Local Weather: Cloudy - Partly cloudy later 1°C | 33.8°F
The UK's best connected port
_web.jpg)
Portsmouth contrasts exciting contemporary attractions against a rich maritime history. On the approach to dock, the Spinnaker Tower represents the pinnacle of the bustling shops and restaurants of Gunwharf Quays.
The beautiful historic city of Chichester is 18 miles east and extraordinary Chichester Harbour stretches for miles with wonderful inlets, coastal villages and glorious views. It is heaven for sailors, walkers and bird watchers.
Stonehenge, 52 miles away, and London, 75 miles, are well within reach for superb day trips.
Half an hour north of Portsmouth the rolling hills of the South Downs open up, with fantastic opportunities for walking and country pubs aplenty in villages such as South Harting, Elsted, Buriton and in the Meon Valley.
There's so much to see and do in Portsmouth, why not stay overnight before or after you sail - with a wide range of hotels, apartments and B&Bs to suit all budgets there are plenty of choices for visitors.
Portsmouth has so many places of interest to offer, why not spend some time in the city before your sailing.
We've listed some of our wonderful attractions below.
Portsmouth is the UK's only island city, located on Portsea Island jutting out into the Solent. Its nickname is Pompey.
It is a naval city through and through. Richard the Lionheart summoned a fleet here in 1194 and in 1787 11 ships set sail to establish the first European colony in Australia. Nelson left for the last time in 1805 for the Battle of Trafalgar. Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy and starting point for many of their ships through the ages.
The closing chapters of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park are set in Portsmouth, hometown of its heroine Fanny Price. Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was from Portsmouth. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812, his childhood home is within half a mile of the Port.
Spice Island, part of Old Portsmouth, was once infamous for sailors’ pubs and houses of ill-repute because when the city gates were closed it was literally outside of the law. It now offers family pubs, sea views and the Camber Dock fish market.
Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was a British Flag officer in the Royal Navy and noted for his inspirational leadership. His love of the sea was gained from his adventures around the rivers of his home county of Norfolk and his uncle, who he accompnaied on an Atlantic expedition at the age of 12. After many victories, losing an eye in Corsica and his right arm in Tenerife he was fatally wonded at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, at the moment of victory.
For more information on Portsmouth visit www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
