Top Portsmouth Attractions
1. Spinnaker Tower:
A great place to start your exploration of the Portsmouth, Spinnaker Tower is the tallest publicly accessible structure in Britain.
It’s an architectural landmark, as well as offering fantastic views over the historic harbour, on a clear day, you can see across to the Isle of Wight.
The tower is also just a few minutes away from Gunwharf Quays, a brand new, state of the art shopping centre.
2. Portsmouth City Museum:
For a taste of the city’s colourful past, take a trip to Museum Road and visit the Portsmouth City Museum.
There are some great exhibitions, including a display of Sherlock Holmes memorabilia, a decorative art gallery, and a ‘Living in Portsmouth’ gallery, which recreates rooms from the 17th century, the 1930s and the 1950s.
3. Portsmouth Cathedral:
Located in the heart of Old Portsmouth, close to the historic harbour with its naval displays and well-known ships, Portsmouth Cathedral was established 1185.
It is famous for housing the marriage certificate of Charles II, as well as being a bastion of defence in the civil war.
4. Blue Reef Aquarium:
This underwater experience was recently voted ‘Visitor Attraction of the Year’ by Tourism Southeast.
It features more than 40 magical marine displays, including a giant tropical ocean tank with an underwater tunnel, a shark tank and an otter enclosure.
Kids will love feeding times and the regular interactive talks.
5. Southsea Model Village:
If you’re willing to venture a little further, the Southsea Model Village at Lumps Fort is a must-see.
It lies in the midst of mature gardens and comprises a complete miniature community together with a working railway.
There are great views from the village over the Solent to the Isle of Wight, and in summer the attraction is open every day until dusk.
Further afield, the Isle of Wight and even France are easily accessible from Portsmouth.
Bear in mind that the ferry crossing can be disrupted by poor weather – so if you’re planning a day trip to the continent and don’t have travel insurance then it’s worth taking out single trip cover with a reputable insurer such as Go Travel Insurance (they also offer annual travel insurance that would cover against cancellations).
Fortunately, there are plenty of attractions in Portsmouth that aren’t weather dependent; so even in winter the city makes a fantastic holiday destination.
