Holiday cheer has arrived in Portsmouth! Use our guide to find all the best festive fun. Whether you're rediscovering your hometown or visiting Portsmouth for the first time, our guide is here to help you celebrate the season.
Step back in time with the Victorian Festival of Christmas, a beloved event that brings historical charm and festive activities to the city's historic dockyard. Experience the festive buzz with handmade gifts and seasonal treats at the Portsmouth Christmas Market, known for its cozy atmosphere and variety of stalls. And definitely don't forget the Port Solent Christmas Market, where you can enjoy waterfront views and unique shopping experiences. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Portsmouth
- Victorian Festival of Christmas
- Portsmouth Christmas Market
- Port Solent Christmas Market
- New Theatre Royal Christmas Pantomime
- Victorian Christmas at the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum
- Royal Marines Band Christmas Concert
- Cascades Shopping Centre Christmas Events
- Christmas Carols at Portsmouth Cathedral
- The Spinnaker Tower Santa Experience
- Guildhall Ice Rink
Portsmouth Holiday Markets and Shopping
Portsmouth Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans and unique Portsmouth-themed gifts
Description:
Portsmouth Christmas Market brings together the city's finest local artisans and producers. This bustling marketplace showcases handcrafted goods and unique Portsmouth-themed gifts you won't find anywhere else. Stroll through rows of charming wooden chalets, each offering a treasure trove of locally made items. Sample regional delicacies and warm up with a mug of spiced mulled wine. The market highlights Portsmouth's creative community, featuring everything from maritime-inspired artwork to handmade jewelry. You'll discover the perfect souvenir that captures the essence of this historic naval city.
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Port Solent Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Waterfront setting with boat-themed decorations
Description:
Port Solent Christmas Market sparkles against the backdrop of a picturesque marina. This waterfront event features a unique nautical twist, with boat-themed decorations and maritime-inspired gifts. Visitors can browse stalls offering artisanal products while enjoying views of bobbing yachts decked out in twinkling lights. The market celebrates Port Solent's maritime heritage, blending holiday cheer with seafaring traditions. Indulge in freshly caught seafood prepared by local chefs, a nod to the area's fishing industry. Live music from sea shanty groups adds to the coastal atmosphere, creating a distinctly Portsmouth holiday experience.
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Portsmouth Holiday Shows and Entertainment
New Theatre Royal Christmas Pantomime
What to Expect:
Interactive pantomime with local historical references
Description:
The New Theatre Royal's Christmas Pantomime injects local flavor into a beloved British tradition. This lively performance incorporates references to Portsmouth's history and landmarks, creating a unique show you won't see anywhere else. Audience participation reaches new heights as you join in with Portsmouth-themed jokes and songs. The pantomime features elaborate costumes that pay homage to the city's naval past. Enjoy a rollicking good time as talented actors bring classic tales to life with a distinctly Portsmouth twist. The theatre itself, dating back to 1856, adds a touch of Victorian grandeur to your evening of entertainment.
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New Theatre Royal Christmas Pantomime
Royal Marines Band Christmas Concert
What to Expect:
World-renowned military band performing holiday classics
Description:
The Royal Marines Band Christmas Concert delivers a powerful musical experience steeped in naval tradition. This world-renowned military ensemble performs holiday classics with precision and flair, their polished brass instruments gleaming under the stage lights. The concert showcases the band's versatility, ranging from traditional carols to contemporary festive tunes. Witness the pomp and ceremony of the Royal Marines as they execute intricate marching formations during the performance. The event honors Portsmouth's long-standing connection to the Royal Navy, with proceeds supporting military charities. Prepare for a stirring rendition of "Rule, Britannia!" that will leave you with goosebumps.
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Royal Marines Band Christmas Concert
Christmas Carols at Portsmouth Cathedral
What to Expect:
Candlelit carol service in a historic 12th-century cathedral
Description:
Portsmouth Cathedral's Christmas carol service offers a soul-stirring experience in a breathtaking 12th-century setting. The ancient stone walls resonate with the harmonious voices of the cathedral choir, their melodies unchanged for centuries. Flickering candlelight casts a warm glow on the intricate Gothic architecture, creating an atmosphere of timeless reverence. Join in singing beloved carols, your voice joining countless others who have sung in this space over 900 years. The service includes readings that highlight Portsmouth's rich maritime history and its connection to the cathedral. This event embodies the deep-rooted traditions of an English Christmas.
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Christmas Carols at Portsmouth Cathedral
Portsmouth Other Holiday Activities
Victorian Festival of Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian-era Christmas experience
Description:
Step back in time at Portsmouth's Victorian Festival of Christmas. This immersive event transforms the Historic Dockyard into a 19th-century winter spectacle. Visitors can stroll through gaslit streets, encountering costumed characters and traditional craftspeople. The air fills with the aroma of roasted chestnuts as you explore authentic Victorian shops and attractions. Participate in a Victorian-style parlor game to experience holiday entertainment from a bygone era. The festival pays homage to Portsmouth's rich maritime history, showcasing how sailors and their families celebrated Christmas during Queen Victoria's reign.
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Victorian Festival of Christmas
Victorian Christmas at the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum
What to Expect:
Authentic recreation of Dickens' childhood Christmas
Description:
The Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum transports visitors to the author's early 19th-century childhood Christmases. This intimate experience recreates the sights and sounds of a Dickensian holiday in the very home where the famous writer was born. Explore rooms adorned with period-accurate decorations and furnishings. Participate in a Victorian parlor game that young Charles might have played. The museum showcases how Dickens' early experiences in Portsmouth influenced his later writings, particularly his beloved "A Christmas Carol." Discover the origins of many modern Christmas traditions that were popularized by Dickens' works.
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Victorian Christmas at the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum
Cascades Shopping Centre Christmas Events
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday-themed installations and pop-up experiences
Description:
Cascades Shopping Centre transforms into a hub of holiday activity with interactive installations and pop-up experiences. This dynamic event series goes beyond typical mall decorations, offering engaging activities that change throughout the season. Try your hand at a giant interactive advent calendar, revealing daily surprises and prizes. The centre showcases Portsmouth's creative talent with rotating displays of local artists' work. Participate in a holiday-themed scavenger hunt that takes you through the centre's stores, uncovering the history of Portsmouth's retail scene along the way. These events breathe new life into the traditional shopping experience.
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Cascades Shopping Centre Christmas Events
The Spinnaker Tower Santa Experience
What to Expect:
Meeting Santa at 100 meters above sea level
Description:
The Spinnaker Tower Santa Experience elevates the traditional grotto visit to new heights – literally. Ascend 100 meters above sea level to meet Father Christmas in his sky-high grotto, offering breathtaking views over Portsmouth Harbor. This unique encounter combines the excitement of meeting Santa with the thrill of visiting one of Britain's tallest accessible structures outside London. Children receive a special gift that celebrates Portsmouth's maritime heritage. The tower's design, reminiscent of a billowing sail, pays homage to the city's seafaring past. Witness the twinkling lights of Portsmouth spread out below as you share your Christmas wishes.
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The Spinnaker Tower Santa Experience
Guildhall Ice Rink
What to Expect:
Ice skating in front of a historic Edwardian-era building
Description:
The Guildhall Ice Rink offers a unique skating experience against the backdrop of Portsmouth's majestic Edwardian-era Guildhall. Glide across the ice, surrounded by the grand architecture of this historic building, its imposing façade illuminated for the holidays. The rink's location in the heart of the city center infuses your skate with urban energy. Try your hand at ice sculpting during special workshops, creating frozen art inspired by Portsmouth's landmarks. The Guildhall, opened in 1890, has been a centerpiece of Portsmouth's civic life for over a century. Your skate around this temporary rink connects you to the city's rich cultural heritage.
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Santa's Grotto at Cascades Shopping Centre
What to Expect:
Santa's grotto designed to resemble a ship's cabin
Description:
Cascades Shopping Centre's Santa's Grotto transports visitors to a ship's cabin, reflecting Portsmouth's naval heritage. This uniquely designed space brings together the magic of Christmas with the city's maritime history. Children enter through a mock ship's hatch to meet Santa in his captain's quarters, complete with nautical instruments and maps. The grotto showcases miniature models of famous ships built in Portsmouth's dockyards. Participate in a knot-tying activity, learning a skill used by sailors for centuries. This innovative take on the traditional Santa visit provides an educational twist, introducing young ones to Portsmouth's seafaring legacy while they share their Christmas wishes.
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Santa's Grotto at Cascades Shopping Centre
Nearby Events
Alverbank Hotel Christmas Lunches (Gosport)
What to Expect:
Festive dining with views of the Solent
Description:
Alverbank Hotel's Christmas lunches offer a gastronomic journey with stunning views of the Solent. This culinary event showcases the best of local produce, with each dish telling a story of Hampshire's rich agricultural heritage. Savor a menu that blends traditional British Christmas fare with innovative twists inspired by Portsmouth's coastal location. The hotel's prime position provides diners with panoramic vistas of passing ships, connecting your meal to the area's maritime traditions. Indulge in a dessert featuring Alverstoke gooseberries, a local variety that's been cultivated in the area since the 18th century. These lunches celebrate the flavors and history of the region.
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Alverbank Hotel Christmas Lunches