Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth

Navies and defenses

🕒 Mid morning

Follow the coast from Southsea to Old Portsmouth and travel back to times of war, from D-Day back to the Hundred Year's War

Navies and defenses

After picking up your eScooter, you will head to the impressive battlements of Southsea Castle for your first taste of the defenses that used to protect Portsmouth.

Your tour will continue up along the shore where you will discover the various naval and military monuments on your route, as well as further fortifications and historical places of interest, which combine to tell the story of Portsmouth. After reaching The Point, the infamous historical center of the old port, where beer flowed and press gangs roamed, your tour will swing past the 'Cathedral of the Sea' and the old entrance gate to the city.

The tour will terminate at The Hard Interchange, where you can continue your exploration of Portsmouth's history at the Historic Dockyards, which is only a short walk away, or perhaps ascend the nearby Spinnaker and get the best views of Portsmouth.

Itinerary

Palmerston Road & Clarendon Road eScooter pick up point

Pickup your VOI scooter here

Southsea Castle

Southsea Castle

Built in 1544, Southsea Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by King Henry VIII around England's coasts to protect the country from invaders

Stay for 5 minutes

Map for Southsea Castle
'Monty' statue

'Monty' statue

Life size statue of 'Monty' who was Garrison Commander at Portsmouth from 1937 to 1938

Map for 'Monty' statue
Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Memorial commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who have no known grave

Stay for 5 minutes

Map for Portsmouth Naval Memorial
King's Bastion

King's Bastion

The only surviving extant length of the ramparts and moat which enclosed Portsmouth

Map for King's Bastion
Royal Garrison Church

Royal Garrison Church

Medieval hospital, Tudor ammunition store and church for the forces since the 1580s, the Royal Garrison Church has stood in Portsmouth for over 800 years

Map for Royal Garrison Church
Horatio Nelson statue

Horatio Nelson statue

Statue of Lord Nelson commemorating his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, following his departure from Portsmouth in September, 1805

Map for Horatio Nelson statue
The Hotwalls

The Hotwalls

Part of the original military defences, the Hotwalls is now an impressive art hub, providing high quality studio spaces for a range of local artists and artisans

Stay for 5 minutes

Map for The Hotwalls
The Point

The Point

Developing in the 1500s, the Point became an infamous area filled with pubs, eating houses and brothels

Stay for 5 minutes

Map for The Point
Portsmouth Cathedral

Portsmouth Cathedral

From humble beginnings in 1180 at the heart of Portsmouth's original settlement, this church, dedicated to Thomas Becket, became a parish church around 1320 and a cathedral in 1927

Stay for 5 minutes

Map for Portsmouth Cathedral
Landport

Landport

Landport Gate is an ornamental gateway once part of Portsmouth's defences and was once the main entrance to the city

Map for Landport

Route map

Map for Navies and defenses

Use Autoura Connect to configure your preferences and go on this route