Seniors Like Portsmouth, “The Great Waterfront City”

Portsmouth is the second largest city in the Hampshire County and dates back to 1180.  Senior travelers will find Portsmouth on the south coast of England about 65 miles southwest of London and has just over 200k inhabitants.

Portsmouth is the most densely populated place in the UK, even more so than inner London and is nicknamed “Pompey”. Portsmouth’s location makes it an ideal base for exploring the rest of Hampshire and the south. Due to its proximity to the sea, it was a significant naval port for centuries.  Portsmouth is home to the world’s oldest dry dock still in use and also home to some famous ships. The city is known to be one of the best travel destinations in the UK for senior tourists.

Forever stamped in history, Portsmouth was the seat from which the British Royal Navy controlled the seas in the 19th century. Historically early life in Portsmouth began with a Roman Fort on the site. The majority of the city of Portsmouth lies on Portsea Island though it is separated from the mainland only by a roughly 30 m wide stretch of sea water so is perhaps more accurately thought of as a peninsula.

Plenty to Keep Senior Visitors Occupied

Portsmouth is a dynamic and vibrant waterfront city bursting with great reasons to visit. From the pomp and ceremony of the proud naval and maritime heritage, to towering world-class visitor attractions, museums and galleries, unique shopping destinations, great places to eat and miles and miles of beautiful seafront, Portsmouth offers something for every senior visitor.

You’ll encounter folks called “Portsmouth Greeters” who are local people, passionate about Portsmouth. You can tailor a Greet to your specific needs and get a true insider’s view of the city. Pretty neat huh?

The Historic Dock Yard will keep you occupied for a full day with five great attractions that include the National Museum of the Royal Navy and two HMS ships. The 560 ft Spinnaker Tower is a major landmark in the city. It’s also called the Millennium Tower and is higher than the London Eye, Blackpool tower and Big Ben and at 170m is the tallest publicly accessible structure in the UK, outside of London.

The old Dockyard, a main focus of the area, rates very high with senior visitors. Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) arguably one of the greatest and certainly the most enduring English novelist and writer, was born in Portsmouth. Home to the University of Portsmouth, the city has a large multicultural student population.

The Renaissance Trail is a self-guided, historic tour which will take you from Spur Redoubt in Old Portsmouth to the gateway of the Historic Dockyard. The Millennium Promenades stretch over 6km on both sides of Portsmouth Harbor and your walk will take you to some of Portsmouth’s most famous landmarks and attractions. The trail is marked by information boards and a chain motif set into the pavement to mark historic spots.

Do enjoy your visit to Portsmouth.  jeb