Portsmouth, England, UK. It is located on the South Coast of England in Hampshire. Portsmouth is the country’s only island city, with miles of beautiful waterfront to explore and see. There are world-class visitor attractions that include waterfront shopping, a rich calendar of events, and a fascinating history to discover.
A 4-night, 5-day holiday turned into an experience I will never forget, with loads of adventures and laughs along the way. We both like exploring, so we saw as much of Portsmouth as we could, taking loads of photos and ticking off another place we wanted to visit.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a must-visit, where you can experience the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, Mary Rose and much more. As one of the places we visited, it was an intriguing learning experience and a fun-filled historic day out. Your ticket lasts a whole year, so don’t worry if you don’t experience it all in one day, as you can come back again anytime within that year.
At Gunwharf Quays, you have the Spinnaker Tower, standing at a soaring 170 meters tall; it’s an experience not to be missed, with awe–inspiring views over Portsmouth, The Solent and the Isle of White. Dare to brave the glass-floor skywalk 100 meters up, enjoy 350-degree panoramic views, and book high tea in advance with views from The Clouds Café 105 meters above the ground. The views were breathtaking, and walking across the glass floor was a must. We couldn’t drag ourselves away from this place; you have all-day access to the tower from 10 A.M. till last entry at 5:30 P.M., so there is no rush to get there when you have your ticket.
Gunwharf Quay itself is a place you want to visit while in Portsmouth. A premier waterfront outlet shopping and leisure destination, it features over 90 retail outlet stores including major brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Ralph Lauren. Alongside this, there are 30+ restaurants, bars, a cinema, and a bowling alley. We discovered a Cadbury’s and Haribo store; I am going to admit it was a treat wandering around both, but it was the Haribo store that won us over.
Since we were going to Portsmouth, we decided to invest in a Mystery Guide. A premium outdoor treasure hunt with an unforgettable twist! Ours was The Mystery of Nelson’s Stolen Diamonds. With clues to solve all the way through, it was full of excitement, with plenty of learning along the way. It took you to parts of Portsmouth you generally wouldn’t see as a tourist destination; in the end, it was extremely interesting to learn the story. It is hours of fun for one person or a whole family.
The last place we visited was the Hollywood Bowl, the local bowling alley at Gunwharf, a good place for families or adults to have some fun bowling. There is also an arcade there where you can waste some money for a while, a pool place, and even take some pictures in the photo booth.
Portsmouth has lots to offer anyone who wishes to visit and explore the navy city; whether you’re a solo explorer or a family on holiday, there is plenty to see and do, so don’t forget to add Portsmouth to your must-visit list.
This was written by our contributing writer, Leah Palmer.
Image Source: Pexels, Sebastien Devocelle
Our writer, Leah Palmer, took the other photo while visiting Spinnaker Tower.
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