Portsmouth Tourist Information & Travel Guide

Portsmouth is a city situated on the south coast of England and is the country’s sole island. It has contributed heavily to the formation of the Industrial Revolution as historically it has served the Royal Navy logistically. Portsmouth was seen as the primary naval port in Britain and was given city status in the mid 1920’s.

The city’s naval past is showcased at The Royal Marines Museum, dating back from the 1660’s to modern day. The museum was constructed in the 1860’s and is set against the beautiful landscape of the seafront. Having won many awards, for its brilliant galleries, here you will get the chance to look through 800 medals obtained by the marines. The museum also looks at the RM Band Service which is a sight in itself as the colours used to illustrate this, accompanied by music, are a great way to explore its history.

Another museum worth visiting is The D-Day Museum. Built in the 1980’s, the museum focuses on all the people that took part in Operation Overlord and celebrates their heroism and courage. The most integral feature in the building is the Overlord Embroidery, which is a brilliant spectacle as it is 272 feet long and stands as the largest embroidery piece globally. Here, you also have to view moving footage from archived films of Operation Overlord.

Portsmouth also holds the magnificent national feature, The Spinnaker Tower. Situated in the South Coast of the city, The Spinnaker Tower provides amazing views from three platforms, ensuring that visitors get a breathtaking view from every angle. The platforms have floors made from glass, so is quite an exciting experience that evokes the sensation of walking on air. Towards the bottom of the structure is a café & bar where visitors can sit back and enjoy the view.

For shopping, you can go to Cascades Shopping Centre found in the heart of the city. It is home to many high street retailers including Topshop, River Island, Debenhams and many more. Also found relatively close to the indoor shopping centre is a traditional Street Market where local residents and visitors can groceries, stylish handbags, toys for children and much more. The market is open from Thursday to Saturday every week.

Gunwharf Quays is another fantastic shopping location in Portsmouth as it houses over 90 designer outlets with clothing sold at reduced rates. Gunwarf Quays can be found on the waterfront and to accompany the shopping outlet, are regular Italian Markets and French gift fairs. Visitors also have a great choice of 30 bars and stylish restaurants, where you have diverse ranges of meals and drinks.

For family fun, you can visit the Blue Reef Aquarium. With a fascinating variety of ocean life, here, visitors can walk underneath a glass underwater tunnel. Children can take part in feeding the fish and listen to talk on the subject matter. There is also a beautiful sand based beach where families can make use of the brilliant water functions such as the rockpool sandpit and pirates bridge. The Blue Reef Aquarium is a wonderful place for a fun filled day out.

Matthew Land - CityLocal Portsmouth
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