Moving to Portsmouth: Get to know your new city
‘Pompey’ is the United Kingdom’s only island city. Nestled into the beautiful southern coastline of Hampshire, this seaside city has a rich and diverse history. Portsmouth is well known for its Naval and Maritime history, a heritage that stands to this day.
With a population of around 205,400, and a higher population density than London, you won’t be short of people to meet in Portsmouth. If you want a personalised welcome to the city, why not explore with the help of Santa Fe’s personalised local orientation service?
What is Portsmouth’s history?
Portsmouth has been a prominent port on the south coast of the UK since the 12th century. And in 1927, it became the home of the British Navy under the rule of Henry VIII, which went on to become the Royal Navy under Charles II in 1660.
Today the world’s third largest maritime force remains based out of Portsmouth, with two thirds of the Navy’s surface vessels docked here. So, expect to regularly spot marines and officers in uniform, and crowds waving at Navy vessels leaving and entering the port. Portsmouth is also home to two spectacular cathedrals, and a host of historical architecture.
Portsmouth: highlights and culture
Portsmouth is a bustling city with exceptional sea views, that benefits from a mix of the old and the new. Just a stone’s throw from the historical docked ships in the marina you will find luxe modern shopping centre Gunwharf Quays, where you can pick up high street and high-end goods as well as grab something to eat overlooking the ocean.
Residents of the city enjoy walks along the coastal path, and the marina, taking in the sunsets or just watching the variety of boats coming in and out of the port. Whilst there is a strong corporate industry, living in Portsmouth offers you the opportunity to enjoy the leisurely pace of life on the beach once you’ve finished your 9 to 5.
If you’d like to get to know the city like a local, our orientation experts can put together a personalised welcome experience, showing you all the parts of the city and things to do that we think you’ll love the most. At Santa Fe, we make moving home easy for you. So our team are here to create the perfect, personalised moving experience just for you.
Things to do in Portsmouth
There are so many great things to do in Portsmouth, we’ve had a tough time narrowing it down to our ‘Santa Fe favourites’ shortlist. This is our must do list for new movers to Portsmouth:
- Take a trip up the Emirates Spinnaker Tower and enjoy uninterrupted views of the coastline from 170 meters.
- Visit the Historic Dockyard where you can take a look at Henry VIII’s flagship war ship, the Mary Rose, as well as the HMS Victory and HMS Warrior.
- Walk along the Portsmouth Piers. Our favourite is the vintage Clarence Pier, where you can enjoy old fashioned English seaside amusements.
- Spend a morning walking around the D Day Museum, followed by a stroll around the Museum of Naval Firepower.
- Get to grips with the wealth of beach activities now on your doorstep. From surfing, beach runs, kayaking and swimming, you are now only a short stroll from the water every day.
Where’s best to live in Portsmouth?
Whether you want a modern city centre apartment or a Georgian house, Portsmouth has a vast choice of real estate available. For commuters a city centre home offers easy access to the train station and main roads, making the luxury modern city centre apartments very popular. As are the mix of old and new homes with sea views.
We would suggest looking at homes in our favourite areas: the city centre (for convenience), Old Portsmouth for history and beautiful architecture, and Southsea for sea views. With the average detached Portsmouth house for sale for around £416,000, house prices are competitive in comparison to London, but you will pray a premium for coastal views.
At Santa Fe, our dedicated property specialists work tirelessly to match you with your dream home, saving you time and stress.
Family life and education in Portsmouth
Portsmouth benefits from a range of good state run and independent schools, including popular ‘good’ Ofsted rated secondary schools: the Admiral Lord Nelson, the Priory School, and the Charter Academy.
The city also boasts the University of Portsmouth, which has been rated a top 25 UK University by the Guardian University guide 2019.
If you’re unsure which Portsmouth school is right for your family, Santa Fe are here to help. Our local experts can help you with your school search alongside our Portsmouth removal service.
Portsmouth travel information
Living in Portsmouth means you benefit from excellent transport links. It’s just a 75-mile drive to London, taking around 1 hour 45 minutes. Or you can catch the train from Portsmouth train station to Waterloo and be in the city in 90 minutes. This train route runs regularly, 7 days a week.
Portsmouth benefits from good road links, with the journey to Southampton being just 20 miles, where you’ll find your nearest airport. The convenience of Southampton airport means you don’t have to journey into London to make European and domestic trips by air.
How can Santa Fe Relocation help my move to Portsmouth?
We have a wealth of local knowledge, as well as exclusive and personalised services to make your moving experience seamless and stress free.
At Santa Fe Relocation, we believe in making your relocation as easy as possible. Trust us to take care of every step of the moving process, giving you peace of mind and more time to enjoy the move.
