Gosport is a town in Hampshire, a short water ride away from Portsmouth. Although not a traditional destination, it does have some attractions if you are interested in maritime history.

Understand

• Local council website

Get in

By road

Leave the M27 at Junction 11 and follow the A32. At rush hour, and sometimes at weekends, this is a busy road with long delays.

By ferry

The Gosport ferry across the harbour mouth is the most convenient way to get to Gosport from Portsmouth. An adult ticket costs £4.80 return, £3.00 for children or pensioners. A supplement is payable for bikes and e-scooters. Combination tickets are also available giving unlimited bus travel for a day in Hampshire. The website has details of ferry schedules and ticket pricing.

See

1 Explosion - Museum of Naval Firepower, Heritage Way, Priddy's Hard, PO12 4LE. Award winning museum of naval gunfire. Shuttle bus in summer from Gosport ferry or a 15-minute walk. Adult £10.  

2 Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Haslar Jetty Rd, PO12 2AS (10 min walk from the ferry). Collection includes the World War II-era HMS Alliance and HMS Holland 1, the Royal Navy's first submarine. There are also a couple of midget submarines and a large collection of smaller items. Adult £12.50 (10% discount online).  

3 Fort Brockhurst. May to Sep: 2nd Sa of month: 11AM-3PM. A Palmerston Fort built between 1858 and 1862. The outside of the fort can readily be seen, but the inside is only open on five Saturdays. Fort Rowner is a similar fort nearby, but it is inside a naval base and is rarely open. (updated Apr 2020)

Drink

1 The Castle Tavern, Castle Row, Mumby Rd, PO12 1AD, ☏ +44 2392 583 991. (updated Jul 2021)

2 The Fighting Cocks, 78 Clayhall Rd, PO12 2AJ (Alverstoke), ☏ +44 2392 529 885. Wadworth (updated Jul 2021)

3 The Four-Ale Taproom, 45 Stoke Rd, PO12 1LS, ☏ +44 2392 584 455. Craft beer bar, no music. (updated Jul 2021)

4 The George & Dragon, 70 South St, Gosport PO12 1ES, ☏ +44 2392 513 920. (updated Jul 2021)

Sleep

Alternatively there is accommodation in neighbouring Portsmouth. 1 Premier Inn, Fareham Road, PO13 0ZX. (updated Apr 2020)

Nearby

Rowner

4 Living History Village of Little Woodham, Grange Farm House, Little Woodham Lane, PO13 8AB, ☏ +44 2380 644 691. 17th-century village on ancient woodland in Rowner (on the Gosport peninsula). Gosport Living History Society villagers dress in costume to talk about Charles I, the impending war between the King and Parliament, their village life and day-to-day existence as if it were the summer of 1642. (updated Jul 2021)

Go next

Portsmouth, with its naval dockyard, D-Day museum and other attractions, lies across the harbour. There is a shingle beach with views of the Isle of Wight near Gosport at Alverstoke, and another at Lee-on-Solent.