A smart cream-and-black corner building on Southsea's Marmion Road houses Roux at 27, retailers of fine jewellery, dealing mainly in diamonds and precious stones. Ladies who like gems can also gaze contentedly at hand-made silver rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
Tango Tea, on Southsea's trendy Albert Road, entices shoppers inside with its quirky window display. Both the shop and frontage are crammed with china and glass objects, furniture, jewellery, vintage clothing, posters, prints and contemporary art.
Available :
Daily; not Wed or Sun
Built in 1544 at the behest of Henry VIII, Southsea Castle has enjoyed a long and healthy life, although it has long since retired from military service. It now maintains its 19th-century appearance thanks to Portsmouth Council.
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Apr - Sep 2013 (annual)
Frogs from South America and Northern Australia, freshwater otters, tropical angel fish and puffer fish are just some of the extraordinary and colourful creatures to be discovered at Portsmouth's Blue Reef Aquarium.
Available :
Daily
Visitors can learn everything about the history of Portsmouth at the City Museum, from the Stone Age to today. An exciting permanent exhibition left by Richard Lancelyn Green explores Sherlock Holmes and the life of his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle.
Available :
Daily
Portsmouth's Route 66 causes a stir with its themed nights and dangerously cheap drinks offers. With three floors, three bars and two dance floors, you can even hire the club for your own party or promotional night.
Available :
Daily
The Spinnaker Tower rises 170 metres above Portsmouth Harbour and Gunwharf Quays. The cutting-edge landmark pierces the city's skyline, offering sensational views of the harbour, Solent coastline and the city itself.
Available :
Daily
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard houses some of the city's principal attractions, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Royal Naval Museum, Action Stations, the Mary Rose and Dockyard Apprentice. Visit individual attractions or take a guided tour round the harbour.
Available :
Daily
One of Britain's most famous authors, Charles Dickens began life in Portsmouth in 1812, where he stayed for just three years. The interior of the house in which he was born and is now set in the Regency style of the era.
Available :
Feb 2013 (various dates)
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, just a few minutes by ferry from Portsmouth, offers the chance to step onboard a real submarine and learn what life is like stuck in cramped conditions with enemy ships nearby, as well as to hear heroic tales and learn about the lives of the crew.
Available :
Daily
This museum in Gosport traces the history of naval firepower. It's not the best place for pacifists or those of a nervous disposition, as visitors come face to face with the atom bomb, the Gatling Gun and the Exocet missile.
Available :
Weekends only
Travel back in time on Isle of Wight's quaint Steam Railway. After a wave of the guard's flag, whistling steam engines leave Smallbrook Junction, passing through Ashey and Havenstreet to Wootton and stopping at all small stations along the way.
Available :
Mar - Dec 2011 (annual)
Osborne House, former country retreat of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, is an English Heritage property on the Isle of Wight. See exotic influences from the Queen's eastern territories in the ornate Durbar Room and stroll around the Walled Garden.
Available :
Daily
The pungent bulb takes centre stage at the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, held at Newchurch Showground. Raising money for local charities, there's an entire marquee devoted to garlic cookery demonstrations, garlic-infused foods, music, acrobatics and arts and crafts.
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Aug 2013 (annual)
Around 40 boats leave from the Cowes Yacht Haven for the annual Classic Powerboat Race. Spectators can see them as they muster at the Royal Yacht Squadron from The Parade, Cowes and as they go down the Western Solent.
Available :
Aug 2013 (annual)
Sunday Best's Rob da Bank presents a weekend of excellent music at Bestival, held at the Isle Of Wight's Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park. The boutique festival is guaranteed to give you more smiles than any other this summer.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
The reborn Isle of Wight Festival welcomes top bands and 50,000 music fans to Seaclose Park in Newport each year. The beautiful island setting and impressive array of artists who appear see it frequently billed one of the country's top festivals.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
The Chichester Festivities music and arts event takes over venues throughout the town, including the Norman cathedral. Festival-goers can enjoy everything from classical music to jazz, comedy, fireworks and ghost walks.
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Jun - Jul 2013 (annual)
The Chichester Film Festival, at the Chichester Cinema, offers a mixture of premières, retrospectives, previews and special events. Over the years the event has premièred work by directors ranging from Robert Altman to Tim Roth, and welcomed many star guests.
Available :
Aug - Sep 2013 (annual)
The brainchild of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, Exbury Estate was bought in 1919 from the Mitford family and transformed into an idyllic garden with ornamental pools and paths. It is particularly famous for Rothschilds' collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
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Mar - Nov 2013 (annual)
The Friends Life T20 begins with a group format in June, before quarter finals in July and Finals Day in August. This year Finals Day takes place at Southampton's Rose Bowl where Hampshire Hawks play their home games.
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Jun - Aug 2013 (annual)
The Tithe Barn at Great Coxwell was described by William Morris as "the finest piece of architecture in England...unapproachable in its dignity, as beautiful as a cathedral, yet with no ostentation of the builder's art". It is now open throughout the year for history lovers to lap up.
Available :
Daily
West Dean festival is a perfect chance for families to enjoy music, performance and crafts together. Taking place in the beautiful West Dean Estate, an eclectic line up of bands complements activities like textile making, arts and cooking in the rolling South Downs.
Available :
Aug - Sep 2013 (annual)
Chichester Writing Festival, at West Dean Estate, comprises a weekend of discussions, debates, workshops with acclaimed authors, editors, agents and booksellers. This is the event for industry professionals and aspiring writers.
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Mar 2013 (annual)
Goodwood's spectacularly fast track relives the circuit's post-war glory days with a series of historic car races featuring vintage vehicles in a contemporary setting. Many people dress up and revel in the romance of motor racing as it used to be.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
The summer Glorious Goodwood week at Goodwood racecourse is one of the major events in the racing calendar. It was once described by King Edward VII as "a garden party with racing tacked on".
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Jul - Aug 2013 (annual)
The Goodwood Festival of Speed at Goodwood House brings together some of the world's top drivers, past and present. They also bring their machines, with everything from steam power to the technology of Formula One.
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Jun - Jul 2013 (annual)
Discover Southampton's rich history of aviation at Solent Sky. The vintage aircraft on display encompass Flying Boats, jet fighters, helicopters and the famous S6 racing seaplane. Taking pride of place is the legendary Supermarine Spitfire, designed by RJ Mitchell.
Available :
Daily
Southampton's Museum of Archaeology gives a historical tour of the city from Prehistoric times to Roman occupation and the reign of Queen Victoria. It is housed in God's House Tower at the south-east corner of the old city walls.
Available :
Daily; not Mon
Art Asia brings Southampton Mela Festival to Hoglands Park. A colourful event with music, arts, dance and crafts activities, there's also a funfair, clothes stalls and great food to tuck into. More than 20,000 people come to enjoy the fun.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
Southampton's Maritime Museum tells the story of the city's nautical history since the first docks were built in the early-19th century. There's a special exhibition on the Titanic, which set sail on its fateful maiden voyage from Southampton in 1912.
Available :
Daily; not Mon
Southampton's Medieval Merchant's House offers the opportunity to see how a trader would have lived and worked 700 years ago. Built in 1290 by John Fortin, a merchant who traded with others in Bordeaux, it was located on one of the busiest streets in the town back then. Today it has been renovated by English Heritage to reflect its mid-14th-century appearance, removing any additional building after this period.
Available :
Weekends only
Southampton's artists' market, held at the marketplace next to Bargate Monument on the first and third Saturday of the month, provides an opportunity to view and buy a wide range of original artwork direct from talented local artists.
Available :
Feb 2013 (various dates)
The Edge is an easy-going gay venue in Southampton which offers a range of weekly activities, from pole dancing on Mondays and karaoke on Tuesdays to party night on Saturday, when dance and chart music fill the floor. There are also frequent cabaret shows and a loft restaurant to relax in with friends.
Available :
Daily
The beautiful Abbey of Beaulieu is situated at the heart of the New Forest and was founded back in 1204 by a grant from King John to an Order of Cistercian monks. It grew to wield huge power and influence until Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538. Today, it is open to the public, along with Beaulieu's Palace House and Gardens and the renowned National Motor Museum.
Available :
Daily
WestQuay is Southampton's multi-million pound leisure development, with around 100 shops and outlet stores selling everything from lifestyle, sport and fashion to toys and games, electrical and media. There are plenty of eateries and cafés on the WestQuay Food Terrace.
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Daily
Welsh National Opera take three operas on tour this autumn, stopping here at Southampton's Mayflower. Five nights will see two performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Rossini's Barber of Seville as well as Janacek's Katya Kabanova.
Available :
Nov - Dec 2013 (annual)
Plots and convoluted intrigue typify Welsh National Opera's two spring productions at Southampton's Mayflower. Comedy first, in John Copley's new production of Johann Strauss' effervescent Die Fledermaus, while darker forces are at work in Verdi's Il Trovatore.
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Mar 2013 (annual)
Mayflower Park hosts the annual Southampton Boat Show, which has been going strong since 1969. It's a showcase for watersports lovers featuring marine activities, unrivalled shopping opportunities and some of the world's most luxurious yachts.
Available :
Sep 2013 (annual)
Co-funded by the University of Southampton, the Nuffield Theatre has been entertaining the city's culture vultures for more than 40 years. A fully independent producing theatre, the Nuffield has also produced award-winning plays that have toured across the UK.
Available :
Daily
08457 76 76 76
