Local Information

As home to the Royal Navy for more than 500 years, Portsmouth has long stood as a bulwark against invasion from the continent. Today, Portmouth's enthralling mix of innovation and tradition make it a truly compelling holiday destination. It can not be denied that the primary attraction of Portsmouth as a holiday destination is its naval heritage. Indeed the city was first settled as a fortress by the Romans, with further developments under the Normans until the Tudor period. It was under Henry VII that Portsmouth was made a royal dockyard, securing its economic position until the present day.
Portsmouth is now a large industrialised city, while its harbour is clogged with naval frigates, ferries bound for the continent or the Isle of Wight and swarms of commercial vessels.

The harbour will probably become the focal point of any trip to Portsmouth. Take time to explore the historic dockyard, where Nelson's flagship HMS Victory stands alongside HMS Warrior 1860, Britain's first iron-clad battleship. The Royal Naval Museum is also worth a visit, as are the remains of Henry VIII's 16th century warship, the Mary Rose, which were raised from the sea in 1982.

But while Portsmouth has an illustrious past, the city is now looking to the future. An £86 million renovation of the harbour will see Portsmouth consolidate its position as an international waterfront city.

This renovation will see the construction of many new leisure and tourist attractions, including six kilometres of promenades around the harbour and the Gunwharf Quays development which incorporates new berths, the Spinnaker Tower, shopping, leisure, restaurants and bars, along with a residential area.

But Portsmouth has more to offer visitors than an impressive collection of sea shanties and empty rum bottles. Charles Dickens was born here and is now celebrated at the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also created his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes while writing in Portsmouth.

Given its position as in international travel hub – more than three million people travel to and from the city via the ferry port to France, Spain and the Channel Islands – Portsmouth boasts an unexpected vibrancy in terms of its nightlife, culture and people.

Portsmouth is also ideally situated for visitors, located only 70 minutes from London and close to three international airports.

However, Portsmouth was heavily bombed during the second world war due to its military significance and as a result the city is something of an architectural void. Unsightly tower blocks dominate the landscape, lending the city an unattractive profile. Once again it is the areas predominantly around the original harbour where some of the city's original Georgian and Tudor character can be found.

Britain's history is largely one of an adventurous sea-faring nation that built its international reputation through war. In essence Portsmouth is a microcosm of this as its history, economy and culture are indelibly linked to the Royal Navy.

More than anything else it is Portsmouth's status as a major military centre and its associated history that attracts millions of visitors every year. Beyond this the city has very little to distinguish it from many other large cities in England. Portsmouth does boast a certain dynamism from its position on one of the busiest waterways in the world, but if you are not interested in its history you might be better off elsewhere.