The historic city of Portsmouth, located on the south coast of Great Britain 160 km from London, deserves a visit at once for several reasons. Firstly, it is here that you can make sure that England is a great maritime power, evidence of which is the large historic docks, which are perfectly preserved, where the famous flagship of Admiral Nelson's fleet "HMS Victory" and the ancient Tudor ship "Marie Rose" are displayed ". Secondly, the old, unpresentable area of the port has been transformed by the efforts of architects into a real Mecca of shopping, where it is so nice to stock up on things of famous brands. Thirdly, you can view Portsmouth from a bird's-eye view by climbing one of the most modern buildings in Britain - the 170-meter Spinnaker tower (which in English means "triangular sail" - without the sea anywhere!). Finally, there are as many as two cathedrals, twelve museums and three concert halls - so you will definitely not be bored in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth is the only city in England located on an island - its historic part lies on the island of Portsea, although it is quite close to the coastline.
HOW TO GET
Portsmouth is one of the most important railway junctions in the south of the country, so it will not be difficult to get here from any corner of the country.Another better connection is established with London - the train from "Waterloo" takes about one and a half hours, the cheapest ticket will cost about 20 GBP.You can also get here directly from Gatwick Airport, the travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.Trains also connect Portsmouth with the south coast of Great Britain: Brighton, Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and Southampton.The closest airport to Portsmouth is also located in Southampton.
At least 15 express buses depart from London to Portsmouth per day.The journey takes two and a half hours and costs around GBP 14.Buses also run between Portsmouth and Southampton (50 minute journey), Chichester (1 hour) and Brighton (3.5 hour journey).
TRANSPORT
Portsmouth has a flat landscape and an extensive network of convenient public transport, so getting around on municipal buses is a pleasure.Routes run both in the city itself and beyond it, so you can get to Southampton by regular bus.A day pass costs around £3 (valid within the city) and for £5 you can buy unlimited travel on transport throughout Hampshire.
HOTELS
There are no problems with accommodation in Portsmouth - about 40 hotels, boarding houses, guest houses and hostels are at the service of tourists.Most of the hotels are in the "three star" category, but in the British way, they are neat and comfortable.There are also some very high-quality "fours", where the night will cost an average of 100 GBP, and a lot of unstarred establishments with a homely atmosphere and soulful service.And in Portsmouth you can stay in boutique hotels, cottages and lodges - as a rule, these are private mansions with several rooms for guests.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
Arriving in Portsmouth, staying at the hotel and looking around, first of all it is worth going to see the main local attraction - the Historic Dockyards.On an area of several hectares, there are dozens of buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, including docks with original furnishings, marine warehouses, the Semaphore tower, a historical police station, a porter's pavilion, a rope warehouse, etc. others The real treasures of the historic shipyards are three original ships: "Marie-Rose" of the Tudor era (16th century), "HMS Warrior" built in 1860 and the handsome flagship of the fleet under the leadership of Admiral Nelson - "HMS Victory".
In May 2013, the super-modern "Marie-Rose" museum was opened, where you can see more than 19,000 exhibits related to the ship and its crew.
In the bowels of HMS Victory, you can visit the captain's cabin, from where Nelson watched the progress of the Battle of Trafalgar, the living decks, where more than 800 sailors lived, and the cabin where the admiral died.Well, the world's first steam and sailing steel ship "HMS Warrior" still stands on the water, near the port of Portsmouth docks.
SHOPPING
The main shopping area of Portsmouth is the area of the old shipyards of Hanover Quays.There are boutiques of expensive brands - Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and Barbour - and democratic M & S, Cadburys, Claire's and GAP.You don't have to count on mega-low prices, although discounts here are very attractive in the off-season.In the business center of the city, it is worth visiting the "Portsmouth City Center" department store.Souvenirs are on sale in abundance at the attractions, and Albert Road is home to excellent antiques, antiques and home furnishings.In the southern suburb of Soutsy, the "Soutsy Town Center" shopping center "steers" - a mass of boutiques, art shops and interior stores.
A modern landmark of Portsmouth is the 170-meter-high Spinnaker tower, which offers a dizzying view of the city and the sea from its three observation decks, located at a height of 100, 105, and 115 meters.
Still in Portsmouth, you should visit Southsea Castle, built by Henry VIII in the 16th century as part of the city fortifications, the Museum of the Royal Navy, the cathedrals of St. Thomas and St. John (the first is Anglican, the second is Catholic) and the Blue Reef aquarium.The Charles Dickens House Museum is located in the building where the future writer was once born.For a walk in the fresh air, go to the 6-kilometer Southsea promenade.
The Isle of Wight, which can be reached from Portsmouth by ferry in about 1 hour, has in recent years turned into a place for a "raunchy" party - music festivals roar here, and nightclubs and discos are famous throughout the south coast.
CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
It will not be difficult to have a quick bite, as well as to dine with dignity in Portsmouth: the city has about a hundred public catering establishments for every taste and budget. As in every coastal city, the highlight of local menus are fish dishes. You should definitely try the traditional fish and chips here, as the freshest fish makes this national snack in Portsmouth a real delicacy. In search of this dish, we recommend looking into the democratic Still & West - the establishment houses a snack bar and a pub under one roof. The Custom House offers similar cuisine, but the interiors are more interesting here - the restaurant is located in the 18th century premises, which once housed the Royal Naval Hospital. You can catch a worm during sightseeing races in Portsmouth in numerous curry restaurants, the increased concentration of which is observed on Albert Road and Palmerston Road. In general, the largest selection of restaurants is in the Port Solent marina area (there is also a multiplex cinema).
Like any self-respecting port city with history, Portsmouth is famous for its drinking traditions, which can be joined in any of the dozens of pubs around the dockyards.
