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ESSENTIALS ~ TRANSPORT ~ DESTINATION GUIDES ~ HOSTEL REVIEWS ~ FORUMS |
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Destinations > England > Southeast England > Hampshire
HampshirePortsmouth & SouthseaPortsmouth is best known for its naval history and its historic seafront is home to several of the Royal Navy's grand old ships including Henry VIII's Mary Rose, Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Today it is a sprawling city that encompasses suburban Southsea with its own string of attractions along the Clarence Esplanade. Practical InformationTourist Information Centre (Clarence Esplanade)Clarence Esplanade, SouthseaTel (023) 9282 6722 Website www.portsmouthand.co.uk Open Jan-Jun 9.30am-5.15pm daily; Jul-Aug 9.30am-5.45pm daily; Sep-Dec 9.30am-5.15pm daily Tourist Information Centre (The Hard)The Hard, PortsmouthTel (023) 9282 6722 Website www.portsmouthand.co.uk Open Jan-Mar 9.30am-5.15pm daily; Apr-Sep 9.30am-5.45pm daily; Oct-Dec 9.30am-5.15pm daily Coming & GoingPortsmouth has two train stations, Portsmouth and Southsea station on Commercial Road in Portsmouth city centre and Portsmouth Harbour station near the historic waterfront. There are frequent train services to London and also along the coast to Brighton and Southampton. Buses terminate at the Hard Interchange, which is located adjacent Portsmouth Harbour train station. National Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) run buses to London; Megabus (website www.megabus.com) also have buses to London and First (website www.firsthampshire.co.uk) and Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbuses.co.uk) operate buses to destinations in Hampshire and neighbouring counties. Every half hour Hovertravel (website www.hovertravel.co.uk) hovercrafts go between Southsea Hoverport and Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The trip takes around 10 minutes and the return fare is £9.70. Local TransportSolent Transport (website www.solent-transport.org.uk) co-ordinates the south Hampshire's public transport, which includes buses operated by First (website www.firsthampshire.co.uk) and Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbuses.co.uk) and a train network. A tram network is planned for the future. The Solent Travelcard (website www.solent-travelcard.org.uk) is good for unlimited travel on all bus routes across southern Hampshire, including Portsmouth and Southampton. This pass costs £5 a day or £20 a week. The Gosport ferry (tel (023) 9252 4551; website www.gosportferry.co.uk) connects Portsmouth Harbour station with Gosport on the opposite side of the harbour. The ferry runs every 7½ to 15 minutes and is the easiest way to get to Gosport. SightsPORTSMOUTHCharles Dickens' Birthplace MuseumCharles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and the house in which he was born has been furnished as it was when John and Elizabeth Dickens first set up their home here in 1809. 393 Old Commercial Road, PortsmouthTel (023) 9282 7261 Website www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk Admission £2.50 (£1.50 students) Open 7 Feb 10am-5pm; Apr-Sep 10am-5.30pm daily Natural History MuseumPortsmouth's Natural History Museum has exhibits on the wildlife that once lived in the Portsmouth area. The museum also features an aquarium and a butterfly house. Cumberland House, Eastern Parade, SouthseaTel (023) 9282 7261 Website www.portsmouthnaturalhistory.co.uk Admission free Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily, Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily Portsmouth City MuseumThis museum has displays on the history and development of Portsmouth. Museum Road, PortsmouthTel (023) 9282 7261 Website www.portsmouthcitymuseums.co.uk Admission free Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am-5.30pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-5pm daily Spinnaker TowerOpened in late summer 2004, the massive 165m Spinnaker Tower is Portsmouth's newest and biggest landmark. The observation deck at the top of the tower offers breathtaking views of the harbour. Website www.portsmouthand.co.uk/towerPORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARDPortsmouth's main attraction is the historic dockyard that is home to many of Britain's most historic sailing ships. The Dockyard's outstanding attractions include: Action StationsThis attraction provides an insight into today's Royal Navy. It features hands-on exhibits and a large format film that shows you what life is like aboard a Type 23 frigate. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PortsmouthBus Hard Interchange Train Portsmouth Harbour Tel (023) 9286 1512 Website www.historicdockyard.co.uk Admission £9.70 (£8 ISIC); inclusive ticket to all Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions £15.50 (£12.50 ISIC) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily HMS VictoryThe Royal Navy's best known warship was under the command of Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson off Cape Trafalgar in 1805 and it has been restored to its original splendour to commemorate the 2005 bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PortsmouthBus Hard Interchange Train Portsmouth Harbour Tel (023) 9286 1512 Website www.historicdockyard.co.uk Admission £9.70 (£8 ISIC) includes entry to Royal Naval Museum; inclusive ticket to all Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions £15.50 (£12.50 ISIC) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily HMS Warrior 1860When it was launched in 1861, HMS Warrior was the most advanced warship ever built. It has now been restore to its original glory. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PortsmouthBus Hard Interchange Train Portsmouth Harbour Tel (023) 9286 1512 Website www.historicdockyard.co.uk Admission £9.70 (£8 ISIC); inclusive ticket to all Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions £15.50 (£12.50 ISIC) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily Mary RoseHenry VIII's favourite warship was built between 1510 and 1511 and was sunk in battle against a French fleet in 1545. The Mary Rose lay in its watery grave for hundreds of years before being found by divers and raised in front of a TV audience in 1982. There is an adjoining museum that features over 1200 items taken from the wreck and the museum's Bonaventure Gallery has hands-on exhibits that give you an idea of life aboard the Mary Rose in Tudor England. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PortsmouthBus Hard Interchange Train Portsmouth Harbour Tel (023) 9286 1512 Website www.historicdockyard.co.uk Admission £9.70 (£8 ISIC); inclusive ticket to all Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions £15.50 (£12.50 ISIC) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily Royal Naval MuseumThis excellent museum recounts 800 years of naval history with much of the museum focusing on Horatio Nelson, HMS Victory and the Battle of Trafalgar. Bus Hard Interchange Train Portsmouth Harbour Tel (023) 9286 1512 Website www.historicdockyard.co.uk Admission £9.70 (£8 ISIC) includes entry to HMS Victory; inclusive ticket to all Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions £15.50 (£12.50 ISIC) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily SOUTHSEABlue Reef AquariumThis aquarium on the sea front in Southsea features a walk-through aquarium with tropical marine life. There are open-top tanks where you can get close to rays and sharks and a freshwater area that features three Asian short claw otters. Clarence Esplanade, SouthseaTel (023) 9287 5222 Website www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk Admission £5.95 (£4.95 students) Open Jan-Feb 10am-4pm daily; Mar-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily D Day MuseumThis excellent museum has displays depicting the events of 6 June 1944, which changed the course of World War II. The museum is also home to the Overlord Embroidery, an 83m-long embroidery that is intended to be a modern counterpart to the Bayeux Tapestry. Clarence Esplanade, SouthseaWebsite www.ddaymuseum.co.uk Admission £5 (£3 students) Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily Royal Marines MuseumThis museum shows the history of the Royal Marines from their formation in 1664 to the present day. Southsea Esplanade, SouthseaTel (023) 9281 9385 Website www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk Admission £4.75 Open Jan-May 10am-4.30pm daily; Jun-Aug 10am-5pm daily; Sep-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily Southsea CastleSouthsea Castle was built in 1544 as part of Henry VIII's coastal fortifications. Throughout the centuries it was strengthened and used as a military base right up to 1960, when Portsmouth City Council restored the castle to how it looked in the 19th century. Clarence Esplanade, SouthseaTel (023) 9287 7261 Website www.southseacastle.co.uk Admission £2.50 (£1.50 students) Open Apr-Oct 10am-5pm daily GOSPORTGosport lies across the harbour from Portsmouth and is easily reached by the Gosport ferry (tel (023) 9252 4551; website www.gosportferry.co.uk), which departs from the dock behind Portsmouth Harbour station. ExplosionThis small museum focuses on the history of naval warfare and includes displays of gunpowder, explosives, mines, guns, torpedos and missiles. Priddy's Hard, GosportFerry Gosport Tel (023) 9250 5600 Website www.explosion.org.uk Admission £5.50 Open Jan-Mar 10am-4.30pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily Royal Navy Submarine MuseumA visit to this museum gives you the opportunity to go inside a Royal Navy submarine, the HMS Alliance. The museum's collection features four submarines and one submersible survey vessel as well as over 4000 artefacts. Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Haslar Jetty Road, GosportTel (023) 9252 9217 Ferry Gosport, then Bus 9 Website www.rnsubmus.co.uk Admission £4.50 Open Jan-Mar 10am-4.30pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily SouthamptonSouthampton is a modern city that few tourists make the effort to visit. It was bombed heavily during World War II destroying many of the older buildings however remnants of the medieval city remain. Practical InformationSouthampton Tourist Information Centre9 Civic Centre Road, SouthamptonTel (023) 8083 3333 Website www.visit-southampton.co.uk Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm Coming & GoingAIRSouthampton Airport (website www.baa.com/main/airports/southampton/) is located just north of the city and has charter flights to many of the more popular European holiday destinations. The airport is easily accessible with direct train connections from London and Southampton and bus 101 runs between the airport and the city centre. BUSNational Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) runs buses to Birmingham, Bournemouth and London; Megabus (website www.megabus.com) also have buses to London and First (website www.firsthampshire.co.uk), Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbuses.co.uk) and Wilts & Dorset (website www.wdbus.co.uk) run buses to destinations in Hampshire and neighbouring counties. The Explorer ticket is a great value pass that gives you one day unlimited bus travel in Wiltshire and parts of Dorset and Hampshire for just £6. This pass will take you as far as Bristol, Bath, Bournemouth and Winchester and is ideal if you're making a day trip into the countryside or if you want to go to Bath or Bristol with a stop en route. FERRYRed Funnel (website www.redfunnel.co.uk) ferries sail between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. There are two ferry services: the fast ferry to West Cowes and the slower car ferry to East Cowes. A day return on either ferry costs £11 or £14 including a Rover bus ticket on the island. TRAINSouth West Trains (website www.swtrains.co.uk) has trains from Southampton to Brighton, Bristol, London (Waterloo station) and Weymouth. The station is on Blechynden Terrace west of the centre . Local TransportSolent Transport (website www.solent-transport.org.uk) co-ordinates southern Hampshire's public transport, which includes a bus and train network. A tram network is planned for the future. The Solent Travelcard (website www.solent-travelcard.org.uk) is good for unlimited travel on all bus routes across southern Hampshire, including Portsmouth and Southampton. This pass costs £5 a day or £20 a week. AccommodationThere are no hostels in Southampton; the closest hostels are in Portsmouth. SightsGod's House Tower Museum of ArchaeologyThis 13th century gatehouse originally stood at the southeast corner of the medieval city walls and now houses the city's museum of archaeology. The museum's displays depict Southampton's history with galleries dedicated to the Roman, Saxon and Medieval periods. Town Quay, SouthamptonTel (023) 8033 9601 Admission free Open Jan-Mar Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-noon & 1pm-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; Apr-Oct Tue-Fri 10am-noon & 1pm-5pm, Sat 10am-noon & 1pm-4pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Nov-Dec Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-noon & 1pm-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm Medieval Merchant's HouseThe Medieval Merchant's House is one of the oldest buildings of its kind in England. 58 French Street, SouthamptonTel (023) 8022 1503 Admission £3 Open Apr-Sep 10am-5pm daily Southampton Maritime MuseumSouthampton was Titanic's home port and most of the ship's crew came from here. One of the museum's highlights is its Titanic gallery, which portrays this famous ship with artefacts and stories from local people who were affected by the tragedy. There are also exhibits about many of the other ocean liners that sailed from Southampton. Bugle Street, Town Quay, SouthamptonTel (023) 8063 5904 Admission free Open Jan-Mar Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; Apr-Oct Tue-Fri 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sat 10am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Nov Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm WinchesterThis small cathedral city north of Southampton has a rich history and Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror and Charles II have called it home. Practical InformationTourist Information Centre
Guildhall, Broadway, Winchester |
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