Portsmouth, United Kingdom

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Coordinates : 50.799903, -1.102944 (Open in Google Maps)

Subjects : Home to the British Royal Navy since the 13th century, Portsmouth owes almost all its existence and heritage to the Navy and sailing, in some way or another. Now, with the reduction in size of the UK Navy and modern technology, Portsmouth is having to look more towards tourism for its economy and for most this is represented by the Historic Dockyard and the 170m Spinnaker Tower.The Historic Dockyard houses some 800 years of Portsmouth's Naval History, with HMS Victory and King Henry VIII's flagship, The Mary Rose as the jewels in the crown. Built in 1759, Victory, with its huge sails, rigging and cannon all pointing out the sides, is the epitome of what a proper battleship of the period should be and she was victorious in the Battle of Trafalgar.Mary Rose lay on the seabed for centuries before being raised in the 1980's and is undertaking a long and arduous restoration project, which included building a whole new Visitor Centre around it. There are about 12 other ships and other attractions to see and do and photograph in the Historic Dockyard. The all inclusive ticket includes a few attractions outside of the Dockyard and a guided cruise around Portsmouth's huge Harbour too.The Spinnaker Tower was built to look like a spinnaker sail (hence its name) though it looks more like it should be in Abu Dhabi instead of England! Especially at night. And so much so, a big sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines has just taken place. The 170m sleek and elegant design is the 11th highest structure in the UK and the tallest outside London. It is a real landmark and can be seen from up 50km away. A viewing platform three quarters the way up is open to the public and the 270 degree views from there are immense, over to the Isle of Wight in the south. There is also a glass floor which you can stand on (quite thick!) so you can see the ground and people under you a long way down!

Recommended equipment : Your everyday walkabout kit. Wide lenses for the Spinnaker Tower. Inside the old ships in the Historic Dockyard allow handheld cameras withOUT flash, no tripods and in such often very dark cramped places, you really do get to use that 12,000 iso setting that you've never used before... Portsmouth looks great at dusk and at night, so a tripod for that.

Best months : Like any city, there is plenty to do and see all year round. Portsmouth is unusual at having no hills to either east nor west and so both sunrises and sunsets can be captured nicely.

How to get there : The main road to London is the A3. Trains run from both London and Southampton (and beyond) with stations at Portsmouth & Southsea (city centre) then a few minutes later Portsmouth Harbour. This is where the Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower are as well as the ferry to the Isle of Wight. Airport would be Southampton, or Heathrow.

Visits : There is much else to see beyond Old Portsmouth, eastwards, there is Southsea and with it its castle ruins, two piers (one derelict) and regency terraces of houses. Views across to the Isle of Wight and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world are interesting too, as are the Hovercraft that speed their way over to Ryde, Isle of Wight.Historic Harbour all inclusive ticket, which lasts a whole year, meaning you can come back again and again, which is what I have, is expensive at about 30 Euro, of you buy in advance online. But there really is so much to see and do, it is worth it. Otherwise the two main attractions (Victory, Mary Rose) are about 22 Euro each.Spinnaker Tower costs about 10 Euro to go up to the viewing platform. Well worth doing on a fine clear sunny day.

Notes : I've included the website for the Historic Dockyard. Google Spinnaker Tower Portsmouth to get the website for that.Portsmouth also has a quite modern and surprisingly clean and airy Cathedral. Well worth a visit, with a donation.

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