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Welcome to Portsmouth, NH

And the seacoast, welcome to portsmouth, new hampshire, a picturesque coastal gem that combines rich history with modern charm. explore the streets of the historic downtown, where you’ll discover quaint boutiques, art galleries, and delectable dining options overlooking the scenic waterfront. whether you’re drawn to its maritime heritage, vibrant cultural scene, or scenic beauty, portsmouth promises a delightful experience for all who visit., portsmouth's neighborhoods.

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Here we go-- almost through November... What we couldn`t fit? 🔴 Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Previews and opening night for 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄, an @ogunquitplayhouse at @musichallnh presentation 🔴 Nov. 30 Jazz Supper featuring Mark Shilansky & Friends @portsmouthbookandbar See more at GoPortsmouthNH.com 🔴 more music 🔴 more art 🔴 more tours 🔴 more shopping 🔴 more food Plus: Visit @vintagechristmasportsmouth for holiday specific events and sparkles ✨ #GoPortsmouthNH #PortsmouthNH

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The 11 best things to do in Portsmouth

From ancient pubs on cobbled streets to contemporary art galleries, here are all the best things to do in Portsmouth

One of the oldest seaside cities in Britain, Portsmouth (AKA Pompey) blends its historic past with its prospering food, drink and nightlife scenes. This place still serves as Britain’s foremost Royal Navy base, and no trip  is complete without a roam around the Les Misérables -esque dockyard, complete with four historic ships and a string of superb museums.

However, there's much more to Portsmouth than its famous maritime heritage. There's everything from a ncient pubs on cobbled streets to unique contemporary art galleries, and football supporters so passionate they must be seen to be believed (particularly Pompey John, who has 60 tattoos and ‘P.F.C’ engraved into his teeth). It's a coastal city well worth a visit, so h ere’s our pick of the best things to do in Portsmouth for the day. 

RECOMMENDED: 🏰The best things to do in Winchester 🛍️The best  things to do in Southampton 🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK

At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines .

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Top things to do in Portsmouth

1.  Spinnaker Tower

What is it? Modelled on a sail to reflect the city’s seafaring history, this landmark observation tower is two and a half times the size of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square  – standing at 170 metres. Originally called the Portsmouth Millennium Tower, the Spinnaker Tower is the centrepiece of Portsmouth’s regeneration: the trio of panoramic decks offer spectacular views out to sea and across southern England.

Why go? Head here for the regular comedy and music nights , offering you the chance to see the best comedians around and dance the night away in a venue like no other  

2.  Pie & Vinyl

What is it? This shop-cum-restaurant does what it says on the tin  – pies and a vast collection of vinyl to buy (or try). Imagine your coolest grandma’s sitting room (think wingback armchairs and upside-down lampshades) mashed up with your most with-it mate’s music collection. Pie & Vinyl is a winning combo, whether you’re 15 or 55.    

Why go? For an eye-popping selection of delicious pies with mash and liquor, look out for the more musically-inclined pies, like the Back to Black and Notorious P.I.G, with plenty of vegan and veggie options on the menu too. Don’t miss the retro cordials served in vintage teapots (we love the rhubarb and rosehip).   

3.  Albert Road

What is it? Day or night, there is never a dull moment on Southsea’s main artery. This stretch of quirky independents is worth exploring on foot  – with plenty of browsing time and shopping bags in tow.

Why go? With a pub, cafe or restaurant every 20 metres and enough bric-a-brac shops to keep you rummaging for weeks, Albert Road is testament to why we should fight to keep the British high street diverse. Don’t miss the sushi at Sakura and cocktails at Gin and Olive (especially for the 4pm-6pm happy hour). Thespians: keep your eye on the programme at the Edwardian King’s Theatre  – it attracts some surprisingly hefty household names.  

4.  Huis Southsea

What is it? Meaning ‘home’ in Flemish, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve walked into one at this pocket-sized Belgian bar and kitchen. Hop-crazy drinkers will adore the intriguing 60-strong selection of bottled and draught beers, which rotates almost by the week at Huis .

Why go? The focus might be on beer here, but it’s a serious love letter to the compact country’s comfort food: think flammeküche (pastry pizza with lardons, shallots, cheese and crème fraïche), or six different buckets of moules (with twice cooked frites, no less).

5.  Fratton Park

What is it? The home of Portsmouth F.C since 1898,  Fratton Park – or ‘The Old Girl’ as it affectionately known by the team’s supporters – draws enormous crowds (21,000 to be more precise) and practically reroutes traffic on match days.

Why go? To scream ‘Play up Pompey!’ until your voice is hoarse, get lost in a sea of blue and sample the buzz of attending a League One match. Whether or not you’re a football fan, you’ll leave feeling all warm and fuzzy towards your host city’s beloved team.

6.  The D-Day Story

What is it? The only museum dedicated to the Allied invasion in 1944, the D-Day Story tells the personal stories behind this monumental historic event, from both a civilian and military viewpoint. It is also home to the Overlord Embroidery: a whopping 83-metre stitched depiction that pays tribute to all men and women involved in the landings.

Why go? Look out for the pencil that started the invasion, which Lt Cdr John Harmer used to sign the order for Force G. On display for the first time ever, this encapsulates the museum’s ethos of showing all the cogs in the largest seaborne invasion in history. The landing craft tanks give a good idea of just how difficult it was to get military hardware onto French beaches.

7.  Canoe Lake

What is it? With its swan-shaped pedalos, Art Deco angel statue and lovingly tended flowerbeds, Canoe Lake could be a scene straight off a Victorian postcard. And seeing as it was built in 1886, it feels like stepping back in time. Grab a bucket and fishing line from the lake shop and spend the morning catching crabs in the lake. Watch out though  – they are known to pinch.  

Why go? It doesn’t get more retro nostalgic than this  – essential additions include proper fish ‘n’ chips from the legendary Deep Blue on the nearby South Parade Pier, a 99 flake and a whizz around the penny arcade. Long live the British seaside.

8.  Gunwharf Quays

What is it? A chic, designer outlet on the waterfront that serves as a one-hit wonder for all your (discounted) shopping needs. Gunwharf Quays is a hotspot for the locals too, so bank on it being lively from dawn until late.

Why go? To nab up to 60 percent off huge designer and high street brands like Calvin Klein, Adidas, Dr. Martens and Le Creuset. When you’ve shopped yourself to sheer exhaustion, refuel at one of the many restaurants. Aim for an outdoor table so you can ogle the yachts in the marina and crane your neck up at the Spinnaker Tower.

9.  The Tenth Hole Tea Rooms

What is it? A buzzing tea rooms set on a pitch-and-putt course, expect to see a queue of locals outside The Tenth Hole , especially on weekends. Go in between mealtimes for your best chance of a spot on the sunny terrace.

Why go? Cake, cake and more cake. Think doorstep slabs of freshly made victoria sponge, millionaire’s shortbread and banoffee pie, plus fist-sized scones with clotted cream and jam. But it’s not just a saccharine seventh heaven  – the club sarnies and breakfasts are just as impressive. Book in a game of golf on the green before and you’ll have earned every bite  – right?

10.  Hotwalls Studios

What is it? A former artillery barracks, Portsmouth’s artistic quarter opened to the public in 2016 and is now home to 13 different studios for the area’s creatives and designers. Minimalist and in-keeping with its beachside location, Hotwalls Studios is a blueprint of how to fuse the new with the old.

Why go? See up-and-coming artists in their element and browse their wares, before stopping off for a coffee at deli-style The Canteen . Trust you are in good hands, as it’s run by the same team as The Tenth Hole Tea Rooms.

11.  Royal Garrison Church

What is it? Founded in 1212 as Domus Dei (God’s House) this ancient garrison church was badly damaged in a 1941 firebomb raid and lost its roof, although the original (and incredibly detailed) chancel remains. Check out the twentieth-century stained glass windows depicting its more recent history, including the Second World War.

Why go? The Royal Garrison Church ’s volunteers know the place back to front and will regale you with its 800-year long history, during which it has served as a medieval hospital, Tudor ammunition store and church for the armed forces. As atmosphere goes, this one’s is pretty ethereal.

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Portsmouth - The Great Waterfront City

Portsmouth uk sharing pompey since 2006.

Explore the birthplace of Charles Dickens and the home of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth is the UK's only Island City. Discover the fascinating history of this Hampshire City. What is Portsmouth best known for? Find out right here - enjoy your visit.

Portsmouth England

Discover the thriving city of Portsmouth in Hampshire. Home to 252,389 residents, the home of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the birthplace of Charles Dickens. Explore the bustling Portsmouth Harbour, with it's Naval vessels, ferries, fishing boats, and yachts. Well worth a visit, visitors love the naval and military history, miles of beaches and Southsea seafront with it's stunning views of The Solent and the Isle of Wight.

Portsmouth Historic Ships and Attractions

Portsmouth is best known for it's naval history and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to a world class selection of historic ships including HMS Victory Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Warrior the world's first iron hulled armoured ship, the Mary Rose , Henry VIII's Tudor warship and HMS M33 one of the very few surviving ships that saw action during the Battle of Gallipoli in August 1915. There are numerous other attractions in the city to visit such as the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays outlet shopping and leisure complex, the D-Day Story and of course Southsea Seafront.

Portsmouth UK Port

As well as being the home of the Royal Navy and ships such as aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, Portsmouth is a thriving commercial port. Just to the north of Portsmouth Dockyard, Portsmouth International Port serves commercial ferry services, cruise ships and international deep water cargo vessels. Albert Johnson Quay is 285 metres long with a depth of 7.3 metres and Flathouse quay is 190 metres long with a depth of 8.3 metres. Portsmouth International Port is a major destination for fresh fruit. 70% of all the bananas eaten in the UK arrive at Portsmouth. Portsmouth is a well connected port, Portsmouth International Port is one of the busiest ferry ports in the UK carrying around 2.2 million passengers a year, with regular services to France, Spain and the Channel Islands. Closer to home there are ferry and hovercraft connections to the Isle of Wight as well as cross harbour ferries to our neighbour Gosport. The port is rightly proud of it's use of alternative energy, utilising roof mounted panels, solar canopies and battery storage, the port generates approximately 400kWp (2022) of clean electricity. By January 2023 this will have increased to a 1.2 megawatt peak system which should provide around 98% of the port's power requirement.

Portsmouth Entertainment

The city of Portsmouth is lucky to have not one but two Frank Matcham designed theatres, the Kings Theatre in Southsea and the New Theatre Royal in Guildhall Walk, which have both been restored and are open for business hosting theatrical and musical entertainment. Portsmouth Guildhall and the Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea also host a wide variety of concerts and cultural events. The city has two independent film cinemas, No6 Cinema located inside the Historic Dockyard and Southsea Cinema at Palmerston Road. There is a also a multiscreen Vue cinema at Gunwharf Quays and a second multiscreen Odeon cinema at Port Solent. Portsmouth also has a thriving pub and restaurant culture serving food from around the world.

Historic Portsmouth

King Richard (1157 - 1199) sailed from Portsmouth on his way to the Crusades, and it was he who granted the town it's earliest known charter in 1194, in 1984 Portsmouth celebrated it's 800th anniversary. It was during Richard's reign that the Star and Crescent first appeared on the town arms, the title of Mayor of the town also appears at this time. An earlier charter is thought to have been granted by Henry I, but all trace of it's existence has disappeared. King Richard's charter gave Portsmouth the right to hold a fair once a year, a weekly market and exemption from various tolls. You can read more about the History of Portsmouth here.

Popular Portsmouth

Portsmouth with it's wealth of cultural attractions and maritime history is becoming increasingly popular with both domestic and international visitors, as can be seen in the various polls listed below.

• Portsmouth 2nd - The 10 British Cities with the best rated cultural attractions in 2022.
• Portsmouth 2nd - Nomads Nation - 10 Coolest Places to Live in the UK.
• Portsmouth 10th - Which? Best City Breaks in the UK 2022.
• Portsmouth 12th - YouGov poll of most popular cities.
• Portsmouth is recognised in the Tree Cities of the World programme which provides a framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry programme in towns or cities around the world.

Explore Portsmouth UK

Deciding what to visit or where to stay in Portsmouth, explore the sections below, just click an image or link......

Portsmouth Attractions

Explore the great selection of Portsmouth attractions here

Portsmouth Shopping

Portsmouth has excellent shopping areas

Portsmouth Restaurants

Portsmouth and Southsea has a great selection of restaurants

Portsmouth Hotels

Looking for somewhere to stay, view our hotel listings here

A selection of images taken around the Portsmouth and Southsea area including HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Southsea Castle lighthouse, the Spinnaker Tower seen from Old Portsmouth, some vibrant Street Art from Fawcett Road in Portsmouth, University of Portsmouth's Ravelin Sports Centre and the Ernest Smith clock tower in Castle Road Southsea.

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14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Portsmouth, England

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Bryan Dearsley traveled to England in the spring of 2022 where he spent eight weeks exploring its towns and cities, including the historic port city of Portsmouth .

Portsmouth in Hampshire (or "Hants") owes its importance to its large harbor. This magnificent natural harbor has played a major role in England's development and history since the days of the Spanish Armada, and continues to serve as the principal base of the Royal Navy to this day.

Today, His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth ( HMNB Portsmouth ) remains the most important naval station in Great Britain. As a result, many of the city's most popular tourist attractions are related to naval history, particularly around the historic harbor area.

Here, in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard , you'll find a number of the country's most famous historic ships, each providing evidence of its past naval might: Lord Nelson's HMS Victory ; Henry VIII's Mary Rose ; and HMS Warrior , the Royal Navy's first ironclad warship. All three vessels at one time knew Portsmouth as their home port.

To learn more about why this city is one of the best places to visit in England for those interested in naval history, be sure to read our list of the top tourist attractions in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

1. Climb aboard Nelson's HMS Victory

2. see henry viii's flagship at the mary rose museum, 3. take a tour of queen victoria's hms warrior, 4. wander around portsmouth historic dockyard (for free), 5. see the views from spinnaker tower, 6. visit the d-day story, 7. get your "fun" fix at gunwharf quays, 8. royal navy submarine museum, 9. explore old portsmouth, 10. portsmouth cathedral, 11. charles dickens' birthplace museum, 12. portsmouth museum and art gallery, 13. take a trip to southsea, 14. enjoy a drive to stansted park, where to stay in portsmouth for sightseeing.

A short distance north of the landing stage for ferries to the Isle of Wight , in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard , visitors can find the gateway to the old docks and the site of Lord Nelson's famous flagship. Built in 1765, the magnificent 197-foot-long HMS Victory , along with its five decks and 104 cannons, has been masterfully restored to its former glory.

It's also famous as where Lord Nelson met an untimely death. In his hour of victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, barely 20 minutes after he'd penetrated the French lines, Nelson was fatally wounded and died aboard his legendary ship. Nelson's "Trafalgar Coat," which the admiral was wearing at the time, can in fact be viewed at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London .

Afterwards, visit the nearby National Museum of the Royal Navy . Here, you'll find numerous mementos relating to Nelson and seafaring in the 18th century, including a splendid 46-foot panoramic painting by William Lionel Wyllie recording the course of the battle.

Location: Main Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire

The famed Mary Rose , the flagship of King Henry VIII's fleet, is a ship of great historical interest. This four-deck vessel with its 91 bronze cannons was built in 1509 and later enlarged to 700 tons in 1536.

In 1545, during a sea battle against the French, it sank just a mile and a quarter from its homeport of Portsmouth. Lifted from the bottom of the Solent in 1982, the remains of the vessel, consisting largely of sections of her hull, are now on display at the Mary Rose Museum.

In addition to seeing the remains of the vessel's formidable hull, now dry and preserved, up close, visitors can also spend time exploring displays of some of the more than 26,000 rare artifacts discovered in the wreck. Among them are personal items belonging to the crew, along with musical instruments and tools.

Address: No 3 Dock, Main Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: www.maryrose.org

In June 1987, after eight years of restoration work in Hartlepool , HMS Warrior finally returned to its home port of Portsmouth. Launched in 1860 and, along with her sister ship, HMS Black Prince , the world's first armor-plated and iron-hulled warship, this 418-foot-long, 9,700-ton vessel ranked as one of the biggest and best-equipped vessels of its type.

Now a floating museum, HMS Warrior is a treat to explore. Highlights of a visit include seeing the restored crew quarters, including the Captain and officers' areas, along with displays portraying the tough life at sea. For a truly memorable visit, you can even book a fun dinner experience aboard this historic vessel (it can also be booked for weddings).

Also worth seeing is HMS M33 . Built in 1915 and one of only three surviving WWI-era Royal Navy warships, this recently restored vessel can be viewed alongside HMS Warrior and HMS Victory at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard.

Location: Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Wandering around the grounds of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is one of the top free things to do in Portsmouth. It's worth noting, though, that while admission to the grounds is free, tickets are required to many of the most important attractions within the site. These include the Mary Rose , HMS Victory , HMS Warrior , and the WW1-era HMS M.33 .

That said, if you're pressed for time or money (or both) your free admission will enable you to get up-close to most of these vessels in order to take some memorable photos. A number of the site's historic buildings are in fact also open to all guests, including the fascinating Boathouse 4 . Here, you can linger awhile and watch staff and volunteers at work preserving a number of smaller historic vessels.

Other highlights include spending some quiet time in the historic Porter's Garden, as well as catching glimpse of some of the Royal Navy's modern fleet in the adjoining port area.

Address: Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: https://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/

Soaring nearly 560 feet (170 meters) above the Solent, the Spinnaker Tower is a highlight of any visit to Portsmouth. Located on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays , this popular tourist attraction offers wonderful panoramic views of the city and its spectacular harbor, as well as over the south coast and the Isle of Wight.

On a clear day, views extend for up to 23 miles from the tower's three observation decks, as well as from its café, aptly named the Café in the Clouds (try the high tea!).

Once you've braved the glass-floored Sky Walk, spend time learning about the area using the interactive touchscreen information system. Thrill seekers will want to try the breathtaking abseiling experience, which allows you to descend the exterior of the tower via ropes.

Location: Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: www.spinnakertower.co.uk

The excellent D-Day Story in nearby Southsea houses numerous fascinating displays relating to the Allied invasion of France's Normandy coastline in 1944. Highlights include weaponry and vehicles used during the invasion, along with immersive displays that include the sights and sounds of the battle and the long preparation leading up to it.

The museum also houses the Overlord Embroidery , a 27-foot-long tapestry. The world's largest such tapestry, it encapsulates the key moments of this turning point of WWII. A café and shop are located on-site.

The nearby Blue Reef Aquarium presents displays of the mysteries of the underwater world.

Address: Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Hampshire

Official site: https://theddaystory.com

Situated between Portsmouth Historic Dockyards and Old Portsmouth and just steps away from the railway station and ferry terminal, Gunwharf Quays is a great spot to spend time while exploring the city. In addition to its more than 90 shops, numerous restaurants and cafés are available for those wanting to dine or grab a snack.

In addition to being home to the Spinnaker Tower , other popular attractions here include the restored canal and docks, including an original historic crane; a number of interesting sculptures and memorials; and the colorful figurehead from HMS Marlborough .

Fun harbor tours are available, along with paddleboat rentals suitable for families.

Location: Portsmouth Waterfront, Hampshire

Official site: https://gunwharf-quays.com

Just across the water from Portsmouth in Gosport is the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Highlights include Britain's first submarine, Holland I , launched in 1901, along with HMS Alliance, launched just after the close of WWII.

Other notable displays include a German WWII-era mini submarine, an Italian human torpedo, along with a variety of weaponry. The attraction also features many other fascinating interactive exhibits dealing with life underwater in a submarine.

Address: Haslar Jetty Road, Gosport, Hampshire

Official site: www.nmrn.org.uk/submarine-museum

Located in an area known as "Old Portsmouth," the Round Tower (1418) and the Square Tower (1494) have, for centuries, guarded the entrance to the city's harbor and naval dockyards. The Square Tower was originally the residence of the military governor, and is today used for functions, weddings, indoor markets, and concerts.

The interior of the Round Tower has been converted for use as an exhibition gallery, while its rooftop is open year-round and affords wonderful views over the city and harbor. It's also home to a café, The Canteen, which also offers excellent views over the Solent.

Location: Broad Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: www.squaretower.co.uk

The foundation stone of Portsmouth Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury, was laid in 1185. The chancel and transepts date from Norman times, while the choir is in the late style of Sir Christopher Wren. A highlight is the south side aisle of the choir, dedicated to the Royal Navy and including mementos of the Mary Rose and Nelson's HMS Victory .

Other religious landmarks to include on your Portsmouth travel itinerary are the Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist , built in 1882, and the Royal Garrison Church . Also referred to as Domus Dei, it was built in 1212 as a hospice and almshouse.

Also worth checking out is the nearby historic 10 High Street, Buckingham House. It was here that the Duke of Buckingham was murdered in 1628.

Address: St. Thomas's Street, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: http://portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/

The Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum consists of the house where the great novelist was born in 1812, as well as many fine examples of Regency furniture that once belonged to his family. Among the memorabilia are manuscripts, copies of his novels, and his deathbed, brought here from his home in Gad's Hill Place , Kent .

Guided walking tours of Dickens' favorite Portsmouth haunts are available, as are readings of his work and other Dickens'-themed events. There's also a great little shop selling related books and souvenirs.

Address: 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: https://charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk

The twin-turreted and strangely attractive Victorian-era Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is worth visiting for its extensive collections of art and craftwork. Another big draw is the museum's large collection of material related to Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the hugely popular Sherlock Holmes character.

Highlights include details of the author's early life as a doctor in Portsmouth, along with exhibits pertaining to the many incarnations of Sherlock in film and theater. Also of interest is a permanent exhibition dealing with the story of the city, portraying daily life from the 17th century onwards through models, regalia, photos, and videos.

In summer, spend some time in the charming gardens as you indulge in a snack from the museum's café. There's also a well-stocked shop on the premises.

Address: Museum Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Official site: https://portsmouthmuseum.co.uk

Southsea, just a few miles east of downtown Portsmouth, is a popular suburb of Portsmouth and boasts a lovely three-mile-long promenade offering excellent views across to the Isle of Wight. It was in fact here that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle practiced as a doctor when he wrote his first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet .

Southsea Beach is a popular spot for families and sunbathers to spend time. Southsea Castle , built by Henry VIII in the 16th century, contains a number of exhibits connected with the city's history from Tudor times to the Victorian era. From the castle walls, there's a superb view across the Solent to Spitbank Fort .

Southsea Pier is easily accessible from the beach and is also worth a visit. If you're planning on visiting the D-Day Story, pop into the adjacent Southsea Rock Gardens , a very leasant green space overlooking Southsea Beach.

Other things to do in Southsea include visiting Cumberland House Natural History Museum, with exhibits devoted to the flora and fauna of the sea, and exploring the Eastney Beam Engine House. This impressive Victorian building contains a pair of restored 1887 Boulton Watt beam engines and pumps. Also check out Fort Cumberland, a pentagonal-shaped stronghold constructed in 1746.

Location: Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Just a few miles northeast of Portsmouth is Stansted Park. This spectacular 1,800-acre parkland area features an arboretum, walled gardens, and an ancient chapel, and is well worth adding to your travel itinerary. A variety of easy-to-follow walks are available for visitors to explore.

The Christopher Wren-style Stansted House dates to the 17th century and contains the Bessborough collection of paintings and family furnishings, including early 18th-century paintings. There's also a café serving a great afternoon tea in an old restored glasshouse.

Location: Stansted Park, Rowland's Castle, Hampshire

Official site: www.stanstedpark.co.uk

Luxury Hotels :

• Located right on the oceanfront by the South Parade Pier, the Seacrest Hotel is a family-owned hotel with real character. The rooms and suites have charming vintage style and comfy beds. Book the rooms on the third floor for ocean views. The hotel is pet friendly, if you're traveling with a dog. It also has free parking.
• Florence Suites Boutique Hotel is part of The Mercer Collection, which has other properties in town. The rooms are spacious with modern country decor and comfortable beds. A complimentary breakfast is served in the restaurant each morning. There is a sun terrace with outdoor furnishing for nice days. Spa services including massages can be arranged.
• The 4-star Portsmouth Marriott Hotel has lots of amenities including a swimming pool, hot tub restaurant, workout room, and a spa. It isn't the world's most luxe hotel, but the rooms and suites are clean and comfortable with large windows and bold pops of color. It is also dog friendly.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• The Somerset House Boutique Hotel is walking distance from Southsea Beach and a nice mid-range choice. The hotel features Edwardian-style decor in its spacious rooms and suites. The beds are comfy and draped with Egyptian cotton sheets. Breakfast is included, the property is dog-friendly, and spa services are available.
• For an eclectic sleep, try the G! Boutique Hotel , which has quirky, art-focused rooms and suites - one features a round bed and a Jacuzzi tub set on raised red tiles beneath a cherry red lip sculpture. Rates include a full breakfast.
• The Queens Hotel is a landmark property done up in Edwardian Baroque style. Rooms are spacious with period decor including four-poster beds, upholstered chairs, and heavy drapes. There is an on-site restaurant, and room service is offered.

Budget Hotels :

• Premier Inn Southsea is a top budget pick. The clean and comfortable rooms have a purple and white color scheme, and some feature ocean views. There are family room options if you are traveling with kids. Amenities include a restaurant and access to the beach.
• In the Southsea area, the Hotel ibis Budget Portsmouth is a 10-minute walk from Fratton Station. They offer tidy rooms with triple, double, or twin beds that work well for families or groups of travelers. Kids stay free.
• For a pet-friendly budget hotel the Travelodge Portsmouth works. It has cheerful rooms with white linen-clad beds and desks. There is a vending machine but no restaurant. Parking is free.

More on England

27 Fun Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH

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Looking for the best things to do in Portsmouth, NH? You’ve got a fun time ahead of you! Portsmouth is one of our favorite cities in New England, and it’s indisputably the coolest city in New Hampshire.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire is located on the Piscataqua River and borders the state of Maine. It’s the oldest settlement in NH, dating back to 1623, and features many 17th and 18th century houses and buildings. The architecture is a joy to behold.

But that’s not all. Portsmouth is full of some of the best boutique shopping in the Granite State (no sales tax in NH!), along with excellent restaurants, fun bars and breweries, and several top-notch museums and historic homes.

Here are some of the most fun things to do in Portsmouth NH — you’re going to love it here!

This post was most recently updated in May 2023.

Table of Contents

Travel to Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Some of the best things to do in Portsmouth, NH include exploring the shops of Market Square , visiting some of the historic homes , and enjoying the views at Prescott Park . 

You could explore Portsmouth in a day, but take a few days to really get to know it and explore the surrounding Seacoast.

Portsmouth is an hour’s drive or a 90-minute bus ride from Boston. It’s right off 95 and close to Amtrak connections at Dover.

Take the kids for an educational day at Strawbery Banke Museum or, in the summer, ride the waterslides at Water Country !

Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth is one of the safest cities in New Hampshire and it’s a great place to vacation. It’s a very walkable city with large sidewalks for pedestrians. Portsmouth is a popular tourist destination and has that New England Charm that people search for. 

Downtown Portsmouth is very quaint. It’s lined with boutiques, excellent restaurants , fun bars , and cafes. It’s the perfect place to walk around aimlessly and enjoy the architecture while doing some window shopping. You won’t have a hard time finding a good place to eat either and there are many restaurants on the water, too. 

Explore Market Square 

The cultural heart of Portsmouth is Market Square. Located in the center of downtown and surrounded by stunning 17th-century buildings, Market Square is filled with great shops, restaurants, cafes, and boutiques where you can find the perfect New Hampshire souvenir.

So which shops on Market Square are worth visiting? We love so many of them. Gus & Ruby Letterpress is full of beautiful stationery sets. Off Piste is full of strange and quirky gifts that will make you giggle. Market Square Jewelers has vintage estate jewelry that will take your breath away.

Around the corner from the square, the Book & Bar is our favorite place to find a new read with a coffee or a beer. Macro Polo is the coolest toy store around. And Stonewall Kitchen is a great spot to sample New England’s most famous jams and sauces!

And we’ve barely scraped the tip of the iceberg. Market Square rocks!

Visit Portsmouth’s Historic Homes

If you love walking around a town and taking in colorful historic homes, you’re going to love Portsmouth! One of the best free things to do in Portsmouth, just walking around and taking photos can be great entertainment.

The Warner House , also known as the Macpheadris-Warner House, is now a museum. It was built from 1716 to 1718, making it the oldest brick house in northern New England. It was originally built for Captain Archibald Macpheadris and housed six generations of extended family.

During that time, daughter Mary Macpheadris Osborne refurnished the house into the most chic decor of the time. In 1932, the house was purchased and became a museum, just before an oil company tried to buy the house to tear it down for a gas station. It was a close call!

Admission to the Warner House is $10 for adults, with senior and children discounts available.

The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion is located right on the water of Little Harbor and was built in the 18th century. To this day, it is the only surviving residence of a Royal Governor in the United States. Guided tours are free, but donations are appreciated.

The mansion has 40 different rooms that were designed to be the home, office, and farm for Royal l Governor Benning Wentworth. The mansion was later owned by J. Templeman Coolidge, who donated it to the State of New Hampshire in 1954. There is also a great 1.5-mile walk along Little Harbor Trail that offers views of Portsmouth and the ocean. Outdoor tours are free and open to the public.

The Moffatt-Ladd House , also known as the William Whipple House, is a National Historic Landmark. It was the home of Revolutionary War General William Whipple who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It has been a museum since 1912. Both the house and garden are open for guided tours, which cost $10 per adult.

Portsmouth Historical Society 

The Portsmouth Historical Society was founded in 1917 to preserve and share the history of Portsmouth through exhibitions, programs, and more. Here you can visit a historic home, take in exhibits, and join historic tours around the city.

The John Paul Jones House, named after the American Revolution her who rented a room here in 1777, is a national historic landmark that was built in 1758. Since 1920 it’s been a museum, sharing Portsmouth’s history with everyone.

And this isn’t dusty, old history. You can join a tour of Portsmouth’s too-often-overlooked queer history or learn about the women of Portsmouth who defied gender stereotypes and made history.

Admission is $10 to the Portsmouth Historical Society OR the Paul Jones House or $15 for both. You can also add on a walking tour for a combined total of $25 per adult. There are also special family rates and discounts for seniors and kids. See all admission info here.

Prescott Park

Prescott Park is Portsmouth’s best public park, located right on the water. There are over 10 acres of land with gardens, walkways, places to sit, and areas for recreation.

We love enjoying Prescott Park throughout the year. Spring brings the best flowers and fall brings the best foliage! Free tours of Prescott Park are offered on summer Fridays at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, starting at the Liberty Pole.

T he Park puts on concerts throughout the year through the Prescott Park Arts Festival. When you plan your Portsmouth trip, we recommend taking a look at the schedule! And if you’re local, they have season passes.

See a Show at the Music Hall

The Music Hall is Portsmouth’s most legendary music venue, and way more than just musical performances take place here. You can find theatrical shows, comedy sets, film screenings, and literary readings in addition to music performances of all kinds.

Be sure to check the calendar during your visit to see what shows are coming up next!

Black Heritage Trail

Many travelers are surprised to learn that Portsmouth’s Black history is rich and vibrant, but historians know that Portsmouth is extensive and well-documented. The Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail is one of our favorite things to do in Portsmouth, NH. The tour aims to bring awareness to African American history, especially as it pertains to New Hampshire. 

It honors and tells the story of African Americans in Portsmouth, beginning with the enslaved through the present day, and puts on tours, exhibits, programs, and more.

We recommend joining one of the excellent Sankofa guided tours if you can.

Otherwise, you can do it on your own. There are 24 sites around Portsmouth you can explore on your own self-guided tour. There is a PDF map you can download that will point out all of the important spots along the trail. You can find that information here.

African Burying Ground 

The African Burying Ground , located on Chestnut Street in downtown Portsmouth, was once the burying ground for the enslaved and free Blacks of Portsmouth in the 1700s. Today, it’s a memorial park that honors the hundreds of people laid to rest.

Chestnut Street was once considered the outskirts of town and as the city grew, the African Burying Ground was paved and built over. In 2003, the city found skeletal remains of people in this area, which led to a project that would honor those hundreds of lives. In the end, the memorial park “We Stand in Honor of Those Forgotten” was created which is the permanent resting place for the people buried beneath it. 

It’s one of the only known burying sites of Africans during this era in New England — making it all the more important to remember and acknowledge these people’s lives.

Strawbery Banke Museum

One of the most popular things to do in Portsmouth, NH is Strawbery Banke Museum — affectionately called the Banke by locals. Located in the oldest neighborhood in New Hampshire, known as Puddle Dock, the museum is an indoor/outdoor exhibit on 10 acres of land and aims to share the history of early English settlers in Portsmouth. 

The guides at Strawbery Banke are excellent — it’s a living museum depicting the 1600s through the 1900s, so they’re costumed and actually in character. Ask a guide if you can take a photo and you might hear, “I don’t have time for an oil painting, but I could accommodate a quick sketch.”

When visiting the museum, you’ll have the chance to tour historic houses, chat with the role-playing guides, explore the area, and see what life in an early New England colony looked like.

Admission to the museum is $23 for adults and $10 for children 5 and above. The purchase of a ticket allows you to visit for two consecutive days if you’d like more time in the museum. 

Strawbery Banke is closed during the winter months — but Puddle Duck Pond, on the museum’s grounds, is open for ice-skating!

Portsmouth Harbor Trail 

The Portsmouth Harbor Trail winds through the city, taking you past 70 places of either historic or scenic significance. 10 of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings and there are 10 National Historic Landmarks.

Walking along the Portsmouth Harbor Trail is a great way to get in some exercise, explore the history, and see much of the city. Along the trail, you’ll see sites like the Portsmouth Athenaeum, USS Albacore, Memorial Bridge, Warner House, and much more.

You can take a guided tour of the trail starting at the Market Square Kiosk at 1:00 PM each day. The tour costs $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 8 to 14. The total walking distance is about 1 mile. 

Go on a Bike Tour of Portsmouth

If you’re up for an active way to explore Portsmouth, consider going on a bike tour. It’s also a great way to view more the city in a shorter amount of time.

There are tons of bike tours to choose from, from city tours to tours exploring the coast and islands, and they’ll all take you to different locations around Portsmouth. We ourselves are partial to tours of the coast and islands for the gorgeous views and low-traffic riding.

For an urban tour of the neighborhoods and street art of Portsmouth, this Portsmouth bike tour is perfect .

If you’re looking to bike through wooded trails in nature reserves near Portsmouth, this tour is great for you.

If you want to explore the islands, coastline, and harbor, this is an excellent local-led bike tour .

And if you’d rather just rent a bike on your own and do a self-guided bike tour, you can book that here.

Visit Breweries

If you’re a beer aficionado in the least, you are going to love New Hampshire breweries! Portsmouth has some of our favorite breweries. Each Portsmouth brewery has its own personality and vibe — as well as many tasty beers.

Earth Eagle Brewings has an outdoor beer garden and indoor seating. You’ll find a selection of European-style beers as well as typical IPAs and APAs, in addition to cocktails and wine if you’re not a beer drinker. They sell burgers and hot dogs — also known as the “cow hampsha” menu and the “dog house” menu (with veggie versions too).

Great Rhythm Brewing Company overlooks North Mill Pond in Portsmouth and is one of our favorite breweries to visit on a nice day. Here the beer menu features lots of IPAs and some truly excellent sours; the music-loving owners always have a great playlist going.

Liars Bench Beer Co is located in an old plumbing supply warehouse with cans that look like pieces of art. The tap menu is small but features a variety of beers, including IPAs, stouts, and pilsners. There is a great snack-and-hot-dog menu and the tables are great for socializing.

Loaded Question Brewing Company has both a patio and taproom for your enjoyment, along with a frequently rotating menu of new and fun beers. You can choose from a few appetizers if you’re hungry, and the brewery allows outside food, too!

Portsmouth Brewery has been open for 30 years and is a good option if you want a restaurant that doubles as a brewery. There is a ton of seating here, including outdoors, so don’t worry about finding a spot. You’ll find ales, lagers, and IPAs among other options on the tap menu.

Read More: The Best New Hampshire Breweries

Go on a Brewery Tour in a VW Bus

If you’re a beer fan who loves a good Instagram photo, consider a brewery tour that will take you to various breweries around Portsmouth. And it’s in a bright yellow VW bus!

This top-rated brewery tour will bring you in a vintage VW bus to three breweries in and around Portsmouth. This is an excellent way to try out lots of breweries without worrying about driving!

Note that this tour includes the transportation and guiding, but you need to pay for your own tastings — $10-12 at each brewery. You can see more here.

Visit Wineries

Not much of a beer drinker? Go for wine! Southern New Hampshire has quite a few wineries today, something that was inconceivable 20 years ago. You can enjoy wine right in two or go to a vineyard outside town.

LaBelle Winery is located in the heart of Market Square and is a great wine-tasting location. The wine is made in Amherst, New Hampshire, close to Nashua, but their Portsmouth showroom is a great place to do some tasting.

Squamscott Winery , home of Blue Heron Wines, is located in Newfields, New Hampshire, about a 20-minute drive from Portsmouth. You can truly have the vine to wine experience at this winery because you’ll sip great wine just feet from the vineyard. Enjoy the beautiful property and the 12 acres of fields along the Squamscott River.

Browse books with a beverage at the Book & Bar 

Who doesn’t love a good bookstore with a cafe right in it? The Book & Bar goes one step further and has several beers on tap. Enjoy a good book with your latte, chardonnay, or IPA. There are also small plates and appetizers to choose from. 

Book & Bar hosts live music, poetry, and community events. It’s a great place to grab a drink, get some work done, curl up with a good book, and/or listen to some live music. You might even meet someone!

After a few tumultuous years, the Book & Bar has opened to the public again, primarily keeping evening hours. We’re glad they’re back, as sitting back with a beer and a book is one of our favorite things to do in Portsmouth, NH.

USS Albacore Museum 

The USS Albacore Museum is situated on a retired research submarine in Portsmouth . When it was active from 1953 to 1972, the the US Navy used it to test features that are now found on most modern submarines. 

Visitors can go inside the submarine and explore the bunk rooms, control room, and all aspects of the submarine to see what life was like underwater. It was originally built at the Portsmouth Naval Yard, which makes it all the more poetic to be honored here in town.

Tickets to the museum cost $11 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 14. Tours are self-guided with various audio stations aboard the ship where you can learn about the submarine and hear stories from previous crew members. 

Enjoy Brunch at the Friendly Toast

No matter how old we get, we love the Friendly Toast . This classic Portsmouth restaurant is like a vintage diner from the future — almost like the kind of place the Jetsons would go.

Here you’ll find creative breakfast and lunch options, along with donut sandwiches and breakfast tacos. There are also mimosas, Bloody Marys, and other brunch cocktails on the menu. They serve until 3:00 PM, so this is strictly a breakfast-and-lunch spot.

We love popping into the Friendly Toast when we need a break from shopping around Market Square.

Read More: Our Favorite Portsmouth NH Restaurants

Take a Cruise to the Isles of Shoals 

Did you know New Hampshire has islands you can visit? Indeed it does! The Isles of Shoals are located just a few miles off the coast between New Hampshire and Maine. The islands have been inhabited for more than 400 years, first by small communities and now mostly private homes and a few hotels. 

The Isles of Shoals Steamboat Company can take you on a cruise along the islands. You can even take a guided tour on Star Island. You’ll see 400 years’ worth of history and learn some interesting facts about the people that once inhabited this land.

The Isles of Shoals cruise with a walking tour of of Star Island costs $39 for adults and $29 for children. 

Peirce Island

Owned by the city of Portsmouth, Peirce Island is a 27-acre island full of history . It’s connected to the mainland by the Peirce Island Bridge and it’s also connected to Four Tree Island. 

There is a ton to do on the scenic island. You’ll find an outdoor pool, trails, playgrounds, cliffs, tidal pools, and more. Pierce Island has a ton of history and was the former site of Fort Washington, named after George Washington, from 1775 to the early 1800s. 

The outdoor pool was built in 1937 and still runs today. It costs $2 for residents and $4 for non-residents to use. The island itself is free to visit and very accessible.

Catch a show at Seacoast Repertory Theatre 

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre , also known as The Rep, is a nonprofit theater in downtown Portsmouth. It regularly puts on shows with performers from all over New England.

There are tons of shows going on at The Rep and you’ll most likely find a show playing during your time in Portsmouth. Be sure to check out  the calendar  to view all the performances.

Tickets to a show at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre costs anywhere from $10 to $50 depending on the chosen seat. You can also choose to purchase the live stream of a show — cheaper, yes, and good for people who want to stay home, but there’s nothing like watching a show at The Rep itself for the full experience. 

Portsmouth Athenaeum 

The Portsmouth Athenaeum is located right in Market Square and it’s a library, art gallery, and museum. There are less than 20 membership libraries left in America. Membership libraries were created in the 18th century for members to have access to education resources.

The Portsmouth Athenaeum has been open since 1816. For over two centuries, people have become a part of the membership library where they have access to books, history, lectures, readings, and more. 

It’s free to visit the research library and exhibition gallery.

Water Country

When the sun is blazin’ and the summer gets hot, Water Country ‘s a very cool spot! (Trust us — every millennial who grew up in New England knows that jingle by heart!)

If you have kids from school-aged through teenagers, Water Country is a must. This water park has pools, rides, slides, and activity areas for the whole family to enjoy.

Water Country is definitely catered towards kids, so know that before you go. If you love waterparks, by all means go — just expect kids to be running around everywhere! Single day passes start at $35. See all ticket info here .

Water Country is a great option for cooling off in Portsmouth, but there are many other places you can cool off instead like the outdoor pool on Peirce Island or one of the beaches on the Seacoast.

Read More: The Best New Hampshire Water Parks

Shop the Outlets in Kittery

If you’re looking to shop on your trip to Portsmouth, don’t miss the Kittery Outlets . These shops are in Kittery, technically in southern Maine, just over the border from Portsmouth.

You can drive from Portsmouth to the Kittery Outlets in just 10 minutes. Just remember that Maine does have sales tax, whereas New Hampshire does not. Even so, your highly discounted outlet purchases could save you a lot more money overall. Though we recommend you check out the New Hampshire outlets , too!

There are tons of stores at the Kittery Outlets worth checking out for a great deal. Stores are open daily but may have differing hours. It’s perfect for school shopping, retail therapy, or killing time. You’ll definitely leave with more than you need but for a good price!

Read More: The Best Outlets in New Hampshire

While in Portsmouth if you have extra time, you should consider visiting Rye. This beautiful Seacoast town is only about a 15-minute drive from Portsmouth, featuring gorgeous views and amazing mansions.

Rye has 17 miles of coastline, and you can drive along the coast on Route 1A. We think this is one of the most scenic drives in New Hampshire! There are a ton of fun outdoor options including a state park, a state beach, and a place to whale watch. You can even surf here!

Rye is full of luxury homes and mansions and it’s a great place to explore aimlessly. You can enjoy ocean views while marveling at the stunning houses on the water. The laid-back and inviting atmosphere makes it a great place to spend a few hours. 

Go on a Portsmouth Scavenger Hunt

If you’re looking for some fun and adventure while visiting Portsmouth, consider a scavenger hunt! This Po rtsmouth Scavenger Hunt will bring you on a walking tour to some of the best landmarks in the city, sharing hidden gems and trivia.

You buy the scavenger hunt online and you can do it alone or with a group (or even compete with your friends). Each player will also have an interactive role in the game with different challenges. It’s such a unique way to explore a city.

The Portsmouth scavenger hunt costs $12.31. Not a bad price for a fun adventure around the city. Definitely consider doing this when visiting Portsmouth!

Take a Self-Guided Haunted Walking Tour 

If you’re into the spooky side of travel, consider a haunted walking tour in Portsmouth. Like the scavenger hunt, the Haunted Portsmouth Tour is something you download online and explore at your own pace.

This self-guided haunted Portsmouth tour will have you download an app and explore at your own pace. You’ll hear stories about the spooky places you visit throughout Portsmouth, and who knows, maybe you’ll even see a ghost for yourself!

The haunted tour is an affordable price , and a fun and different way to spend your time. You can do it with a group or solo and this is a nice thing to do if you’ve already been to Portsmouth before. 

Head to the Beach

While there is no public beach in Portsmouth, there are plenty in the surrounding towns. One of our favorite things to do in Portsmouth, NH during the summer months is spending a day on the beach, dipping your toes in the sand and relaxing for a while.

Just be aware that the ocean in New Hampshire doesn’t really begin to warm up until August or early September. Even though it’s very warm outside in July and even June, it’s most likely too cold to swim. You can try, but you might lose your breath for a second!

Some of our favorite NH beaches in the surrounding area include Wallis Sands State Beach (10-minute drive from Portsmouth), Hampton Beach (25-minute drive), North Hampton State Beach (20-minute drive), and Jenness Beach (15-minute drive).

Read More: The Best Beaches in New Hampshire

Take a Tea Blending Class

One of our favorite unusual things to do in Portsmouth, NH is taking a tea blending class ! The class lasts 1.5 hours and is a very enjoyable and unique experience.

The class is led by a clinical herbalist who will teach you about the benefits of different herbs. You’ll also learn what herbs are right for you and how to blend the perfect mixture for your needs. 

The tea blending class costs $75 per person. It includes both coffee and tea. You’ll get to make your own custom tea blend and take it home with you.

Where to Stay in Portsmouth

The best place to stay in Portsmouth is right in the heart of downtown, preferably close to Market Square.  Most of the things to do and places to see in the city are downtown so it’ll make getting around super easy. You can use Portsmouth’s North Church as a geographic landmark to target.

Below are the top spots to consider staying in Portsmouth:

Our Favorite Luxury Hotel in Portsmouth: The Sailmaker’s House — Located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, this boutique hotel is historic yet modern and embodies the Portsmouth atmosphere SO well. We think it’s a great spot for a special occasion.

Our Favorite Mid-Range Hotel in Portsmouth: Hilton Garden Inn — Close to the center of town Market Square, this may be a big-box hotel but it has quality amenities, not to mention TWO swimming pools.

Our Favorite Budget Hotel in Portsmouth: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth — You’ll need to drive to downtown Portsmouth (or walk for 30 minutes), but this is the best budget hotel of the bunch, clean and comfortable for a decent price.

These are just a few of the top options — we recommend checking out our Portsmouth, NH hotels guide for the full list of recommendations.

Our Full Guide: Where to Stay in Portsmouth, NH

How Much Time to Spend in Portsmouth, NH

How much time do you need for Portsmouth?  Portsmouth is a popular day trip, and justifiably so, but we think Portsmouth works better as a weekend destination. Two or three days are perfect.

In that time, dive into Portsmouth’s dining scene, do a lot of shopping, explore the historic sites, and get out to explore the Seacoast as well. If you’re visiting during the summer, definitely get some beach time in, too!

How to Get to Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth is conveniently located within New England.  It’s right on I-95 and only one hour’s drive from Boston and a 50-minute drive from Portland, Maine.

Portsmouth also has public transportation access. Greyhound buses stop in Portsmouth between Boston and the Maine coast. And while Amtrak does not have a stop in Portsmouth, there is a stop in Dover, about an 18-minute drive from Portsmouth.

Do you need a car in Portsmouth? Not if you’re sticking to downtown Portsmouth. Downtown is very walkable and Uber can help you out when you need an occasional longer trip. But if you plan on exploring the New Hampshire Seacoast, as well as southern Maine, you’ll be very glad to have a car.

If you bring your car to Portsmouth, there are parking garages throughout the city. We usually park in the Hanover Street Garage, which is centrally located and has especially good rates on the weekend.

Best Time to Visit Portsmouth, NH

If you’re a New Englander, you know — we get all four seasons intensely, and the weather can change on a dime. Portsmouth is no exception to this rule! While Portsmouth is a year-round city, some times are better than others.

Summer is a glorious time to visit Portsmouth. The weather is beautiful, flowers are in bloom, you don’t need a jacket, there are concerts in Prescott Park, and lots of restaurants offer outdoor dining. Summer is this busiest time of year in Portsmouth, and prices are at their highest.

Fall is another wonderful time to visit Portsmouth, with blazing blue skies and milder temperatures. One great thing to do in Portsmouth in the fall is to take a fall foliage cruise up the Piscataqua River, enjoying the same scenery with a blush of reds and oranges.

Winter in Portsmouth is cold, and there is often snow and ice. Portsmouth’s coastal location keeps snowfall to a minimum, a far cry from the rest of the Granite State. But what Portsmouth lacks in snow it more than makes up for in wind! Portsmouth’s winter winds are chilly and biting.

That said, you might enjoy a winter getaway to Portsmouth if you don’t mind that wind, more limited restaurant options and hours. Portsmouth is at its cheapest during the winter months.

Spring is more of a gamble in New Hampshire, in part because winter lasts well into April and it can feel summery in late May. In between you have a lot of gray, rainy days. A perfect spring day in Portsmouth it like paradise — but timing your trip to that perfect day can be a gamble!

Overall, we recommend visiting Portsmouth during the summer or fall months for maximum enjoyment of what the city has to offer. We especially recommend June, September, and October for a quieter, less busy atmosphere.

Is Portsmouth Worth It?

Absolutely! Portsmouth is SO worth it!  It’s one of our favorite places in all of New Hampshire.

Whether you come to Portsmouth on a day trip, steal away for a weekend getaway, or even put down roots for longer, you’ll enjoy spending your time in New Hampshire’s coolest city.

More on Portsmouth NH:

• 9 Best Restaurants in Portsmouth, NH
• 13 Best Bars in Portsmouth, NH
• Where to Stay in Portsmouth, NH
• 7 Best Bakeries in Portsmouth

More on the Seacoast:

• Where to Get The Best Breakfast in Dover NH
• 12 Best Restaurants in Dover NH
• 12 Best Restaurants in Hampton NH

Best of NH:

• 50+ Things to Do in New Hampshire (the ULTIMATE List)
• New Hampshire’s Best Breweries
• 13 Best Beaches in New Hampshire
• Best New Hampshire Water Parks
• New Hampshire Fall Foliage: When and Where To Go
• 30 Unforgettable Things To Do In The White Mountains, NH

Have you been to Portsmouth? What did you enjoy the most?

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About the author.

Kate McCulley

1 thought on “27 fun things to do in portsmouth, nh”.

Another New England town I didn’t spend NEARLY enough time in!

I stopped in Portsmouth for a couple hours on my drive from Boston to Portland and LOVED every second of walking around and soaking up the vibes. The place just oozed charm all over the place.

And I thought, I would be great to be based out of here for a few days some other glorious autumn weekend. Love your suggestions, especially the tea blending.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Things to do in Portsmouth, UK + Tips for your Visit

Last updated: June 2, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

Found on England’s south coast, around 75 miles south west of London, Portsmouth is one of the UK’s historic port cities. It has a rich maritime heritage, and has long been considered the home of the British Royal Navy. Today it is the home port for many of the fleet’s flagship vessels. As you would imagine, there are plenty of things to do in Portsmouth!

Naturally, many of the attractions revolve around the sea, but there’s plenty more to do in the city as well. Portsmouth makes for a great day trip from London, and can be reached in under two hours by train.

In this post, we’re going to share with you some of our favourite things to do in Portsmouth, to give you some ideas for what to do in the city. We’ll also share some suggested places to stay in Portsmouth, and lots of other tips to make your visit as easy as possible.

Let’s get started!

Things to do in Portsmouth

Our guide to things to do in Portsmouth has some of our favourite things to do in the city as well as all the major attractions.

As you’ll see, there’s more than enough to do here to fill more than a day in the city, so if you are visiting on a day trip we’d suggest picking a few highlights that interest you and focusing on those.

In terms of orientation, the majority of the maritime and naval attractions are located at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard . These can easily be visited together (with most covered by a joint ticket ) and you could in fact spend just the full day here.

As these are the most popular attractions, we’ve highlighted them at the start of our list of things to do in Portsmouth.

HMS Victory

As already mentioned, the first few sites in our guide to things to do in Portsmouth are related to maritime history, for which Portsmouth is rightfully well known.

Perhaps the most famous of these sites is HMS Victory. HMS Victory, launched in 1765, was the flagship of Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar, one of the most well known British naval engagements.

In this battle, which took place during the Napoleonic Wars, the British fleet engaged the French and Spanish fleets off the coast of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean. The battle was decisive, with the French and Spanish fleet losing twenty-two of their thirty-three ships.

The British fleet suffered no loss of ships in this battle, although both sides suffered mortalities. Most famously, Lord Nelson was struck by a bullet and died before the end of the battle.

Following the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Victory returned to the UK carrying Nelson’s body. She was considered too badly damaged to be worth repairing for combat duties, and ended up fulfilling a variety of less than glorious roles, including being used as a prison ship and a storage depot.

She was nearly entirely dismantled in 1831, but public opinion prevented this from happening. Instead, she opened for limited visitors, and two visits by Princess Victoria in the 1840s further bolstered her appeal as a visitor attraction.

Unfortunately, rising visitor numbers and limited maintenance budget meant that her condition continued to deteriorate, and she nearly entirely sank beneath the waves in 1887, which would have been an ignominious end to a beautiful ship.

Thankfully, this didn’t happen. A major public appeal in the early 1920s led to funds being raised to save her, and she was moved to the No 2. dock in Portsmouth. A major restoration process started, which continued for many years.

Today, HMS Victory is open to visitors, and is one of the most popular attractions in Portsmouth. Over 350,000 people visit her each year. She’s also the flagship of the First Sea Lord, so is technically still in service, making her the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

We think a visit to HMS Victory is a must when visiting Portsmouth. The ship is set up as it would have been in 1805, just prior to the Battle of Trafalgar.

When you visit, you’ll be able to see and get a feel for what life would have been like for the sailors and officers who lived aboard would have been like. You’ll also be able to see the location where Nelson died, which is marked by a small plaque.

HMS Victory is open year round except for 24th – 26th December. There’s a fee to visit, and you can buy your individual entry ticket online in advance here .

If you plan on visiting a few of the naval attractions, you can save money by booking a Historic Dockyard Ultimate Explorer Ticket . This give you access to a number of the naval attractions in Portsmouth, and is great value for money.

HMS Warrior

Continuing the theme of naval warships, HMS Warrior is another vessel you can visit during your time in Portsmouth.

Launched almost 100 years after HMS Victory, a visit to both of these vessels will let you see the pace of change that shipbuilding technologies were undergoing.

In particular, the materials used to build ships, and the means of propulsion, underwent significant changes in the intervening century. Where HMS Victory was a wooden ship powered by sail, HMS Warrior was a steam powered ship built out of iron, with sails as an optional propulsion mechanism.

The scale of the ships is also quite different. HMS Warrior was over twice the size of Victory, yet carried fewer men.

In terms of service, HMS Warrior never saw action. Shipbuilding technologies started to move so fast that within twenty years of her construction she was already obsolete, and replaced by newer, faster and larger ships.

Much like HMS Victory, Warrior too had a number of years fulfilling a variety of less than glamorous roles, from being used for general storage to an oil jetty.

It was only in the late 1960s that the value of HMS Warrior, one of the first ironclad warships, was recognized, and efforts were started to preserve her for future generations.

Following a lengthy period of restoration, HMS Warrior opened as a museum ship in 1987, and has been welcoming visitors ever since. It’s open every day except the 24 – 26th December, and you can see full opening times here .

As with HMS Victory, HMS Warrior is in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. You can buy an individual ticket for entry, but we would highly recommend the Historic Dockyard Ultimate Explorer Ticket , which offers significant cost savings over individual tickets. It’s also cheaper booked in advance online.

National Museum of the Royal Navy

As the name suggests, the National Museum of the Royal Navy is the main museum in the UK dedicated to the history of the UK’s oldest armed service.

The Royal Navy has a history which dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and the reign of Henry VIII. As the UK is surrounded by water, a strong ocean going armed force has always been a vital part of British defensive and offensive capabilities.

If you want to learn all about everything to do with the Royal Navy, including its full history, notable battles and present day capabilities and activities, then the National Museum of the Royal Navy is the place to come.

The museum is spread across three historic buildings which overlook HMS Victory. They have a wide range of exhibits, dating from the age of sail up to the present day. There’s also a permanent exhibit of the original topsail from HMS Victory, flown during the Battle of Trafalgar.

This is an excellent museum which is well worth visiting if you have an interest in naval history and ships in general.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is open every day except the 24th – 26th December. You can see opening hours here . Again, there’s a fee to visit, and it’s also better value if you buy an advanced entry ticket here .

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

All of the attractions listed above thus far are located in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard .

This is actually a part of the Portsmouth Naval Base which is open to the public, and contains a great many attractions and activities that could easily fill a whole day.

As well as the three key sites outlined above, which we feel are the highlights, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is also home to the following attractions.

• HMS M33 – A World War I monitor vessel, designed for coastal bombardment
• HMS Alliance, the Royal Navy’s only surviving WW2 era submarine
• Action Stations – an large indoor attraction which focuses on physical and mental challenges, including rock climbing walls, simulators, and games
• Harbour Tours – these tours take you out into the waters around the Historic Dockyard, where you’ll see some of the active naval vessels in harbour, as well as various Portsmouth sights.
• Boathouse 4 – used during WW2 as a boat building yard, and used today to teach boat building skills
• Explosion Museum of Naval firepower – a museum found in the Royal Navy’s former Ordnance Depot which tells the story of munitions
• The Dockyard Apprentice – a museum covering 200 years of boatbuilding history, as seen through the eyes of dockyard workers
• Temporary Exhibitions – there are often temporary exhibitions here. For example.  on our more recent visit there was an excellent exhibition on the Battle of Jutland.

Note that depending on the time of year, different attractions will have different opening times and some are seasonal.

I personally was very pleased with my prowess of the climbing wall in Action Stations, and we think kids in particular will love visiting Action Stations in general. We also both really enjoyed the harbour tour boat ride.

The majority of the above attractions do require a ticket for admission. For the most part they are all included on the Historic Dockyard Ultimate Explorer Ticket . Some specific attractions like the Laser Quest experience (at Action Stations) have an additional fee.

The Historic Dockyard also has a range of food options, including cafes and a restaurant. There are also three picnic areas on site if you prefer to bring your own food.

Naturally, there are gift shops on site if you want to bring back a memento from your visit – in fact, there are four! There’s a lot of choice, so don’t forget to include some time to visit these.

Finally, if you are travelling by car, there is paid parking available on site. You can read about how to find this and applicable charges on the official website here .

Mary Rose Museum

The Mary Rose was the pride of Henry VIII’s English navy when she was launched in 1511. She was one of the largest warships in the English navy at the time and served through three decades of conflict.

She sank in battle in 1545 with a loss of nearly all those on board, although the exact cause of her sinking remains unknown. It is theorised that a gust of wind may have caused her to lean too far over, causing water to flood through her open gunports, leading in turn to a catastrophic flooding event that rapidly caused her to sink.

This would have possibly been exacerbated by her being heavily loaded with armaments beyond her design that would have added to the instability.

Whatever the precise reason for her sinking, which was not believed to be a result of enemy action, the Mary Rose was under the waters of the Solent with a loss of nearly four hundred lives.

Shortly after the sinking, a proposal was made to salvage the Mary Rose. However, the technologies of the 16th century did not lend themselves well to the recovery option, and other than some of the guns, rigging, and other items, the bulk of the wreck stayed where it was.

The wreck of the Mary Rose was rediscovered in the mid 19th century by a number of fisherman. This sparked public interest, and efforts were made to recover the wreck. However, these efforts also failed.

It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that efforts were once again started to recover the Mary Rose. Her exact location was unknown, and it took a number of years for the exact site to be discovered.

The massive task of raising the Mary Rose then began, a project that took a great deal of time, money, and expertise to accomplish. Raising a 16th century warship after 400 years lying underwater was, as you might imagine, not a trivial exercise.

The good news is that it was indeed successful. From 1983 onwards, the Mary Rose was open as a visitor attraction. Over the years, the museum has expanded and refined the experience, and as of 2013 a brand new museum building was built over the dry dock where the Mary Rose is kept.

Now you can experience the Mary Rose in as pristine an environment as is possible. Unlike the previous experience, you are no longer completely separated by glass from the vessel itself. You’ll learn all about the ship, it’s design and construction, theories as to how and why it sank, as well as details of the recovery effort.

The Mary Rose museum is accessed through the Portsmouth Historical Dockyard, but is a separate attraction that requires its own ticket to visit. The ticket office is at the entrance to the Dockyard. You can save money and skip the ticket lines by booking your ticket in advance here . If you are visiting a number of attractions, it’s also included on the Historic Dockyard Ultimate Explorer Ticket .

The Mary Rose museum is open every day with the exception of 24 – 26 December. You can see full opening times and visitor information on the official website here .

Spinnaker Tower

If you want to get a great view of Portsmouth and her surrounds, then you’ll want to head to the Spinnaker Tower.

This 560ft (170m) high tower is one of the highest structures outside of London that is open to the public for views. There are three viewing levels, with the lowest at 100 metres above the ground.

This one offers panoramic views of the city, and also has a large glass floor you can stand on if you’re feeling brave!

We loved going up the Spinnaker tower and taking in the views, which are expansive. On a clear day, like we had, you can see for 23 miles, all the way out to the Isle of Wight .

You can book your Spinnaker Tower ticket online in advance here . With your ticket, you can visit the tower as many times in a single day as you like.

The tower is open every day, and there are two cafe’s on site, one at ground level, and one on the middle viewing deck. You can see full opening times here .

There’s a viewing guarantee too – if you can’t see all three Solent forts, then you can revisit within three months for free, which we think is pretty cool.

Finally, you can save money if you plan on visiting the Spinnaker Tower and the Mary Rose. These tickets are not available online, but can be purchased at the ticket counter for either attraction. This is the cheapest option we found for visiting both attractions, and was the option we went for.

Portsmouth Museum

There are a number of museums in Portsmouth that are operated under the Portsmouth Museums umbrella, more of which are listed below.

The first is the titular Portsmouth Museum, which focuses on the history of the city of Portsmouth. Exhibits cover the history of the city and its people. Displays include recreations of rooms from different periods of history, as well as artefacts and objects.

There’s also an exhibit focusing on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes novels. Finally, there’s are changing exhibits and a series of artworks on display which are drawn from the museums extensive permanent collection.

Portsmouth museum is open every day except Mondays, and admission is free. You can see full opening and visitor information here .

Round Tower

As you are no doubt realising by now, Portsmouth has been an important naval base for centuries.

Naturally, such an important naval location means that Portsmouth has long been a valuable military target. As such, suitable defensive fortifications have long been a key component of the city’s make up. For a time in fact, Portsmouth was the most heavily defended city in Europe.

The Round Tower dates from the early 15th century, and was the first of Portsmouth’s permanent fortifications to be built. It was built in response to various French attacks during the 100 Years’ War , when Portsmouth was raided and burnt a number of times.

The first version of the Round Tower was built from wood, but this was replaced with a stone version in the late 15th century. The primary purpose of the tower was to defend Portsmouth harbour, and it occupied a commanding location at the mouth of the harbour entrance in order to achieve this goal.

Today, the Round Tower is operated by Portsmouth Museums. The interior is occasionally open for art exhibitions, but the roof is permanently open and offers excellent views of the harbour and surrounding area. It’s also a good place to watch ships come and go in the harbour.

Around the Round Tower you’ll find the Hotwalls Studios . These studios are found in the former derelict arches and defensive structures, and are now a thriving artistic community. This makes for an excellent place to pick up a souvenir from your visit to the city.

Monument to Australian Settlers

Portsmouth was the location from where the First Fleet of settlers set out for Australia in May 1787. These 11 ships would found the penal colony and would be the first European settlement in Australia.

In memory of this expedition, a sculpture called Bonds of Friendship was created in 1980, which symbolises the link between the UK and Australia.

The sculpture can be found on the walkway near the Square Tower, just along from the Round Tower, and there’s also a statue to Horatio Nelson nearby.

Clarence Pier

If your idea of fun includes fairground rides and attractions, you will definitely want to make a visit to Clarence Pier when you visit Portsmouth.

This is one of the largest amusement parks on the south coast of England, and offers a range of rides, amusements, and food and drink options. There are roller coasters, a ferris wheel, waltz rides, and many more attractions. Great spot for families.

Despite the name, the pier doesn’t extend out into the sea as with other piers you might be familiar with. Instead, it runs along the coast.

It’s free to visit Clarence Pier, with each ride having an individual cost. It is primarily open on weekends and during the summer months, and is largely closed from November through to the end of February.

You can see opening times and more information on the official website here .

Portsmouth Cathedral

Formally known as the Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, but more commonly known as Portsmouth Cathedral , this is one of two cathedrals in the city of Portsmouth.

Dating from 1188, the original part of Portsmouth Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was one of only two buildings to survive a French raid of Portsmouth in 1338 that destroyed much of the rest of the city.

The cathedral that exists today is somewhat different to the small medieval chapel that was first built on this spot, although some parts still survive, notably the chancel and transepts.

The majority of the rest of the building dates from the 17th century when it was greatly expanded, and also the 20th century, when it was again expanded to fit its new status as a cathedral.

Portsmouth Cathedral is an active place of worship and is open to visitors every day of the year. It is free to visit, but donations are appreciated. There are guides on site to answer any questions you might have, as well as a cathedral shop.

Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum

Arguably the most famous British writer of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812. His father was a clerk in the Royal Navy and was stationed in Portsmouth for the first three years of Dickens’ life.

For those of you with an interest in learning about Charles Dickens’ early years, as well as his life in general, the museum is a must-visit location.

The home is laid out in the same style as it would have been when he was born, and contains a number of the author’s personal possession and memorabilia. This includes the couch on which he died in Kent, many years later.

The museum is operated by Portsmouth Museums, and is primarily open from Fridays – Sundays. There’s a small fee to visit. You can see full opening times and admission here .

Guildhall Square

Right in the heart of Portsmouth is the beautiful Guild Hall building, which dates from 1890. This was originally built for the local council, and is today primarily used as an events venue, hosting weddings, concerts and conferences.

The building sits on a square where there is a large statue of Queen Victoria. It is also close to the Portsmouth Central Library, which is worth a visit as it often has exhibitions.

Blue Reef Portsmouth Aquarium

If you are visiting Portsmouth with kids, the Blue Reef Portsmouth Aquarium is a great option.

This is found further along the Clarence Esplanade from Clarence Pier, and is around a 30 minute walk from the harbour area. It’s a lovely walk, but local bus services are also available if you’d rather not walk.

The aquarium itself has over 40 displays including a large ocean tank which features an underwater walkthrough tunnel. Species on display include sharks, lobster, seahorses and tropical fish.

The aquarium also has an outdoor activity area which has a wet play zone for kids, ideal for a hot summer’s day. Blue Reef Portsmouth Aquarium is open every day of the year except Christmas Day or in exceptional circumstances. There’s a fee for visiting.

See full opening times and prices on the official website here .

Southsea Castle

Southsea Castle was built in 1544 under the reign of Henry VIII. Like the Round Tower, it was constructed in order to provide Portsmouth with enhanced defensive capabilities and protect against the threat of invasion by both the French and the Holy Roman Empire.

It is believed that when the French attacked in 1545, during the battle where the Mary Rose was sunk, that Henry himself watched proceedings from this castle.

Following the 100 Years’ War the castle entered a period of disuse, and it wasn’t until the 17th century that it saw active use again, primarily during the English Civil War. It was further upgraded during the 19th century, as a result of the Napoleonic and Crimean Wars. It was also a part of the British coastal defenses during both the first and second world wars.

By the 1960s however, the castle had outlived its usefulness and became obsolete. Still, four hundred years of service is pretty good by any standard! It was sold to Portsmouth City council who restored the building and re-opened it as a museum in 1967, as part of the Portsmouth Museums.

It remains a popular tourist attraction in Portsmouth, and is open from March to October every day except Mondays. It’s free to visit although donations are greatly appreciated to keep the site open to visitors. You can see full opening times and information for visitors on the official website here .

There is also a cafe, gift shop and microbrewery on site.

D-Day Story

On June 6th, 1944, over 150,000 troops of the Allied forces landed on the German occupied beaches of Normandy. The invading forces were supported by almost 7,000 vessels and almost 200,000 naval personnel, as well as over 11,000 aircraft.

This remains the largest seaborne invasion in history, and was the first step in liberating Europe from the Nazis. The day is often referred to as D-Day.

We’ve visited the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy , where there are a number of sites you can learn about the events of D-Day. However, Portsmouth is also home to a D-Day museum. This is more than logical, as all those troops and ships had to marshal, train and launch from somewhere, and numerous ports along the south coast of England were these launch locations.

Portsmouth specifically was the headquarters and main departure point for the Sword Beach invasion. Sword was the most easternmost of the six D-Day landing beaches, and almost 30,000 men landed here, in a force made up of British, French, Polish, and Norwegian soldiers.

As you would imagine, having coordinated such a major invasion, there are many locations in Portsmouth that were directly involved in the D-Day landings, as well as numerous people.

Their stories, and the story of D-Day itself, are told in the excellent D-Day Story museum , located near Southsea Castle. This is home to a huge array of information, as well as items from D-Day itself, including an original landing craft.

The museum also has a cafe and an excellent bookshop with a wide range of titles related to D-Day.

With some exceptions, this museum is open year round, and there’s a fee for visiting. You can book tickets online in advance here .

Visit the Isle of Wight

Last on our list of things to do in Portsmouth is a bit of a cheat, but we think it’s a fun one. Portsmouth is home to the only passenger hovercraft service in the UK, which will whisk you across to the Isle of Wight in just ten minutes.

This is both the fastest and, we would argue, the most fun way to travel to the Isle of Wight. You can book tickets for this passenger service here .

Once on the Isle of Wight, there is loads to do – see our guide to visiting the Isle of Wight , and our guide to following the Queen Victoria Trail on the Isle of Wight for some inspiration.

Of course, we’d only really suggest heading over to the Isle of Wight if you have more than a day to spend in Portsmouth.

If you do visit, we’d suggest getting around using either the Needles Breezer or the Downs Breezer – the islands two hop on hop off bus services .

Of course, if you don’t feel like going to the Isle of Wight, that’s fine too. We can however still recommend you at least take a bit of time to watch the hovercraft arrive or depart from its terminal near Clarence Pier, which is a sight you are unlikely to forget for a while!

Getting to Portsmouth

Portsmouth is on the south coast of the UK, around 75 miles south west of London. To the east are the cities of Bognor Regis and Brighton, and to the west is Southampton.

Portsmouth is well served by transport routes. A direct train service runs regularly from London, and takes around two hours.

The closest airport to Portsmouth is Southampton airport, around 20 miles away, which can be reached by train or car from Portsmouth.

There are also a number of bus companies operating services between Portsmouth and other cities in the UK, including London. These primarily depart from the Portsmouth bus interchange at The Hard, which is next to Portsmouth Harbour train station.

It’s also possible to take a guided day tour from London to Portsmouth, such as this one .

For bus and train tickets, we recommend the Trainline website , where you can book both bus and train journeys across the UK.

Getting Around Portsmouth

We found Portsmouth easiest to navigate on foot, with most of the attractions within relatively easy walking distance of each other.

However, there is also an excellent local public transport network, with buses operated by Stagecoach and First Bus. Taxis are also available, as are ride sharing services like Uber.

Tours of Portsmouth

If you would like to visit Portsmouth as part of a tour, we have found the following tours for you to consider. Most of these focus on the naval sights in the city, which is the primary reason most visitors choose to visit Portsmouth.

• A full day private tour from London of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards, including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Also includes the Mary Rose, a harbour tour, and a packed lunch.
• These guided walking tours offered by Portsmouth City council

Where to stay in Portsmouth

If you want to extend your stay in Portsmouth beyond a day trip, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from. We’ve picked some for you to consider, arranged in order of distance from the Historic Dockyard area.

• The Ship Leopard Boutique Hotel – just 3 minutes walk from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, this centrally located 4* boutique hotel offer en-suite rooms, an on-site cafe, and breakfast is included
• Royal Maritime Club – just five minutes walk from the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, this is a well reviewed 3* hotel with a restaurant on site. Rooms are en-suite, there’s a swimming pool, and breakfast is included.
• Ibis Portsmouth – a budget option near the University and central train station, around 10 minutes walk from the harbour attractions. Rooms are basic with en-suite facilities, and breakfast is available
• Ye Spotted Dog – Found just between Portsmouth Museum and Portsmouth Cathedral, this lovely 3* hotel which dates back to the 16th century has well-appointed en-suite rooms with breakfast included
• Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth Gunwharf Keys – centrally located on the Gunwharf keys, just 10 minutes from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, this 3* hotel offer en-suite accommodation and a continental breakfast is included
• The Clarence Boutique Hotel – Around 30 minutes walk from the centre of Portsmouth, the adults-only 4* Clarence Boutique hotel is close to Southsea Castle and the D-Day Story. Rooms are all en-suite and a full cooked breakfast is available. There’s also a gastro pub on site for meals.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas of the options in Portsmouth. For more ideas, see the full Portsmouth listings on booking.com here .

Further Reading

Hopefully our guide to things to do has given you lots of ideas for how to spend your time in this lovely English coastal city.

To further help you plan your time in the UK, we have written a number of other guides. Here are some we think you will find most useful.

• If you’re staying in London, you should check out our  1 day London itinerary ,  2 day London itinerary ,  3 day London itinerary  and  6 day London itinerary , which will give you plenty of ideas for how to fill your time in the UK’s capital city
• We have written about other great day trips from London, including a guide to visiting Oxford from London , a guide to taking a day trip to Stonehenge from London and our guide to things to do in Cambridge
• Cost is often a key factor when planning a trip. See our guide to  how much it costs to travel in the UK  to help out
• If you’re planning on renting a car in the UK, we have some  tips for driving in the UK to help out. We also have detailed  one week  and  two week UK road trip itineraries
• We also have guides to many other cities in the UK, including  things to do in Bristol ,  things to do in Edinburgh  and  things to do in Glasgow , to name but a few.
• If you’re interested in a guide book for your trip to Portsmouth, we can recommend the Rick Steves England book

And that’s it for our guide to Portsmouth! As always, we’re happy to help you out and take feedback on any of the above – just pop your questions in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

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There are 2 comments on this post

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5th May 2023 at 6:18 am

very nice blog

Laurence Norah says

11th May 2023 at 3:37 pm

Thanks very much, have a great time in Portsmouth!

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Things to Do in Portsmouth

Historic Olde Towne

Children’s museum, on the water, attractions & entertainment, arts & culture, outdoors & recreation.

Discover history, the arts, and new things to do with your kids in Portsmouth, Virginia. Listed below are our Top 8 of the best ways to get outside and enjoy nature, play golf, or get the adrenaline pumping traveling at high speeds on an indoor track. Or simply take a walk along the harbor or people watch from a sidewalk cafe. There’s plenty to keep you entertained in Portsmouth.

1 Get lost in history in the

• Olde Towne Historic District

Visit Portsmouth’s historic seaport village, with over 250 years of history packed in a single square mile.

Legend has it that Benedict Arnold was held captive in one of the many antique homes in Olde Towne, while another was used by Union Forces to issue passes during the Civil War. You can explore this national treasure through a self-guided walking tour (available at the Visitor Information Center) or during seasonal lantern tours or candlelight home tours during special occasions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OLDE TOWNE VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Path of History

Use informative placards around town to guide you through more than 250 years of American history.

History Alive

Characters from Portsmouth’s history brought to life & available for tours and appearances.

2 Let your imagination run wild at

Children’s museum of virginia.

The largest children’s museum in Virginia! Includes two floors of hands-on exhibits and a planetarium.

LEARN MORE SEE ALL MUSEUMS

3 Discover your inner seafarer

On the water.

With 13 miles of shoreline, no visit to Portsmouth, Virginia is complete without getting out on the water.

Portsmouth is a great place to stop and rest along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Mile Marker Zero. With the world’s deepest natural harbor, boaters have easy access to the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, and both the Dismal Swamp and Chesapeake-Albemarle Canals. Local marinas offer transient docking, fuel, ship store, and a variety of other amenities specifically for boaters. Dock your vessel and walk to restaurants, bars, and shops along High Street.

Stroll the Seawall in Olde Towne

Rent a Kayak at Hoffler Creek

Ride the Elizabeth River Ferry

4 create memories with these.

Speed around with indoor, performance-tuned gas karts or enjoy dinner and a movie at an Art Deco theatre.

Check out the concerts at the Atlantic Union Bank Harbor Pavilion and enjoy live music on the waterfront or plan your event around one of our many festivals. Don’t miss laser tag or kart racing if you’re looking for high-energy activities. Day or night, if you enjoy creativity and individual expression, you’re going to love what Portsmouth has to offer.

ALL ATTRACTIONS & ENTERTAINMENT ANNUAL EVENTS --->

Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Visitors enjoy 1400 slots machines; 57 table games, 24 poker rooms, and sports betting – plus restaurants, bars, shows, and a TopGolf® Swing Suite®.

The Commodore Theatre

A one-of-a-kind, Historic, Art Deco movie house with a 41 foot screen and THX & Dolby Digital sound, showing feature films in a beautiful dinner setting.

Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion

A partially-covered 6,500-capacity outdoor amphitheater hosting live entertainment from all musical genres with top named artists.

LeMans Karting

The largest indoor karting track in Virginia, a newly built laser tag arena, axe throwing, arcades and more – all under one roof!

5 Get inspired with unique

Creative arts.

Get lost in the galleries and growing number of public art installations.

Art can be found throughout all of the areas of Portsmouth, but most notably in Olde Towne. The Portsmouth Cultural Arts District is home to over twenty public art installations including sculptures, murals, and even painted electrical boxes. Stop by the Portsmouth Arts and Cultural Center and enjoy the changing exhibits featuring local and regional artists.

ALL ARTS & CULTURE

That Art Store

Discover the work of local artisans who take pride in making and brokering beautiful hand-made, repurposed, and found treasures.

Soak up all of the colorful murals & beautiful sculptures that are scattered throughout Portsmouth.

Play Foot Golf at City Park

Golf at Bide-a-Wee or City Park

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Hike the Arts at Paradise Creek

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A Fall Visit to Downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire

With its top-notch restaurants, boutique shopping, and loads of historic charm, downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a coastal gem.

By Aimee Tucker

Oct 26 2021

Downtown | Best Bars in Portsmouth, NH

With its top-notch restaurants, boutique shopping, and loads of historic charm, downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a coastal gem. A few years ago, on a late-fall Saturday (Halloween, in fact), I made my way to the seacoast for a day of strolling, shopping, and sampling.

It’s hard to choose a favorite thing about Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but near the top of my list would most certainly be its walkability. Everything you could ever need for a day or weekend of fun (Food! History! Shopping! Water views!) can be reached on foot, either from one of the city’s many public parking lots or numerous hotels.

We’ve written about Portsmouth a couple of times in the last few years, and it’s a testament to just how much action this small city has to offer that no two “Go, See, Do” lists are the same.

With this is mind, I won’t give you a definitive “Best” list, but my personal picks for some great things to do in Portsmouth. Hopefully you’ll add any of your favorites that I missed to the comments.

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History and architecture buffs visiting Portsmouth make a beeline for the Strawbery Banke Museum , a indoor-outdoor living history museum depicting life as it was in Portsmouth from the late 1600s until the 1950s. The museum runs special events throughout the year, so it’s always a perfect time to visit.

READ MORE: Visit the Strawbery Banke Museum | Portsmouth, NH

The Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail is another important historic story being told in Portsmouth. Tours (guided in the summer or self-guided anytime) highlight the events and people that helped shape the city’s character (from its trans-Atlantic slavetraders and slaveholders to the captured Africans and Black abolitionists). Especially moving is the memorial park marking the site formerly known as the old “Negro Burying Ground,” now a place to pause and reflect.

Prescott Park is another Portsmouth, New Hampshire favorite — especially in the summer when the formal gardens are in full bloom (complete with fountains) and the annual Prescott Park Arts Festival brings in a roster of concerts, theater, and special movie nights. Even on a quiet day, though, it’s the perfect place to seat yourself on a bench and admire the views of the water and Portsmouth’s vertical-lift Memorial Bridge.

If you like taking in a show, The Music Hall is tucked just off Congress Street (its smaller site, the Music Hall Loft, is just a block away), and hosts a full roster of concerts, plays, and musicals, plus ongoing series like “ Writers on a New England Stage ” throughout the year.

The stately Portsmouth Athenaeum , located smack dab in the middle of Market Square, is another of the town’s gems — an independent, membership library with an additional research library, art gallery, and museum for the public to enjoy.

I also recommend heading over to Bow and Ceres Streets for a look at the city’s working harbor, complete with tugs.

Hungry? Portsmouth has just about everything to satisfy whatever you’re craving, from local beers, lattes, and popovers to retro diner breakfasts, fresh seafood, and innovative gourmet dinners. There are over 250 restaurants in town, so nobody has an excuse for leaving hungry. The hardest part is actually choosing which amazing place to visit on each trip.

Ceres Bakery is a favorite morning stop for homemade breads, cookies, and cakes. If you wind up near the bakery in the afternoon, you might also want to sample one of their daily soup, sandwich, or pizza specials.

If you’ve got a large and/or rowdy group, Popovers on the Square is a good spot to find something for everyone, but if you’re craving a more French-inspired cafe experience,  La Maison Navarre has you covered. Macarons? Baguette sandwiches? Crepes? Oui oui!

The Friendly Toast is one of the city’s most famous dining establishments for every meal (so popular it now has five additional locations in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire), and with good reason. The kitschy 50s decor, plates of comfort food on steroids, and colorful, tattooed staff have made it a favorite stop for filling up.

For dinner, fans of classic New England dishes and flavors will enjoy the warm and lofted Moxy , a top pick by Senior Food Editor Amy Traverso in her guide “ Where to Eat in Portsmouth, New Hampshire .” Owner/Chef Matt Louis has put together a terrific, creative menu of American tapas like hasty pudding frites served with molasses BBQ and buttermilk dips, and cornmeal “johnnycake” pancakes served with brown sugared pork shoulder, house sauces, crispy onion, and pickled cucumbers. Don’t miss the New England dessert sampler, which has both whoopie pie sliders and his spin on the ultimate old-school New England dessert, Indian Pudding. Sweetened with maple sugar and topped with whipped cream, it’s my kind of historic dessert heaven.

For special occasions, the excellent Black Trumpet has inspired, seasonal plates from Chef Evan Mallet in a candlelit, brick-walled dining room. I recently enjoyed a dinner there with family, and the “Local Landing” (the daily fish fillet) served with buckwheat groats and black lentil pilaf, wine poached carrots, and Swedish yogurt sauce was outstanding, as was (according to everyone else) the Archer Angus Culotte Steak served with Brussels potato cake, roasted sprouts, and green gravy. Clean plates all around.

Like to shop? Portsmouth is home to dozens of independently-owned shops, offering everything from upscale consignment clothing and jewelry to quirky gifts, kitchen essentials, and the latest hardcovers.

I especially love perusing the gorgeous and thoughtfully curated selection of papers, cards, and gifts at Gus & Ruby Letterpress (is anything better than getting a piece of handwritten mail on thick, creamy paper?), and Off Piste next door is also a fun spot for funky gifts like novelty tote bags, socks, mugs, and can koozies.

Home cooks and bakers will love navigating the cramped and colorful aisles at Le Roux Kitchen , where the Le Creuset shares shelf space with local brands like Fat Toad Farm caramel sauces and White Heron tea. I also loved admiring the many seasoned salts for sale at Salt Cellar , not to mention their creative line of gifts, which includes pink Himalayan crystal salt cutting boards and tequila shot glasses. They have salty, scrubby bath offerings, too.

Readers shouldn’t miss a stop at RiverRun Bookstore . Inside, both new and used books are for sale, along with a selection of restored typewriters. And if you just can’t resist stopping to smell the flowers, pop into the Flower Kiosk for a few deep breaths of green air.

There are also lovely, handmade gifts to be found at Nahcotta , including Mud Australia porcelain, Simon Pearce pottery, and Pigeon Toe ceramics.

Those looking for an extended stay in town (a great idea since the beauty of coastal Maine is just minutes away, making for fun side trips!) have several well-appointed big-name chain hotels to choose from, but I can’t resist the charm of a smaller inn or B&B. My favorite Portsmouth, NH, hotel is the Hotel Portsmouth , a renovated 1881 Queen Anne Victorian with several comfortable rooms and suites, plus a bright and cheerful breakfast room, cozy parlor, and nautical-themed study.

Whew! All this browsing, eating, and shopping has really tired me out. Good thing there are so many benches handy…

Have you ever visited the charming, historic, and delicious coastal city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire in fall? What are your favorite things to do, see, and eat while you’re there? Let us know!

This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated. 

SEE MORE: Best Bars in Portsmouth, NH, for Every Kind of Night Out Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH | Coastal Weekend Getaways Guide to the New Hampshire Seacoast | Where to Play, Eat, Shop & Stay

Things To Do In Portsmouth New Hampshire: One Day Itinerary

Planning a visit to Portsmouth New Hampshire? Portsmouth is a beautiful little ocean city with a wealth of culture, history, and culinary delights. To help you have the best visit, I’ve put together a list of the best things to do and see in Portsmouth in one day.

Settled in 1623, Portsmouth is the third oldest town in the United States. It’s a small underrated town in southern New Hampshire along the Piscataqua River. The small city is so enchanting that it made Forbe’s list of America’s Prettiest Towns.

There is no end of places to explore in Portsmouth. You can stroll down brick sidewalks, admire the elegant Colonial and Federal style architecture, take a boat ride, or enjoy a cold beer on a waterfront patio.

Portsmouth is also known for its upscale farm to table eateries and art galleries. Throw in fresh seafood and surprisingly few tourists and you’ve got a great spot for a day trip from Boston.

I’m a New Hampshire girl (born and went to college there) and Portsmouth is definitely one of my favorite cities in the state. It feels more like a small town than a proper “city.”

Best Things To Do In Portsmouth In One Day

With just one day in Portsmouth, you can’t do everything. But here are some of the attractions you should put on your 1-day itinerary.

I also give you suggestions for where to eat and where to stay in Portsmouth.

1. Market Square

You should start your one day in Portsmouth on Market Square. This is the center of Portsmouth’s adorable downtown and a hub of activity.

It’s surrounded by beautiful 17th century buildings. You’ll also find a classic white steepled church, rustic brick shops, and sidewalk cafes. There are also sometimes street performers.

2. Portsmouth Book & Bar

Portsmouth Book & Bar is right off Market Square. It was established in 2012. The shop is in the granite Old Custom House and Post Office building on Pleasant Street.

It’s a venue that combines books, coffee, and live events. There’s also a pizza pub and a nightclub on the third floor.

3. North Church

North Church was built in 1854. It’s a pretty red brick church with a white steeple that pierces the sky. Inside, it’s light and airy with curved wooden bench seating.

The steeple can be seen from anywhere in town and is lit up at night. The doors are usually open, so you can walk in and have a look.

Another historic church in Portsmouth is John’s Church on Chapel Street. it was the first red brick church in New Hampshire.

4. Commercial Alley

Another must see gem in Portsmouth is Commercial Alley. This is the quaintest lane in Portsmouth.

It’s a tiny pedestrian alley with red bricks buildings and a a red brick road. You’ll find chic boutiques, shops, and hipster eateries. If you like gourmet salts, stop in at the Salt Shop.

5. Richard Jackson House

You should take a stroll by the historic Richard Jackson House. Built in 1664, it’s the oldest wood frame house in New Hampshire and is a National Historic Landmark.

The house offers tours from 11;00 am to 4:00 pm. Check the website for dates.

6. Strawberry Banke Museum

History lovers should check out the Strawberry Banke Museum . It’s one of the best things to do in Portsmouth and is located in Prescott Park.

The 10 acre outdoor museum features period gardens, preserved historic buildings, and details the story of how the Portsmouth settlement was founded back in the day.

There are 39 historic buildings dating from 1695 to 1820. The Goodwin Mansion is the most impressive.

Throughout the grounds, you will find costumed story tellers who will regal you with stories of Portsmouth’s past. There are often events on the museum grounds and an outdoor skating rink the the winter.

7. Prescott Park

Prescott Park is one of the best things to do in Portsmouth and a must see visit on your one day itinerary. It’s an open air history museum located waterfront park near Strawberry Banke. It has walk out piers and is great place to picnic.

The Formal Garden is the most beautiful. The Trial Arden has hundreds of species of plants.

In the summertime, you can partake in the Prescott Park Arts Festival , which features concerts, plays, and foodie events. There’s also an outdoor stage for performances.

You can book a guided walking tour to see Prescott Park and other private gardens in Portsmouth.

8. Memorial Bridge

Memorial Bridge is a truss style drawbridge that connects Portsmouth to Kittery Maine, where you shop in the outlets. There are special lanes for biking or walking over the bridge.

After dark, the bridge is lit up with different colors. The best place to spot the bridge is from Prescott Park.

9. Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail

Another thing to do in Portsmouth is to walk the Black Heritage Trail . It’s a self guided tour of historical African American sites.

You download it to your smartphone and it takes you to 24 places.

10. The Decks

“The Decks” is a busy area in Portsmouth on the Piscataqua River. You’ll find plenty of eateries and drinking establishments. Try to grab a deck or patio facing the the water.

11. Pub Crawl

In the evening of your one day in Portsmouth, you could do a pub crawl. Portsmouth is loaded with great breweries.

You can check out Portsmouth Brewery, Loaded Question, Liar’s bench Beer, and the Great Rhythm Brewing Co. They all of flights of beer, so you can sample the different offerings.

Portsmouth Brewery helped establish the craft beer scene in town. Aside from a huge selection of beers, it serves up no nonsense comfort food.

12. Live Music & Performances

Alternatively, in the evening, you can take in some live music.

The Music Hall is a Victorian era concert hall that hosts musicians, comedians, and plays. Art Space has a 500 seat theater and an art gallery to boot.

Then, there’s Button Factory Stage. The theater features local musicians and has a Thursday night jazz evening.

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre is a regional theater putting on plays and musicals.

13. Boat Cruise

Want to get out on the water? You can also take a boat cruise in the harbor or head to the Isles of Shoals. The latter is a cluster of mini islands off the New Hampshire coast. (Who knew the state had islands?)

The islands are home to dramatic shorelines, a museum, lighthouse, and gardens.

As you cruise you can check out the waterfront, some historic forts, and some picturesque lighthouses. You’ll also cruise by the Navy’s oldest operating shipyard and the castle-like and rather menacing Portsmouth Naval Prison.

14. Hit The Beach

If you have extra time in Portsmouth, you can hit the beach. There are several that are just a short drive from the city.

You should check the tidal reports to make sure the tide is headed out. That way, you will be sure to have some sand to spread out on.

Most people head to the honky tonk Hampton Beach. If you want a lively destination with a boardwalk, head here.

But I think the best beach on the New Hampshire seacoast is in the picturesque town of Rye. There are two public beaches — Wallis Sands State Beach and Jenness State Beach.

Ogunquit Beach in Maine is also just 30 minutes away and boasts miles of sandy beach.

15. Holiday Season Fun

Heading to Portsmouth during the holiday season? In 2017, Travel & Leisure called Portsmouth the “Christmas Capital of North America.” It’s a wonderful New England Christmas destination. 

“Vintage Christmas” is a month long celebration kicking off December 1. A trolley does a loop of the downtown and a candlelight stroll is held on weekends.

The cute tug boats on Ceres Street Pier are all lit up too.

Tips For Spending One Day In Portsmouth

Here are some must know tips for spending a day in Portsmouth.

1. How To Get To Portsmouth

Portsmouth is located on a sliver of New Hampshire’s coastline. It just a hop and a skip from Maine . (As I mentioned above, you can even walk right across the bridge into Maine.)

Portsmouth can easily be reached by car from any direction. If you want to fly, the nearest airport is Pease Airport. From there, a bus service can take you downtown.

Portsmouth is also only 45 miles from Manchester Airport.

If you are driving from Boston , Portsmouth is about an hour long drive. There are also buses that take 1:20 from South Station Bus Terminal.

When you arrive in Portsmouth, you can see if there is free parking available on Parrot Avenue or Middle Street. There are also plenty of paid parking lots. The Hanover Street garage is the most central.

2. How To Get Around Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a small walkable city. You can get around by walking, the local trolley, or bus. You can pick up the trolley or bus in Market Square.

You can also rent a bike or scooter to zip around. You can also book a 2 hour guided bike tour .

To get the lay of the land, you can pop into a convenience store and pick up at free map. It will have all the popular locations street names, and attractions. you can also print out this online map in advance.

3. Where To Stay In Portsmouth

Ale House Inn is on Bow Street in the Market Square district. It has brick clad rooms with an airy loft-like feel. It’s close to all the attractions.

Hotel Portsmouth is on Court Street and also very central. It’s a boutique hotel housed in a Victorian mansion.

Hotel Thaxter is another boutique hotel with cozy well-decorated rooms and an Art Deco vibe.

For a real splurge, check out the Sailmaker’s House . It’s a historic building smack in the middle of downtown Portsmouth around the corner form the Strawberry Banke museum. The rooms are stylish, some with antiques.

If you’re a rewards member, you should check out the AC Hotel By Marriott or the Hilton Garden Inn .

4. Where To Eat In Portsmouth

There are more than 75 restaurants in Portsmouth, so you’ll have no trouble feasting on some delicious food.

For breakfast, you might consider the White Heron on Islington Street. It’s a happy building painted blue. It serves up coffee, tea, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. There are plenty of fresh juice places in town too.

The Friendly Toast is another iconic an all day brunch spot. It has a funky-retro diner decor and the menu features has classic brunch items like avocado toast, omelets, waffles, breakfast burritos.

If you’re dying to tuck into a lobster roll for lunch, hit up The Beach Plum . You can get a 6 or 8 ounce roll and they are flat out delicious.

Black Trumpet is a James Beard award-winning restaurant on Ceres Street. It has an ever-changing seasonal menu and an extensive wine list. There is both a lively bar and a more intimate dining room downstairs.

Cava is in the cozy Commercial Street alley. Housed in a 19 the century ship chandlery, it offers up Spanish tapas with both indoor and outdoor seating. The patio is a great place to sip Cava (Spanish champagne) and nibble on a charcuterie plate.

Row 34 is a buzzing restaurant near The decks. It’s has a hip industrial decor. You could stay there all night drinking cocktails and eating oysters or fresh fish.

Green Elephants is a Asian-inspired bistro for vegetarians and vegans. The menu features noodle dishes, soups, and stir frys.

5. When To Visit Portsmouth

Summer is definitely the best time to visit Portland. You’ll have sunny days, festivals, and can go out on the harbor or hit a nearby beach.

There’s also a Market Square Festival that takes place in June.

Fall is also a great time to visit. The fall colors are out and there’s a Halloween parade in October that will delight the kids. You could luck out and get a sunny day and milds temperatures.

Spring can be iffy. You could easily get rained on. I probably wouldn’t visit in winter. It’s just too dang cold and windy.

6. What To Wear In Portsmouth

Because Portsmouth is on the coast, it can be very breezy. Plus, the weather can change, just like that, from day to night.

It’s best to bring layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. I wouldn’t wear heels because the sidewalks in town are brick or stone and often uneven.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the best things to do in Portsmouth in one day. You may enjoy these other New England travel guides:

• 3 Day Boston Itinerary
• Top Attractions   in Salem Massachusetts
• What To Do On a Berkshires Road Trip
• 10 Day Road Trip For Coastal Maine
• Fall Foliage Road Trip in New England
• 1 Week Road Trip in Southern New England
• Best Places To Visit in Massachusetts
• 1 Week Road Trip in Vermont
• 1 Day Itinerary for Portland Maine
• 21 Less Touristy Towns on the East Coast

If you’d liked to day trip to Portsmouth, pin it for later.

2 thoughts on “Things To Do In Portsmouth New Hampshire: One Day Itinerary”

Thank you so much for these wonderful tips and hints! Planning my trip to New England and your sight is incredibly useful. I enjoy staying off the beaten track and your suggestions will come in quite handy! Nancy D. from SoCal

Have a great visit to New England Nancy!

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Last Updated on March 10, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

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Tours and sightseeing

There are few better ways to really get under the skin of a city than to take a sightseeing tour. Not only to you get to visit all the most interesting areas, you also learn all about the city’s culture, history and heritage. With Portsmouth being a more historic city than most, it’s the ideal place to get out and enjoy a sightseeing tour.

Guided tours and walks give you the chance to hear all the fascinating stories Portsmouth has to tell, by those who know them best. With tours encompassing different areas and interests, you can be sure there’s something for you.

If you’d prefer the freedom to explore on your own, why not take in a self-guided tour ? You can still discover the area’s rich history, but at your own pace – with as many diversions as you wish!

Being an island city, our tours aren’t all on land – far from it. Get out on a boat tour to learn all about the city’s naval heritage, which is as much of a part of Portsmouth’s DNA as anything else.

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Discover Portsmouth's US connections, with the story of D-Day and the Allied soldiers who took part.

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Dointhedo is a new charter boat, with modern facilities and undercover seating, that carries up to 12 passengers.

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The Square Tower is one of the oldest surviving parts of Portsmouth's fortifications, built to defend the city and harbour.

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Three kilometres of promenade links Portsmouth’s historic waterfront.

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Old Portsmouth

Turn the streets of Portsmouth into a 'whodunnit' treasure hunt adventure!

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Regardless of your age, ability or fitness, the Peter Ashley Equestrian Centre has a lesson for you.

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Take a free walking tour around historic Old Portsmouth - focusing on the lives, loves and losses of its people.

(ends at Spur redoubt), Portsmouth

This self-guided walk takes you through Old Portsmouth, highlighting points of interest relating to Vice Admiral Lord Nelson and Portsmouth around the time of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Turn the streets of Southsea into a 'whodunnit' treasure hunt adventure!

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All abilities are welcome on Wetwheels' fully accessible boats for trips around the Solent.

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Looking for Group Activities for children and adults near Portsmouth?

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Haslar Road, Gosport

Where your adventure starts... the Solent is one of the world's best sailing destinations. So why not make the most of it and charter a yacht from Solent Yachting for a day, weekend or even a week. No experience required.

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South Street, Gosport

A visit to Portsmouth is not complete without taking a leisurely sight-seeing cruise on board the Spirit of Portsmouth.

Take on the battle of speed, agility strength and teamwork in a Pro Field Gun Team Experience Day.

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RYA training centre offering Sail Cruising, Motor Cruising, Powerboating, Jet Skiing, and shore-based courses.

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Fort Cumberland Road, Portsmouth

Whether you are an experienced angler, a novice angler, or maybe you would like to try sea fishing for the first time, then you have come to the right place.

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The Gosport Spy Mission Treasure Trail is a fun and unique way to explore Gosport.

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GoYachting offers fully skippered sailing in the beautiful Solent waters on board a brand new Nautitech Open 46 Catamaran – Aquila.

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53 Albert Road, Portsmouth

Dark Encounters offers an exciting range of ghostly events in the city of Portsmouth, ranging from Ghost Walks to residential Ghost Weekends!

Explore Havant and learn about the town on this self-guided Murder Mystery Trail.

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Stubbington Avenue (TTRO 38/2024)

Dated: 25th March 2024

Portsmouth City Council (Stubbington Avenue) (Temporary Road Closure) (Temporary Prohibition of Loading and Waiting) (No.38) Order 2024

Notice is hereby given that Portsmouth City Council intends to make the above Order under Section 14(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991.

The Order comes into operation from 8th April 2024 and the effect will be as follows:

A) TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE AND PROHIBITION OF LOADING AND WAITING

STUBBINGTON AVENUE

Phase 1 – Junction of London Road to East side of Beresford Road. Phase 2 – West side of Beresford Road to East side of Wykeham Avenue Phase 3 – West side of Wykeham Avenue to East side of Lyndhurst Road Phase 4 – West side of Lyndhurst Road to East side of Kensington Road Phase 5 – East side of Kensington Road to junction of Copnor Road.

B) REASON FOR THE ORDER To facilitate works to replace lamp columns between London Road and Copnor Road.

C) DURATION OF THE ORDER From 8th April 2024 to 19th April 2024 or completion of the works, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding the above, works will be carried out in phases with access for residents as notified by signage and letters to residents in advance of works taking place.

D) DIVERSION Vehicles will be diverted from Copnor Road, Milton Road, Baffins Road, St Marys Road Roundabout, St Marys Road, Fratton Road, Kingston Road, London Road and vice versa to St Marys Road Roundabout – Milton Road, Copnor Road. Pedestrian access will be maintained around the works. Cycles to follow vehicle diversion or dismount and follow pedestrian diversion around the works.

Assistant Director of Economy, Planning and Transport, Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices, Portsmouth PO1 2NE

A copy of the Order may be requested from [email protected] or at the reception desk in the Civic Offices.

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