Campsites near Portsmouth, Hampshire

Camping and glamping in Portsmouth usually means casting your net a bit wider than the maritime city limits. The heart of this city is its vibrant waterfront where there’s little room for camping and glamping among the wealth of historic sites and modern amenities. Look a little further, though, and you will see that there are some fantastic camping and glamping sites well within reach of Portsmouth’s centre. Whether it’s a country, woodland or riverside pitch that you’re after, Hampshire will probably oblige. And the great thing about camping and glamping near Portsmouth is that the county’s other treasures are within easy reach too: from the South Downs National Park to the Isle of Wight and Winchester. There’s plenty of holiday parks and caravan sites all along the south coast, but here at Hipcamp we look for sites that capture the essence of an old-fashioned camping holiday. Sometimes it means fewer facilities and it almost always means less concrete and static caravans – but it doesn’t mean you have to be prepared to rough it. We love classic camping and look out for sites that offer simple pitches with a special feel but we also know there’s a time and a place for luxury. As a result, there are plenty of great glamping sites in our collection too from yurts and tipis to shepherd’s huts and gypsy caravans.

Things to do in Portsmouth

Some of Britain’s most-recognisable historic ships including HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, have found a permanent dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It’s the city’s flagship tourist attraction and includes the National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth. If you’re camping and glamping near Portsmouth, it’s likely that it’s on your list of things to do but there’s plenty more to see here too. You can hop aboard a boat for a tour of the harbour, head up the Emirates Spinnaker Tower for far-reaching south-coast views and visit King Henry VIII’s Southsea Castle. Shingley Southsea beach stretches east of the castle and it’s here you’ll want to head for if you want a day of seaside fun.

Just across the harbour from Portsmouth is Gosport where there’s more maritime history, beaches and watersports. In the other direction, it’s not far to the classic seaside destination of Hayling Island. Southampton, the historic city of Winchester, the South Downs National Park and the New Forest are around half an hour’s drive away.

About

At the heart of England's south coast, the Hampshire city of Portsmouth is awash with maritime heritage and popular weekend attractions. We've been our uncovering the best campsites and glamping sites in the area, with a select short-list of our favourite places to stay.