Hello, and welcome to Hotel Portsmouth, where you’ll find out all there is to do in this wonderful English City. First, you should know that the locals don’t refer to Portsmouth in that name at all, but instead they call it Pompey. The reasons for this aren’t really clear, but legend has it that it was a drunk sailor interrupted a lecture on the Roman Empire when he heard that the emperor Pompey had died.

“Poor Old Pompey,” the sailor slurred and others at the lecture and beyond began adopting the name into common usage.

What Portsmouth Has to Offer
But no matter what you call her, Portsmouth is a city filled with old history and a rich and interesting culture – something we love here at Hotel Portsmouth! The great story-teller Charles Dickens was born here, and the first iron hulled warship was manufactured here, too. The city is even home to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which is home to three historic ships that include the HMS Victory, the HMS Warrior and Henry VIII’s Mary Rose.

Spinnaker Tower
Portsmouth is also home to the Portsmouth Harbor at Gunwharf Quays. This is where you can revel in the magnificence of the Spinnaker Tower, which is considered the tallest publically accessible structure in the UK.

D Day Museum
One of our favourite places here at Hotel Portsmouth, and a great place to learn more about the history of the city, is the D Day Museum. The museum opened its doors in 1984 to honor the 40th anniversary of D Day. Not only is the museum filed with interesting artifacts dating back to the second World War, but you can also view a 272 foot long Overlord Embroidery, which is a modern equivalent of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Birthplace of Charles Dickens
Of course you can’t leave Portsmouth without visiting the birthplace of Charles Dickens. Born on February 7th, 1812, Dickens is considered to be one of the best and most enduring English novelists to ever have existed. Once you pull up to 393 Old Commercial Road in Portsmouth, you’ll be able to peruse the Dickens Birthplace museum and you can even see the bedroom where he was born.

Royal Garrison Church
For more history, the team here at Hotel Portsmouth also recommend you visit the Royal Garrison Church, which rests in Grand Parade in an area of the city known as Old Portsmouth. The church was founded in 1212 as a hospice called the Domus Dei or ‘God’s House’. The church was closed soon after Henry VIII left power, and part of the site was converted into a home for Portsmouth’s governor. And if you’re wondering why there’s no roof on part of the church, it’s because the Nave of the church was torn away by a fire bomb during a blitz in WWII.

This is just some of what there is to see and do in Portsmouth, or Pompey as the locals call it. If your looking for a hote Portsmouth has a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets. There are  plenty of shops that include big name shops and smaller, local shops, and lots of restaurants that include all sorts of fare, including Chinese, Greek, Bangladeshi, Morrocan, Thai, Italian and traditional English, of course.

Visit Portsmouth soon and don’t forget to book accommodation at Hotel Portsmouth before you leave!