Get to know Portsmouth better
Like any good island, Portsmouth is full of treasures. This is your chance to to get to know your way around and find places you’ll love.
Student Seafront Challenge
We’ve put together a trail that takes in ten of the most iconic places across Old Portsmouth and Southsea.
You’ll start in the city’s historic trading and seafaring heart, stroll to some of the seafront’s best sights, and end in a little haven of calm – with plenty of stops for ice cream on the way. You can do the whole thing in one morning or drop in to different places as you like during the week.
Take up the challenge
Grab your friends, fellow students or flatmates for a chance to win UoP merchandise!
- Follow the route
- Visit the 10 main attractions
- Take a selfie at each of the main attractions
- Answer each of the 10 quiz questions
- Submit your 10 photos and 10 quiz answers to studentcompetitions@port.ac.uk with the subject line 'Student Seafront Challenge' by Sunday 23 February 2025. Each student can submit an individual entry or you can enter as a group: it's up to you!
We will select winners at random on Monday 24 February 2025. Full Terms and Conditions can be found below.
The winners of the prize will be informed by email shortly afterwards and announced on our Instagram page. Enjoy the walk and good luck!
Quiz questions
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What is Spice Island also known as?
Clue – it is Portsmouth’s nickname! -
The Round Tower is located at the entrance of what?
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The Square Tower is situated in which historic area of the city?
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What is the old and original name for the Royal Garrison Church?
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What island can you see when you look across the Solent from Clarence Pier?
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What is the name of the piece of land that Southsea Castle stands on?
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What is the name of the promenade near to South Parade Pier where you can see amazing sea views?
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What is the name of the children’s funfair that can be found at South Parade Pier?
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What is the name of the self-drive boats that you can hire to join the swans and get across Canoe Lake?
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Southsea Rose Garden is also home to a garden linked with Portsmouth’s twin city of Maizura – what country is Maizura from?
The 10 destinations
Our trail is a loop so you can start and finish it anywhere you'd like.
1 | Bath Square
This is the historic tip of Old Portsmouth. The area was once known as Spice Island, a hangout for sailors seeking ‘spicy’ experiences to make their time onshore memorable.
2 | Round Tower
Built in 1418, this formidable structure was designed to defend Portsmouth Harbour and stop French ships from successfully mounting raids on the city. Today it hosts craft markets.
3 | Square Tower
Originally the residence of Henry VII’s military governor, this Tudor structure went on to be a naval ammunition store, meat store, semaphore tower and – these days – a wedding venue.
4 | Royal Garrison Church
Dating back to around 1212, part of the roof was destroyed by a Nazi firebomb raid in 1941. Stained glass windows show scenes from World War Two and the church’s earlier history.
5 | Clarence Pier
One of the largest amusement parks on the south coast, the first of Portsmouth’s two Victorian piers is unusual because it extends along the coast, instead of out to sea.
6 | Southsea Castle
Henry VIII ordered this fort built to defend England from invasion. From here in 1545 he saw his flagship, the Mary Rose, sink during the Battle of the Solent, against French invaders.
7 | Rock Gardens
Sheltered from coastal breezes but just a stone’s throw from the bustling promenade, this little haven of calm dates back to the 1920s, when rock gardens were very fashionable.
8 | South Parade Pier
Whether you want a place to eat, to shop, to watch live music, to fish, to ride the fairground or just enjoy spectacular sea views, you’ll find it on Portsmouth’s second Victorian Pier.
9 | Canoe Lake
A peaceful park set slightly back from the seafront, this is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic. The famous swan-shaped pedal boats reflect the lake’s status as a nursery for young swans.
10 | Southsea Rose Garden
Planted on the site of an old fort, you’ll now find around 40 varieties of beautiful, colourful roses. Be sure to visit the Japanese Garden and climb the steps for amazing sea views.
Student Seafront Challenge – Terms and Conditions
- You must be a current student at the University and use your university email address to enter (for example, up1234567@myport.ac.uk).
- There is one entry permitted per person OR per group.Closing date for entries is 11:59pm on Sunday 23 February 2025.
- The winners will be drawn at random on Monday 24 February 2025, announced on Instagram and contacted by their university email address to arrange collection from University House building in Portsmouth. Sorry, we can’t do deliveries.
- The promoter is: University of Portsmouth whose registered office is at University House, Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth PO1 2UP.
- By entering this competition, the entrant indicates their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
- The rules of the competition and route to entry are as follows: Entrants must be registered University of Portsmouth students with a valid university email address. Entrants must correctly answer all 10 questions in the answer form and submit 10 photos of the locations and send to studentcompetitions@port.ac.uk only. Entries sent to any other University of Portsmouth email address will not be permitted.
- The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control.
- Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
- The prize is University of Portsmouth merchandise. Prizes must be claimed by 4.00pm on Friday 28 March 2025.
- The prize is as stated and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prize is not transferable. The prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value.
- The winner will be chosen at random by software from all correct and completed entries received.
- The promoter will notify the winner when and where the prize can be collected/is delivered.
- The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
- The University does not accept responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any postal failure, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
- You are providing your information to the University of Portsmouth only and not to any other party.
- The University reserves the right to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the competition.