With its South Parade Piers, rows of colourful beach huts and cobbled streets, Southsea brims with British retro seaside charm. But, to be worthy of a place on Time Out’s list of the UK’s best seaside towns to visit, it needs a little more to it than that. Sure enough, Southsea has also got fascinating historical landmarks, an enviable cluster of pubs and a brilliant programme of summer events.
So what exactly does the perfect trip to Southsea look like? For a slice of history visit the Southsea Castle (it’s free entry), which was built by Henry VIII in 1544 out of concern over French attack. Stop by The D-Day Story to be taken through the story of Operation Overlord during the Normandy D-Day landings, or catch a boat to the Solent Forts, which were commissioned by Lord Palmerston in the 1860s to ward off Napoleon III.
Southsea was recently declared one of the UK’s greatest pub towns by the Telegraph, so sitting down for a pint or few is a must. The paper called it a place of ‘elaborate ceramic facades and well-run pubs’ and particularly recommended the Hole in the Wall and the Lawrence Arms with its massive beer garden. There’s also the beloved Phoenix, a near-century-old theatre pub full of references to stars of the British stage.
For sustenance, pick up some pie, mash and liquor from Pies and Vinyl, flammeküche from Belgian bar and kitchen Huis, sushi from Sakura or a selection of sweet treats from artisan bakery Bread Addiction.
In the summer, the sky over Southsea becomes a collage of blow-up animals, multicoloured diamonds and flailing ribbons for the Portsmouth International Kite Festival, the largest and longest running kite event in the UK. And on the August bank holiday the likes of Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters and Faithless will be in town for Victorious Festival 2026.
A £180 million coastal project that will double the beach’s size in currently underway so, very soon, there’ll be even more space to take in the views of the Solent.
Elsewhere in Time Out’s latest guide to the most unmissable seaside towns in Britain, Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire came out on top, and the sister towns of Hastings and St Leonards came in second. You can find a map of all the featured destinations here.
ICYMI: England’s most ‘deprived’ seaside town is getting a colourful carnival this summer.
Plus: This epic British seaside walking trail is officially one of the greatest hikes in Europe?
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