Portsmouth is known as the UK’s ‘great waterfront city’, featuring a historic dockyard and naval base. Its location on England’s south coast makes it the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend staycation from London. I visited this port city at the end of June for the first time and loved it! Continue reading to find out the best things to do in Portsmouth in a day…

Travelling to Portsmouth

You can either drive, get a coach or take the train to Portsmouth Harbour, all of which take approximately two hours from London. I took an early morning train from London’s Victoria Station and after a scenic journey, the train stopped right at the entrance of Portsmouth’s historic dockyard and next to Spinnaker Tower.

Spinnaker Tower

The first stop of your day should be the Spinnaker Tower, a 170m icon which is probably one of the UK’s best observation decks. To me, the sail-like tower definitely looked like a piece of Dubai!

From ground level, the Spinnaker Tower is best seen whilst walking around the Gunwharf Quays shopping outlet, as you can tell from the pictures…

Take a trip up the tower for 360-degree panoramic views of the South Coast, the city of Portsmouth, the historic harbour and the Isle of Wight. A single-day ticket will let you go up the tower an unlimited amount of times during the day.

At the top, there is an impressive Sky Walk where you can see the waves and structure of the tower below your feet! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only one of the three levels is currently opening but it is still definitely worth a visit. There is also the option to have a glamorous afternoon tea or if you are feeling adventurous, abseiling down the landmark!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Next, take a walk around the historic dockyard, which is an area of HM Naval Base Portsmouth. The historic ships are a must-see and they give you a true insight into the city’s naval history.

Take a stroll through Old Portsmouth

A 15-minute walk away from the dockyard is the centre of Old Portsmouth, situated on the south west of Portsea Island. You will come across historic buildings and hidden gems including Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth Cathedral and the Round Tower, all of which make for great photo opportunities!

Relax on Southsea seafront

If you are after a relaxing spot to chill and catch the sea breeze, head to Southsea seafront, which is about a 10-minute walk away from Old Portsmouth. There are plenty of food shops along the promenade, together with an arcade and outdoor activity spots including kite flying, skateboarding and beach volleyball.

Shopping

If you have time on your way back to the station, stop over at Gunwharf Quays Designer Outlet. This is the South coast’s main designer outlet, home to over 90 premium brands!