Things to do
Things to do in Portsmouth
Britain's naval home: Nelson's Victory, Henry VIII's Mary Rose, the Spinnaker Tower over the Solent — and Portsmouth FC, the club the island city adores.
Photos for Portsmouth are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Portsmouth
The naval city: HMS Victory, the Spinnaker Tower, and Pompey.
- Historic Dockyard — HMS Victory (Trafalgar, 1805), the Mary Rose Museum, HMS Warrior: the naval collection — allow a full day.
- Spinnaker Tower — The 170m sail-shaped tower: the glass floor, the Solent panorama.
- Southsea seafront — The promenade: Southsea Castle, the D-Day Story museum, the pier.
- Gunwharf Quays — The outlet shopping by the harbour: the waterside restaurants, the tower views.
- Old Portsmouth & the Hot Walls — The historic quarter: the Cathedral, the Point's pubs, the artists' studios in the old defences.
- Charles Dickens' Birthplace — The author's Portsmouth birthplace museum.
Free things to do in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Southsea promenade — The seafront walk: free.
- Old Portsmouth (Hot Walls) — The historic lanes: free.
- Portsdown Hill — The viewpoint over the harbour and the Solent: free.
- Victoria Park — The 1878 park: free.
- The Hard / harbour (watching) — The ferry and naval movements: free theatre.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- Victorious Festival (August) — The seafront music festival on Southsea Common: three days, big names.
- D-Day commemorations (6 June) — The city's defining remembrance: the D-Day Story, the commemorations.
- Christmas market (late November–December) — The Guildhall Square market.
- Isle of Wight Festival (nearby) (June) — The ferry across to Newport's festival — Portsmouth's festival too.
And the national calendar:
- Christmas / Boxing Day (25–26 December) — The big shutdown: Christmas markets from late November, pantomimes, Boxing Day football.
- Easter weekend (March/April) — Four-day weekend: the spring getaway moment.
- Bonfire Night (5 November) — Fireworks displays and bonfires for Guy Fawkes Night.
- Notting Hill Carnival (August bank holiday weekend) — Europe's biggest street carnival (London) — relevant for the whole southeast as a day trip.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: Football
Portsmouth FC (Pompey): the Fratton Park roar — the 2008 FA Cup winners, the south coast's best-supported club. The Fratton End on a night game is the experience. The south-coast derby vs Southampton is the volcano.
Sailing is the other sport: the Solent is Britain's sailing capital — Cowes Week across the water, the America's Cup history. Cricket: Hampshire CCC nearby.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Portsmouth
The D-Day Story keeps the commemorations central. Victorious Festival's August dates are confirmed yearly. The port's cruise schedule grows — check the season.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Portsmouth?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Portsmouth for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Portsmouth
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