Portishead
Portishead is a large port town in Somerset.
Understand
It is on the mouth of the river Avon and in the Bristol Channel. It is a commuter town to Bristol and also a place going rapid expansion due to housing demand from Bristol.
Get in
- By Motorway, Junction 19 of the M5
Get around
Map of Portishead
See
- 1 Portishead Marina, Newfoundland Way, Portishead, BS20 7DF, ☏ +441275841941. 24/7. Marina in the re-purposed dock of a coal terminal linked to electric power plants demolished in the early 1980s. Nowadays an example of gentrification, nothing is left of its industrial heritage and the marina is surrounded by low rise residential housing blocks. Free.
- 28 public art works around the marina and Ashlands development.
- 2 Tyntesfield, Wraxall, BS48 1NX (4 mi (6.4 km) south of Portishead), ☏ +44 844 800 4966, tyntesfield@nationaltrust.org.uk. A Victorian Gothic Revival house named after the Tynte baronets.
- 3 Portbury Ashlands. 24/7. Nature reserve between Portishead and the Royal Portbury Dock. The reserve is the result of redevelopment of the area where coal fired electric power stations dumped coal ash for about 50 years, starting in 1929. After power generation seized and the power stations were demolished in the early 1980s, the ashes were flattened and nature gradually reclaimed the area. The ashes create a unique biome, which is managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It is nowadays a have for water birds, as well as otters and grass snakes. Free.
- 4 Portishead Point lighthouse (Battery Point Lighthouse), High St. 24/7. Lighthouse designed by the Chance Brothers of Smethwick, built as a 9 m tall black pyramid on a concrete base in 1931 overlooking the marshes. It was originally equipped with a 2000 kg fog bell cast by Gillet & Johnston of Croydon in 1938, but the bell was removed in 1998 because of structural concerns and is now installed in Wyndham Way Close very near to High St. Free.
- 5 Battery Point. 24/7. Grassland covering a limestone ridge that was the location of a coastal gun battery during the Second World War to protect the Severn estuary from naval invasion by axis forces. The fossils, folds and faults in the area are of geological interest. Free.
- 6 Gordano Valley. 24/7. A valley on reclaimed land from the Severn estuary, only slightly above sea level, that is a designated National Nature Reserve. The 161 ha valley is of geological and biological importance, with over 130 species of flowering plants including 3 wild orchids. It is connected to the Severn estuary through the Portbury Ashlands, and a fantastic place for walks and hikes. Free.
- 7 Black Nore. 24/7. A section of the Portishead Pier made of up alluvial sandstone, rich in fossils of marine lifeforms dating back to the Carboniferous Period of geological history. Free.
- 8 Court House, Church Road South. Farmhouse dating back to Medieval periods but remodelled in the 17th and 19th century.
- 9 St. Peter's Church, Church Road South. Church built in 1320 and subsequently rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries in a Gothic style. It has a garden and churchyard hosting the war graves of 3 Royal Navy sailors and an airman who died during the Second World War. With its 29 m tall four-stage tower and set back buttresses and a pierced parapet, the church is a prominent landmark. Free.
- 10 Black Nore lighthouse. 24/7. White painted lighthouse built in 1894 as a navigation aid for the Severn estuary. It was originally gas powered, and connected to the municipal gas network. The drive mechanism was rewound manually once a day, to ensure the lighthouse would flash with a 5 Hz interval. Although it was electrified during the Second World War, the manual mechanism was only replaced by electric motors in 2000. It is no longer used for navigation and preserved as a Grade II listed building. Free.
- 11 Portishead Pier. 24/7. Concrete pier stretching ca. 100 m into the Severn. Free.
Do
- 1 Open Air Swimming Pool, Esplanade Rd, Portishead, BS20 7HD, ☏ +441275843454, info@portisheadopenairpool.org.uk. Apr-Oct Mo-F 13:00-17:00, Sa-Su 9:00-19:00. Open air heated swimming pool kept at a comfortable 28°C. Only open during summer months. Closed for the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Adults £5, children £3.50.
- 2 Portishead Beach. 24/7. Pebble and grass beach surrounded by a salt marsh, with views on the Welsh coastline. Free.
- 3 Lake Grounds. 24/7. The largest park in Portishead, with at is centre a century old artificial lake. It also hosts the Portishead cricket club. Free.
Buy
There is a large Waitrose Supermarket, plus a large shopping centre with all the usual chain stores including Argos and Homebase.
Eat
- 1 Corner Cafe, 166 High Street, BS20 6PY, ☏ +44 1275 817400. Old-fashioned cafe serving simple food and full English breakfast.
- 2 Pizza Picante, 113 Avon Way, BS20 6LT, ☏ +44 1275 460505. Pizzeria and fish & chips.
- 3 Spicy Aroma, Clarence House High Street, BS20 6PY, ☏ +44 1275 845413, Spicyaroma1@hotmail.com. Su-Th noon-14:30, 17:30-23:00, F-Sa noon-14:30, 17:30-23:00. Indian food. Starters from £3.50, mains from £7.95.
- 4 Ghandi Tandoori, 57 High Street, BS20 6AG, ☏ +44 1275 818515. 12:00-14:00, 17:30-23:00 daily. Upscale oriental cuisine.
- 5 Venga, 24 High Street, BS20 6EN, ☏ +44 1275 814391. Cocktails and tapas bar.
- 6 La Marina, Lockside, BS20 7AH, ☏ +44 1275 842266. Pizzeria and Italian cuisine overlooking the impressive marina lock gate, which is worth a visit on its own. Has indoor and outdoor seating. starters from £4.95, mains from £9.95.
- 7 The White Hart, Clevedon Road, Weston-in-Gordano, BS20 8PU, ☏ +44 1275 818702, whitehartwig@gmail.com. Gastro-pub in Weston-in-Gordano. 2 course lunch for £15 or 3 courses for £18.
- 8 Antonio's, 18 High Street, BS20 6EW, ☏ +44 1275 842674. Italian restaurant and pizzeria.
Drink
- 1 The Royal Inn, Pier Steps, BS20 7HG, ☏ +44 1275 843944. M-Sa 11AM-11PM; Su noon-10:30PM. Built in 1830 by the Bristol city council to promote Portishead as a seaside resort town, then known as the Royal Hotel. It served Brunel's railway line between Bristol and Portishead.
- 2 The Black Horse, Clevedon Ln, Clapton-in-Gordano, BS20 7RH, ☏ +441275842105. Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su noon-21:30. Authentic and cosy white-painted pub with an open fire and beer garden. Simple but quality food served around lunchtime.
Sleep
- 1 Premier Inn Portishead, Wyndham Way, BS20 7GA, ☏ +44 871 527 8898.
Connect
Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby
| Routes through Portishead |
| Bristol ← | N  S |
→ Weston-super-Mare → Bridgwater |