Southsea

Where Portsmouth is all naval dockyards, ferry terminals and city traffic, Southsea turns its back on that and faces the sea instead. This is the resort side of Portsmouth: a long promenade, a shingle beach, and a slower pace that sets it apart from the working port just up the road. It's still very much part of the city, but the mood changes as soon as you reach the seafront.

Southsea's identity is bound up with the water and with the D-Day story it helped write. The D-Day Story museum sits close to the seafront and is one of the area's key draws, telling the story of the Normandy landings that were planned and launched from this stretch of coast. Nearby, Southsea Castle is a reminder of the area's older defensive role, built to guard the Solent, and it's worth a wander around even if you don't go in. Clarence Pier brings a more traditional seaside energy, with rides and amusements right on the front, while Southsea Skatepark and the Portsmouth Natural History Museum give the area a bit of range beyond the beach.

Most visitors stay close to the seafront itself, within reach of the promenade, the castle green and the shops and cafes that line the streets running back from the beach. It's a compact area to base yourself in, easy to walk around, with the sea on one side and the rest of Portsmouth a short trip away for anyone who wants to see the dockyard or the harbour.

Southsea works well as a base for a coastal break that still has a city on its doorstep. Spend your days on the beach, at the castle, or learning about D-Day, then head inland a few streets for dinner somewhere with more personality than the average seafront chain.