Portsmouth City Centre Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Portsmouth City Centre
Portsmouth City Centre
Portsmouth City Centre
Portsmouth City Centre
Portsmouth City Centre

Victorian architecture lines the modern avenues of this port city, which has a thriving shopping boulevard and concert venues in historic buildings.

The Portsmouth City Centre offers a fresher alternative to the historic treasures of Old Portsmouth. Here, you’ll find some of the city’s principal attractions, from vast parks and government buildings to shopping avenues and theatres. Spend several days visiting Portsmouth City Centre to get insight into the culture of modern-day Portsmouth.

On a fine summer day, lay down a blanket for a picnic with your family in Victoria Park. Bring your kids to the children’s playground and relax in the café. On the eastern side of the park is the city’s main commercial avenue, packed with stores, banks and cafés. Enter the Cascades Shopping Centre and browse the upscale retailers and boutique shops.

Several historic treasures adorn the streets of the city centre. Admire the twin towers and redbrick façade of St. John’s Cathedral. Dating back to the 19th century, it is a more modern alternative to the Portsmouth Cathedral in the Old Town area.

Admire the thick columns and imposing pediment of the nearby Portsmouth Guildhall, which was built in 1890 as a town hall. Today, it hosts a range of musical concerts, art exhibitions and festivals.

A little south is the New Theatre Royal, a fine example of Victorian architecture. Walk beneath its elegant colonnade and purchase tickets from the box office for a play or musical. Next door, take a self-guided tour of the University of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth City Centre is located a little inland from the Gunwharf Quays and Old Portsmouth districts. Get a train from a neighboring city to the Portsmouth & Southsea railway station, which is an attraction in its own right, having first opened in 1847. Travel around the area by bus or on foot. Make sure to check out the highlights of nearby districts, including Portsea, Buckland and Fratton.

A short walk from the Old Portsmouth district, the Portsmouth City Centre shows what happened next in the continually unfolding history of this maritime city.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Portsmouth City Centre Hotel Deals

ibis Portsmouth Centre

ibis Portsmouth Centre

3.5 out of 5
Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth, England
The price is AU$125 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
AU$125
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in Portsmouth. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,012 reviews)
"Excellent staff extremely polite"

Reviewed on 11 Oct 2025

ibis Portsmouth Centre
Moxy Southampton

Moxy Southampton

3 out of 5
Harbour Parade, Southampton, England
The price is AU$122 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
AU$122
16 Nov - 17 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,010 reviews)
"Great location, the staff are really nice. I wish the AC was on going the whole year (it gets very warm at night) and having to open the window invites a lot of noise (especially when construction is going on outside). Also wish there was a mini fridge in the room to keep drinks cold. But other than ..."

Reviewed on 14 Oct 2025

Moxy Southampton
Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour

Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour

4 out of 5
West Quay Road, Southampton, England
The price is AU$158 per night from 26 Oct to 27 Oct
AU$158
26 Oct - 27 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,651 reviews)
"Hotel was lovely, huge bed & clean. But was told couldn’t use the pool after checking out which I think you should be able to, even hotels in London allow this. We were told we have to purchase a day pass"

Reviewed on 15 Oct 2025

Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
Harbour Hotel Southampton

Harbour Hotel Southampton

5 out of 5
5 Maritime Walk, Ocean Village, Southampton, England
The price is AU$341 per night from 26 Oct to 27 Oct
AU$341
26 Oct - 27 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,012 reviews)
"Not so good due to staffing in some ateas"

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Harbour Hotel Southampton
Leonardo Hotel Southampton

Leonardo Hotel Southampton

4 out of 5
1 Charlotte Place, Southampton, England
The price is AU$130 per night from 26 Oct to 27 Oct
AU$130
26 Oct - 27 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,211 reviews)
"Stayed here night before my cruise and was very nice"

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Leonardo Hotel Southampton
The Langstone Quays

The Langstone Quays

4 out of 5
Northney Road, Hayling Island, England
The price is AU$183 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
AU$183
16 Nov - 17 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Hayling Island. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,005 reviews)
"We booked a 3 night stay in a Classic Double Harbour facing room. Having paid extra for the view, we were therefore more than a little disappointed when we discovered that our room overlooked a large car park. We could not even see a tiny amount of harbour or sea. When we queried this with the receptionist, ..."

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

The Langstone Quays
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Portsmouth City Centre

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Old Portsmouth

You'll enjoy the monuments and historical sites in Old Portsmouth. You might want to make time for a stop at Sally Port or Square Tower.

Old Portsmouth
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Buckland

While Buckland may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Portsmouth International Port and Portsmouth Guildhall.

Buckland
Royal Marines Museum which includes heritage elements

Southsea

Southsea is a destination visitors seek out for its beaches, lively bars and seaside views. You might want to check out attractions like Fratton Park or Kings Theatre while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Southsea
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Cosham

4/5(1 area review)

Cosham is popular for its abundant dining options, and you can check out PlayZone Portsmouth, a top attraction in the neighbourhood.

Cosham


Portsmouth City Centre Travel Guide

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