Gosport factfile

How to get to Gosport
Gosport is situated on Portsmouth Harbour in Hampshire. The town is minutes away from the M27 motorway. The nearest railway station is Portsmouth Harbour.

Gosport through the ages
The earliest record of Gosport was in around 1100, when the Bishop of Winchester sheltered here after being rescued from a storm. It was a small fishing community until naval activities had a major influence on its development.

By the 19th century, Gosport's military importance led to a line of five forts being built across the peninsula, and in World War II the town made a major contribution to D-Day. Its long legacy of boat-building and sailing continues to this day.

How Gosport got its name
Gosport's medieval name was "Goseport", meaning port of geese. It is thought that wild geese used to gather here.

Things to see and do around Gosport
The extensive waterfront is full of opportunities to sail, windsurf, jet ski and rib ride. Sightseeing cruises run around the harbour, into the Solent and out to nearby Hamble River and Beaulieu River.

Famous landmarks in Gosport
The Crescent in Alverstoke village is a fine example of Georgian elegance, featuring a splendid terrace thought to be the best example of its type in Hampshire.

Spitbank Fort is an impressive man-made island built as a military defence in 1870. Standing proudly a mile offshore, the fort is now an entertainment venue.

Gosport's Millennium Regeneration project included a new promenade which is home to The Time Space—an impressive sundial and 24-hour light-clock inspired by Einstein's theory of relativity.

Sports and leisure in Gosport
This thriving seaport has plenty of opportunities for action, with busy marinas and south-facing sandy beaches offering wonderful views across Portsmouth harbour and the Isle of Wight.

Golf has been played at Gosport and Stokes Bay Golf Club since 1885. It was on this demanding course that the term "bogey" originated.

Arts and culture in Gosport
Explosion! is an interactive museum set in a former gunpowder and munitions depot. It tells the story of naval warfare from gunpowder to modern missiles.

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum gives visitors the chance to climb on board the World War II submarine HMS Alliance, and Holland I—the Navy's first submarine from 1901.

Entertainment in Gosport
The fascinating 1642 Living History Village was awarded the Best Tourist Attraction in Gosport in 2007. Children and adults love the rural settlement, which brings part of England's history back to life.