Local Activities

Southsea has a very vibrant social scene with a superb choice of restaurants, cafes and bars to suit all tastes and budgets. Southsea Common is just a five minute walk from our house and is a vast expanse of green open space that is home to many popular attractions such as the annual Kite Festival, Food Festival, the Rose Gardens, Aquarium and much much more. During the summer, there are regular, free music concerts at the bandstand.

There is plenty to do here and you will certainly never be bored. There are more than 12 museums including the Royal Naval Museum, the D-Day Museum, Portsmouth Natural History Museum, Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, Royal Marines Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Mary Rose Museum, the City Museum and Southsea Castle.

Nearby Albert Road is a popular street with its unusual mix of antique, vintage and independent shops. There is also the more established area of Palmerston Road with high street shops, department stores and a regular Farmers' Market.

Gunwharf Quays is a modern complex that is home to more than 90 designer factory outlet shops, a 14 screen cinema, bowling complex, art gallery, and many restaurants and bars. It is also home to the Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth's most prominent landmark. Visible 23 miles away and standing 170 metres high it has had more than 2 million visitors since it opened in 2005. It offers 350° panoramic views of the surrounding area and is truly breathtaking.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has more than 800 years of naval history and is home to six fantastic world famous attractions including Lord Nelson's famous Victory – the oldest commissioned warship in the world, King Henry VIII's favourite ship, the Mary Rose that sank just off the coast of Southsea in 1545, and HMS Warrior, the world's first iron-hulled warship. Modern day warships and submarines still use the dockyard as a base and can be seen arriving at port throughout the year.

London can easily be reached within 90 minutes thanks to many direct bus and train services that are available. You will have the opportunity to visit London during your visit and can choose which famous landmarks you want to see. Why not choose from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Chinatown, Portobello Market, Camden Market, the Science Museum or Harrods to name but a few.

There are many nearby stately homes and parks to visit, all of which offer a fun-filled day out and the opportunity to sample a traditional English afternoon tea. The world famous New Forest National Park is also within easy reach and offers activities for people of all ages. From walking, to cycling or horse riding there is plenty to see and do here.

Other exciting places to visit include Brighton, Stonehenge, Arundel Castle, Winchester with its superb planetarium and cathedral, Oxford and the beautiful seaside resort of Bournemouth. You will be spoilt for choice as there is always something interesting to do.

Visit us on Facebook and YouTube to see photos and videos of our latest excursions.