The perfect staycation on your doorstep
A seaside family staycation on the doorstep in beautiful Southsea
With farflung summer holidays off the cards this year, we decided to staycation. And we are not alone.
Crowds of people have been packing out Cornwall, so we decided to holiday on our own doorstep and took a break in Southsea.
Here’s the confession, I have lived and worked in Portsmouth for more than 15 years.
I have even been a student in the city, which led me to becoming fairly well-acquainted with the city’s watering holes.
I know my way around, but it feels like I never stop to take in its beauty. And I have certainly never shared the city with my two children.
So after a work visit to the Queens Hotel in Southsea, and seeing how much hard work, effort and money has been invested into the historic venue over the past few years, we checked in for a three-night break.
We have the two kids in tow, so have booked a family suite two adjoining rooms with a balcony that overlooks the common.
From here, we are in the heart of Southsea. You can see the ferries passing, visitors soaking up the sun, the hovercraft, people enjoying company on the common: Southsea is alive with activity. And there are plenty of family attractions within walking distance.
From the hotel it is a short walk to Palmerston Road with its shops, bars and cafes, and walk the other way and you’ll find the joys of Castle Road with its independent traders and restaurants.
We take in the sights of the D-Day Museum and the newlyinstalled landing craft tank. The guides are friendly and helpful, the displays engaging, even for children, and the whole morning is educational.
From there we head for some fun - and South Parade Pier has it by the bucket-load. Our fouryear-old is in his element, there are rides and rollercoasters, all aimed at the younger ages.
The way the pier has been transformed over the past few years is incredible. It’s gone from a sorry looking husk into a vibrant welcoming and fun family attraction.
We also pay a visit to Southsea Model Village - a wonderfully tranquil experience after the buzz of the fair. Its miniature houses, streets and scenes enthral the kids, who squeal with delight every time Thomas the Tank Engine comes whizzing past.
Over the course of the three days we also spent time at Clarence Pier, where the rides are a little scarier and bigger.
However, there’s a great open-top bus which runs along the seafront to Eastney and back for just £5 for adults, with the young kids free.
The family trip to Southsea also saw us visit the Blue Reef Aquarium and once inside we marvelled at the stingrays, otters and sea horses.
However, it is sunny and Blue Reef comes into its own on a less-summery day, so we don’t spend long there before heading to the splash park outside. Blue Reef has its own splash park, however, the kids have seen the council-operated one opposite and are dying to spend some time running about among the fountains.
The splash park is busy, but it’s great to see people enjoying something for free. There’s no entry fee, no ticket required, just turn up and play for as long as you like and the kids love the freedom (there’s a huge fence around it). In fact they love it so much that we return every day. We also found joy at the fountain next to the D-Day Museum, where jets spray up at random times. Again, it’s free, simple, good honest fun.
And of course no trip to Southsea would be complete without a swim in the sea. Southsea’s beach stretches for miles, you can walk along the prom and there are plenty of places to settle down. Southsea’s pebbles are not the most pleasant thing to hobble over to get in, but once you’re in and have got over that shock of the cold water, it’s exhilarating. I consider swimming off and leaving the family on the shore, however, the four-year-old calls ‘Mummy come back’ and I decide it’s best to return to parenting.
As well as sitting on Southsea’s pebbles, we also spent some time simply lying down and then playing games with the kids on the common - and we realised how lucky the city is to have such a beautiful area for everyone to enjoy.
Families are sitting together enjoying a picnic and barbecue, people are playing football, others are walking dogs, kids are playing, some are throwing frisbees or flying kites.
Rarely, when we are caught up in city life, do we take five minutes to appreciate what’s under our noses. And checking into the Queens Hotel with its beautifully-decorated rooms, opulent lobby, swish dining room, wonderful food and attentive staff gave us the chance to spend some quality family time together.
So in summary, if you live near you should visit, if you’ve never been you should visit and even if you live on the other side of the country you should visit, as Southsea makes a great family-friendly city break.
‘No trip to Southsea would be complete without a swim in the sea’