Attractions in Portsmouth

Portsmouth may be a small city (only around 14 square miles), but it's chock full of things to do. Whether you're after seaside strolls, military museums, tip-top theatres or something else altogether - with the wide variety of attractions in Portsmouth, we have you covered.

Being an island city we have a rich nautical history. In the 15th century, Portsmouth was seen as the first line of defence against European armies, and it was from Southsea Castle that Henry VIII watched the sinking of his beloved Mary Rose. She lay on the Solent bed for 437 years, before finally being brought back to dry land and is now the centrepiece of the Mary Rose Museum.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is one of the city's main attractions for many visitors, not only to see HMS Victory but also the many other ships open to the public, including HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS Alliance.

Then, just a short stroll from Portsmouth Dockyard is Gunwharf Quays, a popular shopping outlet that also houses restaurants, bars, a cinema and bowling alley. Furthermore, standing tall above Gunwharf Quays is the Emirates Spinnaker Tower - a 170-metre landmark that has swiftly become an emblem of the city. On a clear day, visitors can see for up to 23 miles from its viewing platforms - or take on the glass floor, if the nerves hold!

Heading east from Gunwharf and the Historic Dockyard will take you back to Southsea Castle, and a number of other museums. Among them are the D-Day Museum (which recounts the famed Normandy landings of 1944), Portsmouth City Museum (which has a dedicated exhbition to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who worked as a doctor in the city when he wrote the first two Sherlock Holmes novels) and Cumberland House (Portsmouth's Natural History museum).

All this is just a tiny selection of the vast array of attractions in Portsmouth. It's all far too much to take on in an afternoon, and not bad at all for a 14-square mile island!

Tags: Attractions in Portsmouth, Portsmouth Attractions