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Museum
The D-Day Story
Museum about the D-Day landings of 1944 on the seafront, including the landing craft LCT 7074.
A mini guide to
Southsea
Portsmouth's seafront: the D-Day Story, Southsea Castle, the piers and the restaurants of Albert Road
Photos
1 / 6Welcome to the area
Portsmouth's seafront: the D-Day Story, Southsea Castle, the piers and the restaurants of Albert Road
Southsea is Portsmouth's seaside district, stretching east from Clarence Pier along Southsea Common and the promenade. The D-Day Story and Southsea Castle stand side by side on the seafront, with the Naval Memorial and the hovercraft terminal close by.
Inland, Palmerston Road and Osborne Road have cafés and shops, and Albert Road is lined with restaurants, pubs and the Kings Theatre. Further east are South Parade Pier, Lumps Fort, the natural history museum and the Eastney engine houses.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Castle
Southsea Castle
Artillery fort built by Henry VIII in 1544, with a keep museum and ramparts beside the D-Day Story.
Amusement pier
Clarence Pier
Seafront amusement park with arcades and crazy golf; its rides are closed until 2027, according to the pier's own site.
Pier
South Parade Pier
Pier on the Southsea seafront, about a kilometre east of Southsea Castle.
Memorial
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Grade I listed naval war memorial on Southsea Common, beside Clarence Esplanade.
Museum
Cumberland House Natural History Museum
The city's natural history museum, in Cumberland House on Eastern Parade.
Directions Website Report a problem with Cumberland House Natural History Museum
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Southsea and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk the seafront
Visit Portsmouth's walking route runs about 900 metres along Clarence Esplanade from Clarence Pier to the Blue Reef Aquarium, then 200 metres to the D-Day Story and 150 metres more to Southsea Castle.
2
Check the pier first
Clarence Pier's rides are closed until 2027, according to its own site. The arcades and crazy golf stay open.
3
Book the hovercraft ahead
Hovertravel suggests booking at least 48 hours ahead to save money on the crossing to Ryde.
4
Open days only
Eastney Engine Houses opens on regular open days rather than every day. Check its visit page before going.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Portsmouth and Southampton
More areas to explore
24 sights · 27 places to eat
Southampton Old Town & City Centre
Medieval walls and merchants' houses, the Titanic story at SeaCity and the ferries at Town Quay
Open the mini guide →
24 sights · 25 places to eat
Portsmouth Harbour & Old Portsmouth
The Historic Dockyard, the Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays and the old harbour-mouth streets
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Southsea (area photo): Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The D-Day Story: Wintonian, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Southsea Castle: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Clarence Pier: Unisouth, CC BY 3.0, source
- South Parade Pier: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cumberland House Natural History Museum: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lumps Fort: RAF, Public domain, source
- Pyramids Centre: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kings Theatre: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Eastney Engine Houses: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Jude's Church: Margaret Anne Clarke, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Southsea Hoverport: Editor5807, Public domain, source
- Southampton Old Town & City Centre: Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Portsmouth Harbour & Old Portsmouth: geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Portsmouth and Southampton