What to do in Portsmouth

Activities, attractions and tours

Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Royal Marines Museum featuring interior views and art
Gunwharf Quays

Portsmouth Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Portsmouth has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Portsmouth is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Portsmouth to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Portsmouth Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Portsmouth.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Portsmouth attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Gunwharf Quays

Beneath the shadow of the famous Spinnaker Tower is the stylish shopping and leisure center of Gunwharf Quays, where you can easily spend a day browsing the many shops and enjoying the entertainment. The site's history as an ordnance yard is marked only by the cannons that line the waterfront. Today, the area is a modern, buzzing destination, popular with both local residents and visitors. Spoil yourself with a day of shopping and eating here.
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Gunwharf Quays featuring a river or creek and modern architecture

2. Portsmouth International Port

Portsmouth International Port is a gateway to the rest of Europe, as well as the nearby Channel Islands. Considered Britain’s best-connected port, it operates ferries, cruises and cargo ships. Access it easily just north of Portsmouth’s center. Start here for a great opportunity to visit the historical seaside town of Portsmouth.
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Embark on a trip to Europe or enter the lovely town of Portsmouth, England, through the comfort and ease of this modern port.

3. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

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Portsmouth Historic Dockyard featuring a marina

4. HMS Victory

The pride of the British fleet, HMS Victory, served in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary War. It earned its name at the Battle of Trafalgar, where Nelson led the fleet to success. Today view the ship in dry dock. It is still the flagship of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord after over 200 years in service and also serves as a museum dedicated to the Georgian Navy. Step aboard to find out more.
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HMS Victory featuring a statue or sculpture and heritage elements

5. University of Portsmouth

From a humble beginning in 1869, this academic center has grown in size and stature to be named the University of Portsmouth. Combine a stroll around the campus with your visit to the Historic Dockyard and other attractions near Old Portsmouth.
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The harbors of Portsmouth helped the city establish its importance in the world. Now this university continues innovating to deliver a global influence.

6. Portsmouth Guildhall

The Portsmouth Guildhall is a majestic building and multi-use entertainment venue in the center of Portsmouth. Attend an event from its array of concerts, conferences, weddings, exhibitions and festivals.
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Sing along to some of the world’s biggest names in music, laugh until you cry and join the celebrations in this central entertainment venue.

7. Mary Rose Museum

Experience what life was like for sailors on a Tudor-era warship at the Mary Rose Museum. With some 19,000 period objects and audio-visual displays, a visit to the Mary Rose Museum is a great day out for all ages. Come to the museum to be part of living British naval history.
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Discover life onboard and the history of one of King Henry VIII’s favorite warships via displays of valuable artifacts and interactive activities.

8. Southsea Castle

Once an important defensive structure, the beautifully preserved Southsea Castle is now a popular tourist attraction. Walk around the battlements, discover its captivating history and admire the sea views.
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Southsea Castle showing a lighthouse, château or palace and heritage elements

What to do in Portsmouth

Discover the most popular places to visit in Portsmouth

Gunwharf Quays featuring a river or creek and modern architecture

Gunwharf Quays

Stretching along the sea is one of Portsmouth's coolest areas, with plenty of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants as well as a contemporary art gallery.

Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth International Port

Portsmouth International Port

Embark on a trip to Europe or enter the lovely town of Portsmouth, England, through the comfort and ease of this modern port.

Portsmouth International Port
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard featuring a marina

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Find heroic ships, triumphant naval vessels and World War I frigates at this dockyard, a tribute to the city’s maritime might.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
HMS Victory featuring a statue or sculpture and heritage elements

HMS Victory

Lord Nelson's triumphant warship is one of the best-preserved vessels from the Napoleonic wars and one of Portsmouth's most impressive attractions.

HMS Victory
University of Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth

The harbors of Portsmouth helped the city establish its importance in the world. Now this university continues innovating to deliver a global influence.

University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth Guildhall

Portsmouth Guildhall

Sing along to some of the world’s biggest names in music, laugh until you cry and join the celebrations in this central entertainment venue.

Portsmouth Guildhall
Mary Rose Museum

Mary Rose Museum

Discover life onboard and the history of one of King Henry VIII’s favorite warships via displays of valuable artifacts and interactive activities.

Mary Rose Museum
Southsea Castle showing a lighthouse, château or palace and heritage elements

Southsea Castle

Located in a dramatic waterfront setting, this historic fort was once the first line of English defense and is now a fascinating museum.

Southsea Castle
Kings Theatre

Kings Theatre

Enjoy a performance at Kings Theatre, a theater with a story to tell in Portsmouth. Amble around this relaxing area's waterfront and enjoy its lively bars.

Kings Theatre

Explore areas of Portsmouth

Royal Marines Museum showing heritage elements

Southsea

Southsea is a destination visitors seek out for is beaches, lively bars, and seaside views. You might want to check out attractions like Fratton Park or Kings Theatre while you're exploring the neighborhood.

Southsea
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Portsmouth City Centre

Victorian architecture lines the modern avenues of this port city, which has a thriving shopping boulevard and concert venues in historic buildings.

Portsmouth City Centre
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Cosham

Cosham is popular for its abundant dining options, and you can check out PlayZone Portsmouth, a top attraction in the neighborhood.

Cosham
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Old Portsmouth

The fascinating landmarks of the former medieval town still stand firm today, helping to piece together the history of this powerful maritime giant.

Old Portsmouth
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Buckland

Though Buckland might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Portsmouth International Port and Portsmouth Guildhall.

Buckland

 

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