Travel guide: Portsmouth and Southsea

When you think of travelling to the UK do you immediately think London?

There is so much for everyone to do there and so many well-known sights to see it's the obvious choice.

If you are looking for somewhere with great shopping opportunities, combined with the attractions of a seaside holiday, visit Portsmouth and Southsea!

Photo taken from www.visitportsmouth.co.uk

Portsmouth and Southsea are located right next to each other on the south coast of England. As the name suggests Portsmouth is a port city with all the nightlife, restaurants and shopping opportunities that brings. Southsea is located to the south of Portsmouth with a picturesque beachfront, pier and the attractions of a British seaside holiday resort. These two locations are a great combination of busy city and quieter seafront.

Getting there

Portsmouth is connected to London by the M3 motorway and it will take just over two hours to drive there. There is also a very convenient direct rail link from London Waterloo which also takes just over two hours. The convenience of this cannot be understated since the Eurostar train from Paris and Brussels arrives into London Waterloo!

My Experience

I visited during an exceptionally warm October and, even though the days were shorter, it was still possible to make the most of as much time outdoors as I wanted.

One of the main attractions in Portsmouth is the Royal Docks where famous historical ships including the Victory, flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, have been restored and visitors can walk around them. It was a holiday week in the UK when we visited and there were plenty of interactive attractions to help bring the experience to life for children.

If you're still looking for some history, visit Portchester Castle. This site has been occupied by the Romans as well as the Normans and it was used as a prisoner of war camp during the Napoleonic Wars. The castle is mostly a ruin which makes it a great place for children to use their imagination and run around on big areas of open grass. When we visited there was a food truck serving hot drinks and delicious cakes.

I found the village of Portchester itself to be very charming and friendly with some lovely old buildings. Standing in the middle of the village I could almost imagine I was in a Jane Austin novel. The popular pub served us a very tasty lunch which set us up for our walk around the castle.

Southsea in the sunshine was perfect for strolling along the promenade and gazing out to sea. We even experienced the hovercraft ferry service which transported us, floating on a cushion of air, across The Solent to the Isle of Wight. The journey took just 10 minutes and was a unique experience.

The Isle of Wight is an island with a population of just over 140,000 and was popular with Queen Victoria who had a holiday home, Osborne House, built there. The house is open to visitors and is a popular attraction on the island.

The hovercraft is a foot passenger ferry and using public transport you can get around the whole of the island. It is possible to take your car across The Solent on the larger car ferry which will give you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Back in Portsmouth the Gunwharf Keys shopping outlet provides the opportunity to shop 90 different brands. Make sure you have room in your car boot or suitcase for your purchases! There are also plenty of well known restaurant chains in the area which cater to all tastes.

Staying in Southsea offers a quieter location yet also plenty of good quality independent restaurants. We ate in this area each evening and were never disappointed.

The pros and cons

Pros

The two locations are well connected to the rest of the country by both road and rail. Portsmouth really has something for everyone from shopping to historical sites and indoor play centres. Southsea has the charm of a British seaside holiday resort and offers a long promenade and Victorian architecture.

Being so close to each other it's possible to base yourself at one location and easily visit the other for a contrast during your holiday. Day trips or longer stays on the Isle of Wight are easily accessed from this stretch of coastline.

Cons

As with any UK based holiday a backup plan for a rainy day is advisable. The activities I have mentioned are mostly outdoors but there are enough indoor attractions to make it possible to visit this area at any time of the year.

The final word

Visit Portsmouth and Southsea! Easily accessible by road or rail they provide something for everyone. A trip on the hovercraft is a great experience at any age and there will be plenty of opportunities for traditional British fish and chips by the seaside.

Looking for some extra speaking practice before your holiday to the UK, Ireland or any English speaking country?

Click here to talk to me about conversational English coaching.

Chantal followed an English speaking course before her holiday to Australia and this is what she had to say:

“Very happy that I made the choice to learn to speak better English with Joanne.

My self-confidence has improved as a result. Joanne is very friendly and brought up really nice topics. Recommended."