Attractions Nearby Portsmouth, Day Trips and Excursions

(Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK)

The attractions of the city really are quite extensive and it is quite possible to spend an entire day at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard alone. Those with their own vehicle will find that the attractions of Hampshire are rather tempting, while further afield, there is added interest in the surrounding counties of Berkshire, Dorset, Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire.

The city of Chichester is especially close to Portsmouth and lies in nearby West Sussex, where it is home to a magnificent 11th-century cathedral, medieval city walls and historic market cross. An excursion to Bognor Regis will take just 30 minutes and boasts a multitude of seaside attractions, funfairs and amusements, and is also the site of an extremely popular Butlin's Holiday Camp.

General Information

The market town of Fareham is a mere 13 km / 8 miles west of Portsmouth and features an impressive collection of Georgian buildings, many of which line its High Street and add a great deal of character to the area. Other Fareham attractions include the Market Quay complex, the Royal Armouries Museum, the Hovercraft Museum and the neighbouring Portchester Castle.

Gosport has long had strong connections with Portsmouth and this pleasant Hampshire town is only 21 km / 13 miles to the west. At Gosport, attractions include both the Museum of Naval Firepower (Explosion!) and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

Connected by regular ferries and hovercraft, the Isle of Wight makes for a popular day trip. Top attractions on the Isle of Wight include endless sandy beaches, a steam railway, the Needles Pleasure Park, the Blackgang Chine theme park and Osborne House - a favourite country retreat of Queen Victoria.

The cities of Southampton and Winchester are also close by and easy to reach by road.

If you are prepared to travel just a little further, then the seaside attractions of Bournemouth are only just over an hour away, as is the cathedral city of Salisbury and its numerous museums. Close to Portsmouth is the small fishing town of Emsworth, the spreading New Forest, Portsdown Hill and the South Downs.