I will be in London for 16 days starting in mid-August. My primary focus will be on military related sites/sights such as the RAF museum, tank driving school, Imperial War Museum..... I am planning to visit Portsmouth because of its connection with the Royal Navy and Marines. Should I plan this as a very long day or is there enough to see to make it an overnighter?
Posted by
211 posts
I'd do it as a day trip; no need to stay overnight.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi,
Portsmouth also has the D-Day Museum, which you would find interesting. In London I went to the RAF Museum in north London, Tube stop Colindale, worth viewing aside from Duxford. You'll see the Me 262 with the Juno engines on display.
Posted by
London
231 posts
If you're interested in submarines at all, there's also the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. It's a v short ferry ride from the Portsmouth Harbour station and then a quick walk along the waterfront to get there. The guided tour of the HMS Alliance was more than worth it.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7548 posts
Just my opinion, but if you are a military buff, I would do an overnight. The dockyards themselves will take you a good four hours (Victory, Warrior, and the Mary Rose Museum, plus a couple other museums), plus as others said, the D-Day museum, the Sub museum, and the Royal Marine museum...way too much for one day plus travel. Spend the night, find a good pub, stay right down by the dockyards.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I'd be inclined for an overnight. Paul listed the many sights to visit. When my sister and I went years ago, we spent a night and easily filled out time. And, that was before the Mary Rose was available for tours. We did get some ribbing from the old ladies on the train, that these two young girls--early 20's--were off to Portsmouth. :)
Pam
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2186 posts
Portsmouth has a lot of military history, so count me as voting for an overnight. You may need a taxi to get to the D-Day museum, but it has a fabulous tapestry a la the Bayeux tapestry, except it's about the history of D-Day; it's really impressive. When we went in 2010, someone (RS guidebook ?) said that tix to the Portsmouth museum complex were cheaper at the TI before you get to the entrance and they were. Back then, Holiday Inn Express was the best for overnight and it's right by the train station at Gunwharf Quay.