Holiday rentals in Portsmouth

With its busy dockyards and major naval base, this port city on the South Coast of England has been a place of lively activity for centuries. Its 14th-century fortifications and engaging maritime museums tell of Portsmouth’s starring role in England’s seafaring history, from the recovered Tudor warship the Mary Rose to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (home of HMS Victory), and the D-Day Story. There are still cobbled streets and traditional fish markets in Portsmouth’s old town, and Southsea’s Victorian beachfront combines pebbled shore with grass-covered parks and rows of independent shops and cafes.

You’ll notice a more contemporary feel to the shopping and nightlife destination of Gunwharf Quays, overlooked by the piercing needle of the Spinnaker Tower, whose observation platforms offer views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Still, with water surrounding Portsea Island on which the city sits on three sides, you’ll find plenty of sea views and salt air wherever you venture.

Summer is undoubtedly the time when Portsmouth puts on its brightest colours. The waterfront becomes a joyous space of al fresco dining, and its beaches a place for families to bask in sunshine. There are all sorts of summer celebrations in the city, including the annual sailing regatta in June. Southsea is fringed with markets during its July Food Festival and Gosport has its own waterfront festival, while August sees thousands turn out to witness the spectacle of the city’s International Kite Festival as well as the Victorious music festival. Spring and autumn are good times to visit if you want to avoid the crowds; in winter the temperatures can be nippy, but so long as you pack some waterproofs and warm layers, there’s still plenty to enjoy.

Hotwalls beach

Tucked away beneath the Point Battery & Barracks, which house a set of creative studios, this little beach is quite literally a hidden gem. You can lean up against the sturdy fort walls as you look out over the water towards the Isle of Wight, and you’re only a few minutes’ walk from Portsmouth’s 12th-century Anglican cathedral.

Gosport

The four-minute ferry from Portsmouth to Gosport is worth it to visit the marina, beaches, and many historic attractions and museums you’ll find there, including Fort Brockhurst, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, and HMS Alliance. There’s less urban development in Gosport, and it’s a good way to experience a flavour of the Hampshire countryside.

Farlington Marshes

This 300-acre nature reserve, on the mainland northeast of the city, is an amazing bird-watching spot — come in winter and you can see short-eared owls out on the hunt. The salt marshes are far less bleak than they sound, covered in wildflowers, and the migratory birds add colour all on their own.