Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a busy port city and a unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of the city sits on Portsea Island, making it the only city in England not mainly on the mainland. It lies near Southampton, Brighton and Hove, and London. With over 208,000 people, Portsmouth is the most crowded city in the United Kingdom.

The city's history goes back to Roman times and it has been an important Royal Navy dockyard for centuries. Portsmouth was founded around the year 1180 and became a town in 1194. It is home to the world's oldest dry dock still in use, built in 1698. In the 19th century, it was the most fortified city in the world and was known as the greatest naval port during the British Empire.

In the 20th century, Portsmouth became a city in 1926. During the Second World War, it was heavily bombed but also served as a key departure point for the D-Day landings. The city has a major Royal Navy base, which is home to many ships and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth also has two cathedrals, a tall Spinnaker Tower, and a seaside area called Southsea with piers and a hovercraft service to the Isle of Wight.

The city has strong connections to famous people, including author Charles Dickens and engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Portsmouth has busy railway stations, an international port for cruise ships and ferries, and the University of Portsmouth with many students.

History

Early history

The Romans built a fort called Portus Adurni, now Portchester Castle, nearby in the late 3rd century. The city’s Old English name, “Portesmuða,” comes from words meaning “haven” and “mouth of a large river.” In 501, a warrior named Port and his sons were said to have killed a noble in Portsmouth. The area faced attacks from Danish Vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries. In 838, a Danish fleet landed and was driven off, but they returned in 1001 and attacked again.

Norman to Tudor

Although Portsmouth wasn’t mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book, nearby places were. It may have been founded in 1180. King Richard I gave Portsmouth market-town status in 1194. King John established a naval base, and the first docks began in 1212. Edward III built up the town’s defenses after a French attack in 1337. Henry V used Portsmouth for his invasion of France in 1415 and built its first permanent fortifications. Henry VII added more defenses and built the world’s first dry dock in 1494. Henry VIII built Southsea Castle in 1539 and expanded the dockyard.

Stuart to Georgian

In 1623, a military adviser was killed in Portsmouth. During the English Civil War, the town supported the parliamentarians. After the war, Portsmouth prospered and built new ships. In 1662, a royal marriage took place there. The town grew with new wharfs and fortifications. In 1759, General James Wolfe sailed from Portsmouth to capture Quebec. Captain James Cook left from here in 1768 after circumnavigating the globe. The First Fleet left in 1787 to start a colony in Australia. The city got the nickname “Pompey” around this time.

Industrial Revolution to Edwardian

Marc Isambard Brunel started the world’s first mass-production line in Portsmouth in 1803, making blocks for ships. By 1808, the mills made 130,000 blocks. Portsmouth became the largest industrial site in the world. In 1805, Admiral Horatio Nelson left from here to command the fleet that won the Battle of Trafalgar. The Royal Navy used Portsmouth to fight the slave trade starting in 1808. New water supplies, gas lighting, and sewers were added in the 19th century. By 1871, the population reached 100,000. In 1900, Portsmouth Dockyard employed 8,000 people.

First and Second World Wars

During World War I, about 1,200 ships were refitted in the dockyard. Portsmouth was bombed during World War II, with many houses destroyed and people hurt. The city was a key point for D-Day landings in 1944.

1945 to present

After World War II, Portsmouth built new homes for people who lost theirs. The city faced changes as shipbuilding jobs decreased. New industries moved in, and the city continued to grow. In 2005, Portsmouth celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Today, Portsmouth remains an important naval port.

Geography

Portsmouth is 73.5 miles from central London by road, 49.5 miles west of Brighton, and 22.3 miles east of Southampton. It is mainly located on Portsea Island, making it the United Kingdom's only island city, although the city has also grown onto the mainland. Gosport is a nearby town to the west. Portsea Island is separated from the mainland by Portsbridge Creek, crossed by several bridges including the M275 motorway, the A3 road, and the A2030 road.

Old Portsmouth, the original town, is in the southwest part of the island and includes Portsmouth Point, also called Spice Island. Portsmouth Harbour has several lakes, such as Fountain Lake near the commercial port and Portchester Lake in the south-central area. The large tidal inlet of Langstone Harbour lies east of the island. The Farlington Marshes to the north is a grazing marsh and lagoon that serves as a home for migratory birds.

South of Portsmouth are Spithead, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight. The resort area of Southsea is on the central southern shoreline of Portsea Island. North of the city are areas like Stamshaw, Hilsea, and Copnor. The city's main railway station, Portsmouth and Southsea railway station, is located in the city centre near the Guildhall.

Climate

Portsmouth has a mild oceanic climate, with more sunshine than most of the British Isles. Frost is light and short, and snow is rare in winter, with temperatures seldom dropping below freezing. In January, the average maximum temperature is 10 °C (50 °F), and the average minimum is 5 °C (41 °F). In July, the average maximum temperature is 22 °C (72 °F), and the average minimum is 15 °C (59 °F). The city receives about 645 millimetres of rain each year.

Demography

Portsmouth is the second-most crowded city in the United Kingdom, after London. In 2021, the city had 208,100 people living there. The number of people living in Portsmouth used to be even higher, with 233,545 in 1951, but it has been growing again since the 1990s. The area around Portsmouth, called South Hampshire, has about 860,000 people and is the fifth-largest group of cities in England. It is the biggest area outside of London in South East England.

Most people in Portsmouth (85.3%) have white skin. Because Portsmouth has a long history with the Royal Navy, people from many different places live there. There are well-known groups of people from places like British Hong Kong, especially the Chinese community. Many people from all over the British Isles, like Irish Catholics, came to work in factories and docks. In 2021, the people of Portsmouth included 78% White British, 6.8% other White, 2.3% Bangladeshi, 2.6% mixed race, 1.5% Indian, 1% Chinese, and smaller groups from other places around the world.

Ethnicity

Politics

The city is managed by the Portsmouth City Council, which handles local matters. Portsmouth received its first market town charter in 1194. In 1904, its area grew to cover all of Portsea Island and later included parts of the mainland of Great Britain between 1920 and 1932, such as Paulsgrove, Wymering, Cosham, Drayton, and Farlington. Portsmouth became a city on 21 April 1926.

In 1974, it became part of the local government structure under Hampshire County Council. However, in 1997, Portsmouth and Southampton became independent with the creation of a unitary authority. The city has two parliamentary areas, Portsmouth South and Portsmouth North, represented in the House of Commons by Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin from the Labour Party.

The Portsmouth City Council has 14 areas, each with three representatives, totaling 42. After elections in May 2018, the Liberal Democrats began leading the city. The council meets in the Civic Offices located in Guildhall Square, near the Portsmouth Guildhall and Portsmouth Central Library. The Guildhall, designed in a grand style by architect William Hill from Leeds, opened in 1890.

In March 2026, it was announced that Portsmouth will merge with nearby areas to form a larger South East Hampshire unitary authority by 2028.

Economy

Portsmouth's main industry is defence, with many people working at the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard. The city is also home to the UK headquarters of IBM. Shopping areas include Commercial Road and the Cascades Shopping Centre, which gets many visitors each week. There are also new shopping spots like Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyard, which is popular with tourists.

The city has seen changes in its buildings over the years. Tall towers and new residential areas have been built, such as the Admiralty Quarter Tower. There were also plans for a new stadium near the Historic Dockyard, but these were not approved. Portsmouth is known for its ferry port and small fishing fleet, which sells fresh fish by the quayside.

Culture

Portsmouth has many places for entertainment. The New Theatre Royal in Guildhall Walk shows professional plays. The Kings Theatre in Southsea has musical shows and tours. The Groundlings Theatre, built in 1784, is located at the Old Beneficial School.

The city has several music venues, including the Guildhall, the Wedgewood Rooms, and Portsmouth Pyramids Centre. The Portsmouth Guildhall can hold 2,500 people and hosts concerts, including ones by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Portsmouth is also known for its special events. The Portsmouth Summer Show happens each year, and the city holds yearly remembrances of important historical events. The Victorous Festival is a big family-friendly music event that started in 2014 and takes place on Southsea Seafront.

The city is sometimes used for movies and TV shows. People in Portsmouth also enjoy art, with street artist My Dog Sighs creating interesting displays around the city.

Literature

Portsmouth is a special place in many famous books. It is the hometown of Fanny Price from Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. In Charles Dickens’s The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, the characters Nicholas and Smike visit Portsmouth. The city is also where Captain Jack Aubrey’s ships sail in Patrick O'Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series.

Many other writers have used Portsmouth as a setting for their stories, including Jonathan Meades in his novel Pompey, and H. G. Wells in The History of Mr Polly. The city has also inspired crime novels and short stories by writers like Graham Hurley and C. J. Sansom.

Education

See also: List of schools in Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth began in 1992 and had around 20,000 students by 2016. It is known for being one of the top modern universities in the world. Besides the university, there are several colleges offering different types of courses, like Highbury College and Portsmouth College. Some well-known schools in the city include Admiral Lord Nelson School and Miltoncross Academy, which were built in the late 1990s to support more students.

Portsmouth has a long history of education, with Portsmouth Grammar School being the oldest school, founded in 1732. Other independent schools in the area are Portsmouth High School and Mayville High School, which started in 1897.

Landmarks

Portsmouth has many interesting places to visit. Some old forts on Portsdown Hill, like Fort Nelson, now host museums. You can also explore Southsea Castle and its small museum, or walk along the seafront to the Round Tower. The city is proud of its connection to the navy and has several famous ships on display, such as HMS Victory, which is the world’s oldest naval ship still in use. You can see it in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard along with other important ships like the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior.

The city also has museums telling stories about important events, like the D-Day Story, which features a huge embroidery called the Overlord Embroidery. There are also many memorials to honor people who served in wars. Portsmouth has several cemeteries where people are buried, including Kingston Cemetery, which is the largest. The city’s central library, built in 1976, is known for its unique style and was chosen for a special tour in 2026.

Gunwharf Quays

Main article: Gunwharf Quays

Gunwharf Quays is a special place in Portsmouth where people can live, shop, and enjoy meals. It was once a naval base called HMS Vernon, where the Royal Navy kept weapons and tools for their ships.

Today, Gunwharf Quays has many shops, restaurants, and a cinema. A tall tower called the Spinnaker Tower was built there. It is very tall—560 feet—and you can see far away from its viewing platforms. The tower was finished in 2005 and cost a lot of money to build.

Southsea

Main article: Southsea

Southsea is a seaside area and home to many people in Portsmouth, located at the southern end of Portsea Island. Its name comes from Southsea Castle, a fort built in 1544 by King Henry VIII to protect the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour. The area grew in the 1800s as a place for people to visit the sea and relax.

Clarence Pier opened in 1861 and was named after a local leader. It became a fun place with games and activities. Nearby, South Parade Pier was built in 1878 and later became a center for entertainment. Southsea Common is a big open space created in 1820. It is used for many events like carnivals and festivals, and it has some very old trees and special plants.

Religion

See also: List of places of worship in Portsmouth

Portsmouth is home to two important cathedrals. The Anglican Cathedral of St Thomas is located in Old Portsmouth, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Evangelist serves the city's Catholic community. These cathedrals are important places of worship for many people in Portsmouth.

The city has a long history of religious buildings. The first chapel, dedicated to Thomas Becket, was built in the 12th century. Over time, it became a parish church and later an Anglican cathedral. The Royal Garrison Church was founded in 1212 and has a rich history, including events like the marriage of King Charles II. Sadly, it was damaged by fire during World War II but some parts were saved.

The Catholic community grew over time, leading to the building of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in 1882. This replaced an earlier chapel built after laws changed to allow Catholic worship in towns like Portsmouth. The cathedral faced damage during World War II but was repaired in later years. Today, Portsmouth has many other places of worship for people of different faiths.

Sport

Portsmouth F.C. plays its home games at Fratton Park. The team has won two Football League titles in 1949 and 1950, and the FA Cup in 1939 and 2008. They returned to the Premier League in 2003 but were later moved to lower leagues due to financial issues. In May 2017, they became League Two champions and moved back up. Most recently, in May 2024, they won promotion to the Championship again.

Other sports teams in Portsmouth include Moneyfields F.C. in the Wessex Football League, and United Services Portsmouth F.C. and Baffins Milton Rovers F.C. in Wessex League Division One. Rugby teams like United Services Portsmouth RFC and Royal Navy Rugby Union play at the United Services Recreation Ground. Portsmouth has a long history with first-class cricket, and Hampshire County Cricket Club used to play there before moving to the Rose Bowl in West End. The city also has hockey clubs and golf courses, including Great Salterns Golf Club.

Transport

Main article: Transport in South Hampshire

Portsmouth has many ways to travel by road, water, bus, and train. In March 2008, the city became the first in the UK to have a 20 miles per hour speed limit everywhere in the city.

Ferries

Portsmouth Harbour has ferry services to Gosport and the Isle of Wight, with car ferries nearby. Hovertravel, a long-running hovercraft service, runs from near Clarence Pier in Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Portsmouth International Port has ferry links to France, Spain, and the Channel Islands. Ferry services are operated by Brittany Ferries and DFDS Seaways.

Buses

See also: Buses in Portsmouth

Local bus services are provided by Stagecoach South and First Hampshire & Dorset. Hovertravel and First Hampshire & Dorset also run a Hoverbus service from the city centre to Southsea Hovercraft Terminal and the Hard Interchange. National Express offers services from Portsmouth to places like Victoria Coach Station, Cornwall, Bradford, Birkenhead, and Bristol.

Railways

Portsmouth has four railway stations on Portsea Island: Hilsea, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea, and Portsmouth Harbour, with a fifth station at Cosham on the mainland. The city is connected to London Waterloo by South Western Railway through Guildford and Basingstoke. There are also services to Southampton Central, Cardiff Central, Brighton, Gatwick Airport, Croydon, and London Victoria.

Closed stations

Southsea once had its own railway branch that opened in 1885 but closed in 1914 because trams became more popular.

Farlington Halt railway station was built to serve a racecourse and closed several times before finally shutting down in 1937 because not enough people used it.

Paulsgrove Halt railway station opened in 1928 to serve a racecourse but closed when the land was needed for military use at the start of World War II.

Air

Portsmouth Airport operated from 1932 to 1973 but closed, and the land was used for housing and industry. The nearest airport is Southampton Airport, about 20 miles away, with a train connection. Heathrow and Gatwick are farther away, about 65 and 75 miles respectively.

Former canal

The Portsmouth and Arundel Canal was built in 1823 but was not successful and was abandoned in 1855. It was part of a plan to create a safe inland route from London to Portsmouth, avoiding the English Channel. The canal had three parts and ran through several areas. After it closed, some parts were reused for a railway or turned into a road. The old canal walls can still be seen between some railway stations.

Media

Portsmouth, Southampton, and nearby towns get their TV from transmitters at Rowridge and Chillerton Down on the Isle of Wight, with Midhurst as a backup. Portsmouth was among the first UK cities to have a local TV station, MyTV. In 2014, That's Solent started broadcasting as part of local Freeview channels in south-central England, also from Rowridge.

The local BBC radio station is BBC Radio Solent on 96.1 FM. Other popular stations include Greatest Hits Radio South, Heart South, and Capital South. Easy Radio South Coast broadcasts on 107.4 MHz from Southampton, and Express FM, a community station, is on 93.7. Patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital can listen to Portsmouth Hospital Broadcasting, which started in 1951. The first commercial radio station, Radio Victory, began in 1975. Later, Ocean FM (now Heart Hampshire) took over. For the city's 800th birthday in 1994, Victory FM broadcast for short periods. It was later bought and relaunched as The Quay.

Portsmouth’s daily newspaper is The News, founded in 1873 and once called the Portsmouth Evening News. The Journal, a free weekly paper, is also published by Johnston Press.

Notable people

See also: List of people from Portsmouth

Portsmouth has been home to many famous people. Author Charles Dickens, known for books like A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations, was born there. Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, once lived in Portsmouth, as did Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, and H. G. Wells, who wrote The War of the Worlds.

Other well-known people from Portsmouth include engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, comedian Peter Sellers, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who briefly lived in the city. Many athletes, such as Olympic cycling medallist Rob Hayles and footballer Mason Mount, were also born in Portsmouth.

International relations

Twin towns - sister cities

Portsmouth has many twin towns and sister cities around the world. Some of these include:

• Caen, Normandy, France
• Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Haifa, Haifa District, Israel
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Lakewood, Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
• Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
• Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
• Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
• Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Sylhet, Bangladesh
• Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China

These partnerships help bring people from different places together.

Freedom of the City

Portsmouth has honored many people and groups by giving them the Freedom of the City. This means the city shows respect and appreciation for their important contributions.

Some of the individuals honored include leaders, soldiers, and notable figures from different times in history. Military units such as the Royal Hampshire Regiment and the Royal Marines have also been recognized. In more recent years, groups like essential workers and community organizations have received this honor for their service to the city.