We are going to catch the 7am ferry from Portsmouth to Caen and want to spend the night before in Portsmouth. We will be arriving by train. Any suggestions on where we should stay?
Posted by
PNW
194 posts
We tried to stay in Fortitude Cottage, but it was full so we stayed at Lombard House. An easy walk from the train station and great owners; very clean and nice English breakfast in the morning. Check the reviews on Trip Advisor.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Did you know that you can tour Nelson's ship, Victory, in Portsmouth? There is also a Dickens museum/site. ;) Pam
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
........and the Royal Marine Museum.
Posted by
PNW
194 posts
Yes, both Lombard House and Fortitude Cottage are within easy walking distance of Gunwharf Quays (lots of restaurants) and the Historic Dockyard. But unless you arrive in Portsmouth early enough to get to your accommodations and then to the Dockyard, you'll miss the HMS Victory (closes at 4:30 pm) and the museum (closes at 5 pm). The Mary Rose itself isn't on display until 2010 - we saw her hull being treated with wax to preserve her.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
You might check out AquaCars, based in Portsmouth, who will fetch you from London airports or hotels if that's where you will be located. Their cost was a bit less than rail plus we had a private pickup at Heathrow and taken directly to our B&B at the old port. We stayed at a place apparently no longer in business but just down from Fortitude House. We planned a full day plus our arrival day and two nights, to see the Admiral Nelson ship Victory, the Mary Rose, plus the D Day naval history of the area. Well worth our time and then caught the 7AM ferry to Ouistreham and the shuttle bus to Caen where we had a car reserved. There is more on www.Tripadvisor.com Portsmouth forum.