of the sea, to discover more about what went into the staggering operation to bring the Mary Rose back to the surface.

Whilst you're at the Dockyard, don't miss Victory Live: The Big Repair. Here you can see up-close some of the painstaking and expert work that is going into repairing Lord Nelson's flagship and keeping its stories alive for generations to come. Rather than keeping this work out of sight, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has put it centre stage, so visitors can see what goes into maintaining these iconic ships (especially useful for those studying STEM subjects) - and ensuring there's something different to see every time you visit.

Book your tickets today on the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard website.

There's more history to discover over on Southsea Seafront, at The D-Day Story. Be transported back into that fateful day on 6 June 1944 with displays, exhibits and personal testimonies that put visitors in the shoes of those who took part.

Your visit starts on board LCT 7074, the last remaining Landing Craft Tank from D-Day, which stands proudly outside the museum under its own purpose-built canopy. The vessel was used to transport up to 10 tanks and their crew members across the channel for D-Day (and has an equally fascinating post-war history, which includes being turned into a nightclub and later sinking into Birkenhead docks).

Next, head inside the museum to be taken through the galleries - covering the preparation for D-Day, the operation itself, and the legacy of what happened therafter.

Your visit concludes with a view of the Overlord Embroidery, a stunning 83-metre long hand-stitched depiction of D-Day (longer than the Bayeux Tapestry) that was created by the Royal School of Needlework and based on paintings that today hang in the Pentagon building in the USA.

Discover more and book your tickets on The D-Day Story website.

   

Sights, sounds and shops

Wanting a spot of retail therapy? How about browsing through 90+ big name brands (each offering 60% off RRP), right along the water's edge? That's exactly what you can do at Gunwharf Quays, the waterfront outlet shopping centre where you can pick up homeware, sports gear and clothing from some of the biggest designer labels.

There's Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Ted Baker, Kurt Geiger and Karl Lagerfeld for those who want top-end designers, or how about some sportswear steals at Nike, Adidas, Under Armour or Castore? Alternatively, treat yourself to something new for the home at Le Creuset, Molton Brown, Rituals or Whittard.

As well as these shops (and many more), Gunwharf Quays is also home to 30 bars, pubs, restaurants and coffee shops - so you can refuel with your choice of food and drink. Whether you want a caffeine pick-me-up and sweet treat, or an evening meal overlooking the harbour, there's plenty to choose from.

And if all that wasn't enough, inside Gunwharf Quays you'll also find a multiplex cinema, bowling alley, contemporary art gallery, children's play area and Miniport, not to mention the various statues and points of interest from the area's prior incarnation as a munitions store and military school.

Find out more and see what's on at the Gunwharf Quays website.

One other thing situated inside Gunwharf Quays - and certainly one of the biggest - is Spinnaker Tower. This icon of modern Portsmouth has become an emblem for the city (and even cropped up in the backdrop of many TV shows).

Head up the high-speed lift to its three view decks and you'll see just why Spinnaker Tower has become so popular. From 100+ metres above sea level, and with floor-to-ceiling windows, you get an unrivalled view out across city, coast and country.

Look back over the Portsmouth cityscape to see the island in all its glory, or gaze out over the Solent to the Isle of Wight. On a clear day you can see for up to 23 miles, meaning you can also spot the South Downs off in the distance.

It's not just about the view, though. During the daytime you can enjoy a very high tea at the Clouds café - where your food is accompanied by a world-beating view. Or wait until the evening to take in the brand new Sky Bar, where you can sip a cocktail or two whilst enjoying the vista as day turns to night. It's a perfect selfie spot and something you really can't replicate anywhere else.

Find out more and plan your trip on the Spinnaker Tower website.

   

Can't-miss events

Portsmouth is a year-round destination with plenty to enjoy whenever you visit. There's everything from outdoor live music to food festivals, sporting events, special displays and a whole load more besides.

Arguably the biggest of them all, though, is Victorious Festival. Taking place every year on Southsea Common, the event welcomes some of the biggest names in music to Portsmouth for a three-day extravaganza.

The 2023 event was an enormous success, with headline sets from Jamiroquai, Kasabain and Mumford & Sons (playing a UK festival exclusive). Other acts on the line up included Ellie Goulding, Pete Tong (with the Ibiza Orchestra), Alt-J, Raye, Kaiser Chiefs, Natalie Imbruglia, Blossoms, Katy B, The Charlatans, Annie Mac, Sigrid and loads, loads more. There was also the festival's first ever secret slot, where McFly turned up on the Castle Stage.

As ever there was also a packed family programme on offer in its own designated field of the festival site, as well as a raptuously received comedy bill that saw crowds spill out of the tent to try and catch a glimpse of Jason Manford, Dara O'Briain, Zoe Lyons, Omid Djalili, Kerry Godliman and Tom Davis.

The first line up announcement for 2024 is expected early in the year but you can get ahead of the curve and secure your early bird tickets right now from the Victorious Festival website. Next year's event runs from 23 to 25 August.

As the year draws to a close we continue with a jam-packed events programme, which includes the Great South Run (the world's premier 10-mile running event), a run of Six the Musical, sea shanties aboard HMS Warrior, Halloween-themed half term events, the return of Portsmouth on Ice, and not one but three pantomimes (plus a festive musical).

See our Events listings for all the details and to get planning your itinerary.

   

For more information on any of these events, attractions or things to do, check out our listings pages - which also contain everything else there is to see at the Great Waterfront City, as well as places to stay and even some itinerary ideas, so you can really make the most of your trip to the coast.