Why Portsmouth?

Seaside location
Besides the water and marine activity, other attractions on the seafront include miles of green parkland, a funfair, rose gardens and a boating lake. During the summer you can enjoy festivals and live music, or just meet up with friends 

Spinnaker Tower
In 2004 Portsmouth's skyline was transformed by the eye-catching 170 metre-high Spinnaker Tower. From the Crow's Nest at its top you have stunning views of Portsmouth Harbour, the south coast and the Isle of Wight.

Shopping and restaurants
There are some great shopping areas in Portsmouth, including Gunwharf Quays, the City's landmark waterfront development, which has over 65 designer outlet stores, as well as bars, restaurants and a cinema. Southsea's Palmerston Road has a wide range of shops, including independent outlets and high street names.

Culture and history
Portsmouth is the current headquarters of the British Navy, and has a huge harbour packed with naval craft of every imaginable type, from Tudor warships and 19th-century gunboats to Second World War submarines and modern aircraft carriers. One of its most famous attractions is the Historic Dockyard, home to the world famous warships HMS Victory and the remains of King Henry VIII's favourite ship the Mary Rose.

The City also has an impressive literary heritage: Charles Dickens was born here, and this is also where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created his most famous character, the detective Sherlock Holmes.

Music and nightlife
Portsmouth has a good selection of pubs, clubs and entertainment venues.

Big name bands and other touring attractions play in the City at The Portsmouth Guildhall. Independent acts and comedy can be enjoyed at the Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea. You can see live music for free every Sunday throughout the summer at the Bandstand on Southsea Common.

Sport and leisure
Keeping fit is easy in Portsmouth. The seafront promenade is perfect for jogging and walking, while the recently refurbished Mountbatten Centre has a 50m swimming pool, health suite, gym and a 400m athletics track. Portsmouth's naval heritage and safe harbour mean that there are plenty of opportunities to learn about sailing and watersports. Portsmouth is also an ideal destination for football enthusiasts as it is home to Portsmouth Football Club (PFC) proud winners of the 2008 FA Cup.

Further afield
Portsmouth’s location, in southern England, is ideal for easy access – being only 100km (60 miles) from London. 

Portsmouth is also on the doorstep of the South Downs National Park, which has a beautiful landscape, diverse wildlife, and a fascinating cultural heritage including picture-postcard villages and stunning walks and cycle paths.

Nearby is England's Jurassic Coast, 150km (95 miles) of beaches, sheer white cliffs and stunning rock formations. 

Mainland Europe is within easy reach via ferry, as Portsmouth is one of Britain’s best-connected ports.