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Southsea Tourist Information


Southsea is a coastal town at the southern tip of Portsea Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire. The boundary between Portsmouth and Southsea is now indefinable as the two towns centres are just a mile apart.

The area was initially developed when Henry VIII built Southsea Castle for defense. The houses which sprang up were for the skilled workers to serve the castle and the street names still reflect those trades: Stone Street, Copper Street, Flint Street and Silver Street as well as Castle Road. Unfortunately they were heavily bombed during World War II and have since been rebuilt.

Southsea remained a small village until 1835 when it was expanded to provide further housing for workers and their families. Thomas Ellis Owen was the architect responsible for many of the Victorian houses around Kent Road. Many of his streets are now listed conservation areas.

In 1860 four large forts were built offshore and can still be seen today. As they were never used, they are known as Palmerston's Folly after the Prime Minister who had them built.

Being so closely connected with Portsmouth and the Royal Navy, Southsea hosted celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1995. It was attended not only by the Queen but also by President Clinton and other heads of state.

Southsea Common was also the location of the Trafalgar 200th anniversary celebrations in 2005.


Present Day Southsea

Southsea is a thriving commercial area with a pier, a couple of national department stores and many other retail outlets. It has plenty of bars and restaurants which cater to all ages and budgets.

Being so close to the sea, Southsea relies on pumping stations to control the water levels. In 2000, during a particularly heavy storm, the pumps themselves were overwhelmed and the town suffered flooding.

Southsea Common is a grassy space between Clarence Pier and Southsea Castle. It was kept free of buildings to preserve a clear firing line from the harbour defences at possible enemy ships approaching Portsmouth. The pleasant recreation area is the venue for summer shows, festivals, circuses and other special events.

The lovely elms which shade the area are thought to be the oldest in Hampshire. One of the finest is at the entrance to the skateboard park. The area has miniature golf, tennis courts and volleyball courts as well as a scenic promenade.

Several houses have a blue plaque denoting their historic importance. They include Peter Seller's birthplace on Castle Road and the home of Fred Jane on Palmerston Road who created the naval reference book Jane's Fighting Ships.


Things to do in Southsea

Southsea beach is fine gravel with sand exposed at low tide. There are two piers, the South Parade and the Clarence piers which both provide amusement arcades. South Parade Pier has a ballroom and bar while the Clarence Pier is next to a permanent funfair.

The D-Day Museum is on the seafront at Southsea along with the Blue Reef Aquarium and the Model Village. The Royal Marines Museum is at the eastern end in the lavish Officers' Mess of the Eastney Barracks.

Nearby, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a series of museums, old ships, harbour tours and attractions which make an excellent way to experience the area's maritime history.

 

Images of Southsea
Boating Lake © Ray Hall
South Parade Pier © Ray Hall
Seafront © Ray Hall
Gardens © Ray Hall
Sea View © Ray Hall
Fastcat Ferry © Ray Hall
Directions
Show map of Southsea...


Attractions near Southsea
Royal Marines Museum (1 Mile)*
The Royal Marines Museum celebrates the history of the Royal Marines from their origins in 1664 as Sea Soldiers through to their roles in Trafalgar, China, the Falklands and the Gulf with a series of interactive displays.
Southsea Castle (1 Mile)*
Southsea Castle was built by Henry VIII between 1544 and 1545 to protect Portsmouth against possible French invasion. Its revolutionary design provided for the most efficient use of guns in attack or defence.
Portsmouth City Museum & Records (1 Mile)*
Stroll through a 17th century Stuart bedroom, a 19th century Dockworker's kitchen, an art deco dining room and a 1950's living room.
more attractions in Southsea and things to do in Southsea ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

What's near Southsea

Attractions:
  Royal Marines Museum  1 Mile
  Southsea Castle  1 Mile
  D-Day Museum & Overlord Embroidery  1 Mile
more attractions in Southsea...
 
Towns:
  Eastney  1 Mile
  Portsmouth  1 Mile
  Gosport  3 Miles
more towns near Southsea...
 
Estate Agents:
  Fry and Kent Ltd  1 Mile
  Austin and Wyatt (East)  1 Mile
  Halifax Estate Agents  1 Mile
Hotels:
  Westfield Hall Hotel  <1 Mile
  Best Western Royal Beach Hotel  <1 Mile
  Somerset House Hotel  1 Mile
more hotels in Southsea area...
 
Bed and Breakfast:
  Lamorna Guest House  1 Mile
  The Oyster Cottage  2 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Southsea...
 
Self Catering:
  Tower Cottage  3 Miles
  Bay View House  5 Miles
  Claremonte  5 Miles
more self catering near Southsea...
 
Campsites:
  Hayling Island Holiday Park  4 Miles
  Fleet Farm Campsite  4 Miles
  Nodes Point Holiday Park  5 Miles
TIC: Portsmouth (Clarence Esplanade) Tourist Information Centre     Tel: 023 9282 6722  1 Mile



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Towns near Southsea
Eastney Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Portsmouth Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Famous for its Royal Naval base, historic dockyard and its football club, Portsmouth is a well-known port city in Hampshire on the south coast of England.
Gosport Tourist Information (3 Miles)*
The town of Gosport is on the south coast of Hampshire bordering Portsmouth Harbour.
more towns near Southsea...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Hotels near Southsea
Best Western Royal Beach Hotel (< 1 Mile)*
In a prime position on the seafront at Southsea, The Royal Beach Hotel is a perfect base to see all of Portsmouth. Our hotel offers superb views across the Solent and excellent facilities for both business and pleasure.
Seacrest Hotel (1 Mile)*
The hotel is on the seafront, looking out over award-winning gardens to the sea. It has free parking, free Wi-Fi and refurbished rooms with flat-screen digital TVs with DVD players and iPod docks. The Seacrest Hotel is less than 2 miles (3.
Queen's Hotel (1 Mile)*
The Queen's Hotel enjoys superb views of the Solent and Isle of Wight. Situated in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on Southsea's historic seafront. Many rooms have balconies.
more Southsea hotels (and nearby)...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Self Catering near Southsea
Tower Cottage (3 Miles)*
Tower Cottage is a recently renovated Georgian house in the Gosport area of Hampshire, it is ideally situated as a base for either sailing or exploring the Hampshire countryside.
Bay View House (5 Miles)*
Bay View is beautifully situated beside the beach with panoramic sea views from most of the main rooms. It is in a peaceful location towards the end of a gravel lane with no passing traffic.
Your property could be here
Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
more self catering near Southsea ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

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