Portsmouth Geography, Location, and Climate

Geography and Location of Portsmouth

• Distance from Other Cities: Portsmouth is 73.5 miles (118.3 km) from central London by road. It is 49.5 miles (79.7 km) west of Brighton and 22.3 miles (35.9 km) east of Southampton.
• Location of Portsmouth: Portsmouth is the only city in the UK that is mostly on Portsea Island, though it has also spread onto the mainland.
• Nearby Town: Gosport is a town next to Portsmouth, located to the west.
• Separation from Mainland: Portsea Island is separated from the mainland by a small creek called Portsbridge Creek. Three road bridges, a railway bridge, and two footbridges cross over this creek.
• Geography of the Island: The island is part of a low, flat area called the Hampshire Basin. Most parts of the island are less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) above sea level.
• Highest Point on the Island: The highest point on the island is at Kingston Cross Road junction. It is 21 feet (6.4 meters) above sea level during spring tides.

Old Portsmouth

Old Portsmouth is the original town and is located in the southwest part of Portsea Island. It includes Portsmouth Point, also known as Spice Island. The main waterway entering Portsmouth Harbour passes between Old Portsmouth and Gosport, which is to the west.

Portsmouth Harbour and Surrounding Lakes

Portsmouth Harbour has several lakes, such as Fountain Lake near the commercial port, Portchester Lake in the south, and Paulsgrove Lake in the north. Other lakes are Brick Kiln Lake, Tipner, Bombketch, and Spider Lakes. To the northwest, around Portchester, there are more lakes called Wicor, Cams, and Great Cams.

Langstone Harbour and Farlington Marshes

East of the island is Langstone Harbour, a large tidal inlet. Farlington Marshes, located north of Farlington, is a 125-hectare area with grazing land and a salty lagoon. It is one of the oldest nature reserves in the area, created in 1771, and is home to many migratory wild birds.

Southern Coast and Forts

There are places like Spithead, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight in the South of Portsmouth. The southern coast of Portsmouth was protected by several forts, including the Round Tower, the Square Tower, Southsea Castle, Lumps Fort, and Fort Cumberland. Lord Palmerston built four sea forts in the Solent: Spitbank Fort, St Helens Fort, Horse Sand Fort, and No Man’s Land Fort.

Southsea and Eastney

Southsea is a popular area located along the middle part of the southern coast of Portsea Island, and Eastney is to the east. In 1626, Eastney Lake covered nearly 170 acres (69 hectares). To the north of Eastney is a residential area called Milton, along with a reclaimed land area called Milton Common (which used to be Milton Lake).

Milton Common and Baffins

Milton Common is flat and has some small lakes. Further north on the east coast is Baffins, a recreation ground and golf course near Portsmouth College.

The Hilsea Lines and Portsdown Hill

The Hilsea Lines are old forts on the north coast of Portsea Island, near Portsbridge Creek and the mainland. Portsdown Hill is the highest point to the north and has many prominent forts, such as Fort Fareham, Fort Wallington, Fort Nelson, Fort Southwick, Fort Widley, and Fort Purbrook. Portsdown Hill is made of chalk, while most of Portsea Island is made of clay and sand, formed millions of years ago.

Northern Areas of the City

In the northern part of the city, there are areas like Stamshaw, Hilsea, Copnor, Cosham, Drayton, Farlington, Paulsgrove, and Port Solent. Other areas include North End and Fratton. To the west of the city are council estates like Buckland, Landport, and Portsea, which replaced old houses destroyed during World War II bombing.

Leigh Park Estate

After the war, the large Leigh Park estate was built to provide homes for people who needed them. Although Leigh Park is now part of Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council still owns the land.

Train Stations

The city’s central train station is Portsmouth and Southsea railway station. It is in the city centre, near the Guildhall and the Civic Offices. South of the Guildhall is Guildhall Walk, which has many pubs and clubs. The city’s other train station, Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station, is located on a pier by the harbour near Old Portsmouth.

Edinburgh Road and Victoria Park

Edinburgh Road has the city’s Roman Catholic cathedral and Victoria Park, which is a 15-acre park that opened in 1878.

Climate Overview:

Portsmouth has a mild ocean climate, which is not too hot or cold. It gets more sunshine than most parts of the UK.

Winter:

In winter, frost is light and doesn’t last long, and snow is rare. Temperatures rarely go below freezing.

• The average high temperature in January is 10°C (50°F).
• The average low temperature in January is 5°C (41°F).
• The coldest temperature ever recorded is −8°C (18°F).

Summer:

In summer, temperatures sometimes reach 30°C (86°F).

• The average high temperature in July is 22°C (72°F).
• The average low temperature in July is 15°C (59°F).
• The hottest temperature ever recorded is 35°C (95°F).

Rainfall:

Portsmouth gets about 645 millimeters (25.4 inches) each year.

• Rain falls on 103 days each year.
• On some days, only 1 mm (0.04 inches) of rain may fall.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portsmouth Geography