About Portsmouth
Portsmouth is located within the borders of Hampshire on the south coast of England. There are so many things to do and see, so you are best to plan a trip for at least 3-4 days. In Portsmouth, where culture and art events take place throughout the year, you can taste the tastes of England. You are best to prepare a full list of “places to visit”. You can turn your direction to Commercial Road High Street and Albert Road for shopping in Portsmouth, which has numerous attractions including Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Southsea Castle and Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum. If you want to make a full cultural tour of the theaters, movies, museums and arts, you can start your trip with Kings Theater and New Theater Royal designed by famous architect Frank Matcham. The Historic Shipyard (Portsmouth Historic Dockyard), located at the sea base, is home to multiple ships and includes the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Spinnaker Tower which is located in Gunwharf Quays, can be visited every day from 10.00 until 18.00 (On Saturdays until 22.00; July and August open every day). You need to pay 7 pounds per person to enter the tower, where you are able to see exquisite views from the three different platforms at: 100 meters, 105 meters and 115 meters.
Southsea Castle was constructed by Henry VIII in 1544, and was built to protect the country against an invasion. After touring this magnificent castle, which is located close to the Southsea Seafront, which impresses everyone with its 6.5 km of coastline, you can then visit the Royal Marines Museum, which is in the same region. Here you can discover the exciting stories of the Royal Navy. Blue Reef Aquarium is situated on Clarance Esplanade region of Southsea and is a unique place to visit, where you can take a journey through the wonders of the underwater. You can have a great day out at Blue Reef Aquarium, which welcomes its visitors between 10.00 and 16.00 every day. You should definitely include Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, Royal Garrison Church, Cumberland House Natural History Museum and Spitbank Fort in Commercial Road to your list of places to visit in Portsmouth. Southsea Common, which is often preferred by families with children, is one of the most popular places to have a picnic.You can take a walk on the Renaissance Trail around the Millennium Promenade, tour the historic harbor by boat and to experience the nightlife of Portsmouth, you should head for Clarence Pier. Don't forget to stop by The Bandstand, where there are live music events every Sunday during the summer months. There are lots of eating and drinking places in Gunwharf Quays region which offer stylish venues overlooking the harbor. Albert Road is a place where you will find many Indian restaurants, wine bars and cafes. You may also be interested in Palmerston Road and Guildhall, which are home to a number of pubs and bars, such as Walkabout, Yates, Wetherspoons, Route 66 and Babylon. The first places that come to mind if you would like to go shopping in Portsmouth are Commercial Road & Cascades, Gunwharf Quays outlet stores, Southsea Town Center and Fratton and North End, where you can find souvenir shops.
Transportation to Portsmouth City Center from Airport
Portsmouth Airport
PORTSMOUTH TRANSPORTATION GUIDE
You can travel to the Southampton Airport, which is one of the closest airports to the city, to go to the city of Portsmouth that is situated on the southern coast of the United Kingdom.
Transportation to the City Center from Southampton Airport
Trains are one of the fastest and most comfortable transportation ways to travel to the city from the Southampton Airport, which is about 20 miles far from Portsmouth. You can reach many places in the city center within about one hour by taking the trains from the train station near the Southampton airport. If you prefer a transportation option that you can reach directly where you want, you can also take a taxi in front of the airport terminal. Another possible option to reach the city is to rent a car, so that you can easily travel around Portsmouth without leaving the airport.
Train
You can easily travel to the Portsmouth city center in about an hour by taking the trains departing from the Southampton Airport Parkway station. Trains are not one of the fastest transportation options in terms of the distance, but the prices you have to pay for the journey with train are considered very budget-friendly when compared to other transportation options. You can easily reach the city center by getting off at Fratton station from the train that passes through Eastleigh, Hedge End, Botley and Fareham stations. Another travel option on this route is first to come to Eastleigh station and then easily transfer to Fratton trains from here. This travel route may take a little more than one hour in total, but train departure times are more frequently. If you need help about reaching the Portsmouth city center by train from the airport, you can also get support from the airport information desks.
Bus
You can take the buses that go to Portsmouth direction after coming to the Eastleigh city center by taking trains or taxis. Portsmouth buses provide services for their passengers from early hours in the morning. The fare you have to pay for bus journey is also affordable like train fares, but this way of transportation may not be the best option for those who give priority to speed and comfort because of that they need to transfer. If you need a vehicle to reach the city center without a pause, you may need to rent a car or take a taxi that is ready for passenger right in front of the airport.
Taxi
You can take a taxi to reach the Portsmouth city center from the airport, and this way of transportation is also the fastest and most comfortable alternative you can take on this route. The distance you have to travel from the Southampton Airport to Portsmouth is approximately 20 miles. When you reach the center of the city, the total fare you need to pay to taxi driver is about £ 40 for this journey. If you make an online reservation for taking a taxi in advance, the total fare you have to pay for the same journey may be reduced to even half price. The time that you will spend at the taxi while coming to the center usually does not exceed 30 minutes.
Car Rental
You can travel to Portsmouth by renting a car from the car rental companies at the Southampton Airport or from the city center that is not far away. Renting a car generally costs more than other vehicles such as taxis, buses and trains. Nevertheless, renting a car stands out while choosing a transportation option because of the fact that it offers easy transportation to many centers around the city.
Private Shuttle
If you prefer to travel as a crowded group or as a family, you can think about travelling from the Portsmouth Airport to the city center by taking private shuttle services at the airport. The prices that you have to pay for private shuttle services depends on your destination point in Portsmouth city and the number of the passengers you are travelling with. Taking a shuttle is especially a good option of transportation for those who travel with 7-10 people or more crowded than that. If you make a reservation for shuttle services also for your return, you can make your all journey at more affordable prices.
