Portsmouth City Centre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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Portsmouth City Centre Hotel Deals

ibis Portsmouth Centre
ibis Portsmouth Centre
3.5 out of 5
Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥7,797 per night from Apr 17 to Apr 18
¥7,797
per night
Apr 17 - Apr 18
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Portsmouth. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,011 reviews)
All good
"Good location good room good bar"

Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024

ibis Portsmouth Centre
Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 out of 5
West Quay Road, Southampton, England
The price is ¥12,760 per night from Apr 28 to Apr 29
¥12,760
per night
Apr 28 - Apr 29
Stay at this spa hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,094 reviews)
"Great location and friendly staff"

Reviewed on Mar 24, 2024

Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
Holiday Inn Express Southampton M27 Jct7, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Southampton M27 Jct7, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
Botley Road, West End, Southampton, England
The price is ¥8,911 per night from Apr 11 to Apr 12
¥8,911
per night
Apr 11 - Apr 12
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,011 reviews)
"Decent size room. Good breakfast included. Kind reception staff."

Reviewed on Mar 24, 2024

Holiday Inn Express Southampton M27 Jct7, an IHG Hotel
Leonardo Hotel Southampton - Formerly Jurys Inn
Leonardo Hotel Southampton - Formerly Jurys Inn
4 out of 5
1 Charlotte Place, Southampton, England
The price is ¥11,456 per night from Apr 11 to Apr 12
¥11,456
per night
Apr 11 - Apr 12
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,010 reviews)
Great staff
"Staff are super friendly and helpful. Hotel downstairs is pleasant. Rooms are average... perfectly adequate for a short stay or business trip. Breakfast is average; could add some hash browns and some nicer orange juice."

Reviewed on Mar 28, 2024

Leonardo Hotel Southampton - Formerly Jurys Inn
Holiday Inn Southampton, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Southampton, an IHG Hotel
4 out of 5
Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, England
The price is ¥11,934 per night from Apr 1 to Apr 2
¥11,934
per night
Apr 1 - Apr 2
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,014 reviews)
"Friendly and helpful staff , I especially liked how you provided shower gel and shampoo and the room was clean and comfortable, we would of liked biscuits with our tea though ,"

Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024

Holiday Inn Southampton, an IHG Hotel
ibis Southampton Centre
ibis Southampton Centre
3 out of 5
9 West Quay Road, Southampton, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥7,797 per night from Apr 17 to Apr 18
¥7,797
per night
Apr 17 - Apr 18
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Southampton. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient parking ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,010 reviews)
"Ideal for cruise port"

Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024

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

Other neighborhoods around Portsmouth City Centre

The Point

Old Portsmouth

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

Old Portsmouth
Charles Dickens Birthplace

Buckland

Though Buckland might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Portsmouth International Port and Portsmouth Guildhall.

Buckland
From the top of Portsdown hill you can see Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower. Beyond the Solent separates the Isle of Wight from the British mainland.

Cosham

3.5/5(9 area reviews)

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

Cosham

Portsmouth City Centre