Portchester

About

Portchester was in the front line in the Hundred Years War, was transformed into a palace by Richard II and was later used as a prison.

Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton on the A27 main route.

Things to do in Portchester

Anyone who has seen Portchester Castle near Fareham in Hampshire cannot fail to be impressed.

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn once holidayed at Portchester but the castle’s origins go back to Roman times. 

Portchester is one of the best preserved of the Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ forts and was built in the 3^rd century. Covering ten acres, it is the only Roman stronghold in northern Europe whose walls still stand mainly to their original height and with many of its original towers.

The Portchester Castle museum tells the story of this eventful history and from the towers there are spectacular views over the Solent.

The great guns of the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson look out over Portchester and the Solent from their commanding position on Portsdown Hill and nearby you’ll also find the military attractions of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Southsea Castle.  

Not far away there’s the tranquillity of Titchfield Haven nature reserve and for shopping and entertainment you can visit Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower only a stones throw away in Portsmouth.

See here for Accommodation in Hampshire.