The Great British weather is renowned for its fickle nature. One minute, it’s beautiful sunshine, and the next, it’s chucking it down with little-to-no notice!
If you find yourself in this predicament, we’ve got you covered with our top 8 things to do in Portsmouth, come rain or shine!
Things to do in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is an island city located on Britain’s south coast. While the weather is generally lovely, particularly compared to the rest of the UK, it doesn’t mean that Portsmouth is without a bit of rain.
Whatever the weather, Portsmouth is a great place to visit with family and friends. From museums to natural beauty spots, you’ll never be short of things to do in Portsmouth.
1. Emirates Spinnaker Tower
The Spinnaker Tower is a 170-metre tower that stands proudly in Portsmouth Harbour. It was built to commemorate the millennium and represents the city’s redevelopment of its waterfront.
Today you can book a skywalk 100 metres in the air for a thrill like no other. The views at this height are spectacular and well worth the fear of venturing that high!
2. Portsmouth historic dockyard
Portsmouth has been an important naval port for centuries. The Historic Dockyard is home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, allowing you to explore the illustrious history of seamen and imagine how they might have lived.
The Royal Navy’s oldest ship still in commission, HMS Victory, is stationed at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The ship is not only beautiful and large but also incredibly famous for its part in the Battle of Trafalgar. Lord Nelson was fatally wounded during the battle, but this battle marked the end of Napoleon’s plans to invade Britain and cemented Britain as the world’s naval superpower.
3. The Mary Rose Museum
Just next door to HMS Victory, you can step even further back in time and visit Henry VIII’s favourite ship, the Mary Rose, at the Mary Rose Museum.
The ship dates back to 1510 but sank in 1545 during the Battle of the Solent. In 1982, the ship was raised and returned to the dock where she’d been built.
Today, the Mary Rose Museum houses 19,000 artefacts from the Tudor era, allowing you to step back in time for an afternoon. This museum is ideal if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
4. The D-Day Story Museum
In June 1944, approximately 160,000 men crossed the channel to France from Portsmouth. The operation was headquartered in Portsmouth, so it makes sense that the D-Day Story Museum is there today.
Inside, you’ll find boats, uniforms, and other artifacts from the D-Day landings and World War II. It’s wonderfully brought to life, so it’s ideal for children to get a tangible feel of the war their great-grandparents lived through.
5. Gunwharf Quays
Gunwharf Quays is Portsmouth’s primary shopping centre, providing locals and tourists with over 20 restaurants, an 11-screen cinema, a bowling alley and over 65 shops.
Opened in 2001, the shopping centre still looks as new as the day it opened, providing some much-needed shelter if the weather takes a turn for the worse, or if you just fancy doing a bit of shopping during your trip to Portsmouth.
6. Portsmouth Museum
Portsmouth Museum is a museum and art gallery dedicated to showcasing Portsmouth’s rich heritage. Exhibitions within the museum include the world of Sherlock Holmes and an entire gallery dedicated to Portsmouth Football Club.
To make this museum even more exciting, it’s absolutely free to enter!
7. Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth
Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth is home to a huge range of exhibits that house hundreds of fish from across the world. Our Tropical Treasures displays are home to our lionfish, eels, coral and more, while our Freshwater Fun Exhibit has reptiles and amphibians.
There’s even an outdoor wet play area for young ones. The Beach Club at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth overlooks the beautiful Portsmouth coastline, allowing families to enjoy the great outdoors safely and is open daily from the Easter holidays until November.
Whether you’re an avid marine biologist or a complete newbie to fish, our team of experts are more than happy to answer questions and show you where to find the most fascinating fish in the world!
8. The beach
If all else fails, the beach is always a great option! Portsmouth has countless wonderful beaches, including Southsea Beach, which is a flint shingle beach ideal for a bit of sunbathing or paddling in the sea.
South Parade Pier juts out into the sea on Southsea Beach, covering you in a lovely sea breeze while you enjoy the amusements and small rides.
You’ve now got plenty of options to explore if you’re in Portsmouth, no matter the weather. Remember, booking tickets early is the best way to get discounts, so book yours now for Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth!