International Office
Portsmouth - the City
Location
Portsmouth is a lively island city on the south coast of England. It is a city with many identities: the historic sits comfortably with the modern, offering you the best of both worlds. Just 90 minutes by direct train from the centre of London, Portsmouth is also within easy reach of Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton Airports. As a busy ferry port, it is a gateway to the continent with regular sailings to France and Spain.
Seafront
Southsea seafront is just a short walk from the city centre (and the main University campus). You can enjoy the pebbled beaches, long walks in the public gardens and sports all year round. Southsea Common is great for meeting friends and having picnics in the summer. The Common also hosts a range of activities throughout the year including charity running events, live music and the annual kite festival.
History and culture
As home of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth is a city proud of its maritime heritage. The Historic Dockyard houses three historic ships including Lord Nelson's flagship HMS Victory. You can discover how sailors of the past lived their lives, visit the Royal Naval Museum and take guided walks through the oldest and most picturesque parts of the city.
Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have all left their mark on the city - you can discover their stories in the many museums and art galleries. For a diverse range of plays, live music and touring London shows, visit the Kings Theatre and the New Theatre Royal. The University also has close ties to the New Theatre Royal and students frequently perfom there.
Shopping and entertainment
As well as the high street shops of the city centre, Portsmouth has other shopping areas to suit everyone's taste and budget. Southsea has a mix of high street, independant and specialist stores. Be sure to visit Albert Road with its collection of quirky shops, retro clothing boutiques and antique stores.
Gunwharf Quays has over 80 designer outlets, bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs. It is home to the Spinnaker Tower, which offers the perfect way to view Portsmouth - at an impressive 170 metres tall, you can experience panoramic views of the city and harbour. Just outside Gunwharf, you'll find more cafes and pubs along the historic cobbled streets of Old Portsmouth - an excellent place to sit and enjoy the harbour views and sunsets.
Catch all the latest films at the multiplex cinema at Gunwharf Quays, or visit No.6 Cinema in the historic dockyard for independent and world cinema. Portsmouth Guildhall in the city centre and The Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea host regular concerts, comedy nights and live bands.
Sports
Sports are very important in Portsmouth and have put the city on the map. It has hosted world-class sailing events and several International Festivals of the Sea. Windsurfing and sailing are very popular pursuits locally. Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth Football Club is very close to the University. Portsmouth won the prestigious FA Cup in 2008 and reached the finals again in 2010. There are plenty of facilities for a variety of sporting activities, from Southsea Common to the Olympic-standard Mountbatten Centre.
Local industry
Many global companies have come to Portsmouth including BAE Systems, EADS Astrium, VT Shipbuilding and the UK headquarters of IBM. Tourism also brings in many jobs in hospitality and retail all year round. As home of the Royal Navy, the city has many links to the armed services here and overseas.
The University campus is right in the heart of this thriving multicultural city making it easy to walk from place to place.
We hope you enjoy your time here!
