Two Solent port cities: Nelson's flagship and the Mary Rose, a seaside castle, and Southampton's medieval walls
Portsmouth and Southampton are neighbouring port cities on the Solent, the stretch of water between mainland Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Portsmouth grew around its naval base, and the Historic Dockyard inside it shows HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior on one ticket.
Southampton, about 50 minutes away by train, keeps long stretches of its medieval town walls, and SeaCity Museum tells the story of the Titanic, which sailed from the city. Both cities have ferries to the Isle of Wight, and Portsmouth's Southsea seafront adds a Tudor castle, two piers and the D-Day Story.
Areas
Each area has its own mini guide with 61 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
The Historic Dockyard, the Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays and the old harbour-mouth streets
Open the mini guide →
Portsmouth's seafront: the D-Day Story, Southsea Castle, the piers and the restaurants of Albert Road
Open the mini guide →
Medieval walls and merchants' houses, the Titanic story at SeaCity and the ferries at Town Quay
Open the mini guide →Sights
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
The part of the naval base open to visitors, where one ticket covers HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior.
Museum about the D-Day landings of 1944 on the seafront, including the landing craft LCT 7074.
City museum in the Civic Centre, opened in 2012, on Southampton's Titanic story and its history from prehistoric times to the Second World War.
First-rate ship of the line launched in 1765, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Artillery fort built by Henry VIII in 1544, with a keep museum and ramparts beside the D-Day Story.
Grade I listed house and garden, the city's oldest museum, telling over 800 years of local history.
Museum of Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose, built in 1511, and the Tudor objects recovered with her.
Seafront amusement park with arcades and crazy golf; its rides are closed until 2027, according to the pier's own site.
1 / 12Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Portsmouth and Southampton guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
HMS VictoryHistoric ship, Portsmouth Harbour & Old Portsmouth
HMS WarriorHistoric ship, Portsmouth Harbour & Old Portsmouth
HMS M.33Historic ship, Portsmouth Harbour & Old Portsmouth
Calshot Spit LightshipMuseum ship, Southampton Old Town & City CentrePractical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Portsmouth and Southampton.
Itineraries
Short routes that stitch the areas together.
Getting there
Both cities are on the main line from London Waterloo and are linked to each other by train. Southampton Airport is between them, and ferries connect both to the Isle of Wight. Always check the operators for current times, fares and disruption.
South Western Railway runs from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour in about 90 minutes, according to the Historic Dockyard, and to Southampton Central in about 1 hour 20 minutes, according to Visit Southampton. Great Western Railway links the two cities in about 50 minutes.
Most national coaches to Portsmouth stop at The Hard Interchange by the Historic Dockyard. Southampton's National Express coach station is on Harbour Parade; Visit Southampton says coaches to London Victoria take about 2 to 3 hours.
Southampton Airport is about 22 miles from Portsmouth, according to Visit Portsmouth. Trains from Southampton Airport Parkway reach Southampton Central in under 10 minutes. Gatwick and Heathrow are about 60 miles from Portsmouth.
From Portsmouth, Brittany Ferries sail to France and Spain and Condor Ferries to the Channel Islands; Wightlink and Hovertravel cross to the Isle of Wight. From Southampton, Red Funnel runs from Town Quay to the Isle of Wight.
Portsmouth's Park & Ride is off junction 1 of the M275, with PR1 buses every 15 minutes to the city centre and The Hard. Southampton is reached by the M3 and M27; its Park & Ride runs on weekends and bank holidays.
Journey times are the approximate figures published by the sources named; check the operator before you travel.
Visit Portsmouth describes a flat walk from the Historic Dockyard past Gunwharf Quays, Old Portsmouth and Clarence Pier to the D-Day Story and Southsea Castle.
The ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to Gosport runs every 15 minutes and takes 4 minutes, according to the operator.
Visit Southampton says the centre is mostly flat. Bluestar is the main bus operator, and the Quayconnect bus links Southampton Central with Town Quay every 35 minutes.
Great Western Railway trains run between Southampton and Portsmouth in about 50 minutes, according to Visit Southampton.
Best time to go
Both cities work all year: the Historic Dockyard is open all year round, and most museums are indoors. The seafront and the ferries are at their best in the warmer months.
Lighter evenings for the Southsea seafront and the Old Portsmouth walls, with fewer visitors than in summer.
The busiest time on the seafront and on the Isle of Wight ferries. Portsmouth's Park & Ride runs on to Southsea on summer weekends.
Quieter museums and ships. Clarence Pier's rides close for the season, so check its site.
Short days, but the Dockyard, SeaCity Museum, Solent Sky and the theatres are all indoors.
FAQ
One day covers the Historic Dockyard and Old Portsmouth. Add a day for Southsea and Gosport, and another for Southampton's old town and SeaCity Museum.
Portsmouth Harbour is about 200 yards from the Historic Dockyard and next to Gunwharf Quays. Portsmouth and Southsea station is in the city centre, by the Guildhall.
The Dockyard says HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior are all included on one ticket. Check its site for what else each ticket includes.
Yes, when we checked: the tower says to turn up and buy tickets on arrival. Its Sky Bar, Clouds Café and afternoon tea were closed for now.
Hovertravel flies from Southsea to Ryde in under 10 minutes; Wightlink sails from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde; Red Funnel sails from Southampton's Town Quay.
Not at the moment. The Hythe Pier Company says there is currently no scheduled passenger ferry service, while it looks for a future operator.
Old Portsmouth and The Hard put you beside the Dockyard; Southsea has most of the small hotels near the sea; Southampton's old town suits a ferry or cruise start.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Plan it properly
English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文