Things to do in Portsmouth

With castles, cathedrals, churches, historic parks, nature reserves, boating lakes and a Premier League-standard stadium, Portsmouth is a city full of attractions and sights to see.

While the impressive Gunwharf Quays might dominate the city’s shopping scene as one of the best examples of Portsmouth’s shopping centres, there’s also a varied market scene to explore, including lots of antiques and vintage stores.

From beachside fairgrounds to aquariums and cycle routes to guided ghost walks, there’s so much to see and do. Whether you want to stay inside or explore the great outdoors, we have all the information you need.

Whether you’re in the mood for a lazy ice cream and a sunbathing session or fancy exploring endless sand dunes and miles of open beaches, life really is a beach in Portsmouth.

Discover the best art galleries, festivals and museums in Portsmouth with our guide – from food and music festivals to museums covering Charles Dickens and the D-Day Landings, you’ll need another holiday to fit it all in.

Whether you’re visiting the city for live music, West End musicals, cutting-edge theatre, stand-up comedy or a range of sports, you’ll find it all in Portsmouth’s exceptional selection of entertainment venues.

Head to Osborne Road to try out some of the best restaurants in Portsmouth, spanning tapas, Indian, Turkish, Greek and more. Our guide will also round up some of the city’s best cafés and food markets to discover during your stay.

Historic pub crawls, classy cocktail joints, pop and heavy metal nightclubs – Portsmouth’s nightlife has it all! Read our guide to see the best places to head to once the sun goes down for a tipple and a dance or two.

Celebrate Portsmouth’s incredible naval history at the Historic Dockyard, an incredible hands-on experience that covers everything from Nelson’s last stand to modern day submarines.

A truly historic live music venue that’s hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The xx, Portsmouth Guildhall is a 2,500-capacity venue in the heart of the city that puts on some of the biggest gigs in the region.

Home to Portsmouth Football Club, the most successful south coast team, Fratton Park is a 21,000 capacity Premier League-standard ground. Get all the details you need to plan your visit in our guide.

Just 20 minutes from an international airport, and with strong road and rail connections across Hampshire and beyond, as well as one of the busiest ferry ports in the UK, Portsmouth is a well connected city.