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SOUTHSEA COMMON

67 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritagePicnic
Public accessDogs welcome67 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦40+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull
  • Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • Mooboo — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
CaféParking· PaidToilets

Best for

13 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow +37 more · last seen 2026; Grazing marsh — lapwing, redshank, snipe and wintering wildfowl

Free

Heritage

Grade I listed building: Portsmouth Naval War Memorial; Historic site with public access

Free

Picnic day out

café, toilets, car park

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow +37 more · last seen 2026; Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh priority habitat

Free

Family friendly

café, toilets

Free

Hiking

Named hiking route nearby: European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country Park; Named hiking route nearby: European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

10 signed routes nearby · 13 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Pilgrims' TrailWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Solent WayWalking route
Named routeListed length 87kmRegional walking route
The Shipwrights WayWalking route

A long distance route which links villages and towns in east Hampshire. The name reflects the use of oak grown at Alice Holt Forest for Tudor shipbuilding.

Named routeRegional walking route
European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country ParkWalking route
Named routeRef E9International walking route
European walking route E9, Isle of Wight alternativeWalking route
Named routeRef E9International walking route
Highland Terracepublic footpath · 70 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 70 mSurface pavedPath type: footway
White Hart Alleypublic footpath · 30 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 30 mSurface paving_stonesPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

121 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 222Cycling route
Named routeRef 222National Cycle Network
National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Route 22Cycling route
Named routeRef 22National Cycle Network
Route 224Cycling route
Named routeRef 224National Cycle Network
Portsmouth E-W routeCycling route
Named routeRef Portsmouth E-W routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.7 km
Named routeRef 2Length 1.7 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Shipwright's WayMountain bike route
Named route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

View across Southsea Common, towards Clarence Parade

View across Southsea Common, towards Clarence Parade

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