American Couple Reacts: Exploring Portsmouth, England Old Town & Dockyards | The Lost History!

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

This was highly unexpected! What we thought was going to be a long history lesson was actually a brief one but with SO MUCH to see in Historic Portsmouth, England UK! This place is fantastic! We had no idea there was so much here! The history, the ancient docks, forts, SUPER old ships, and all the modern buildings and shopping too! This is so much than only a history lesson. We will do a future episode on more of the Portsmouth Naval Base and other things. But we truly enjoyed this! Let us know if you live here or nearby! Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!

[@JacquelineBarnes-u5y]

Brighton just down the coast from portsmouth

[@MousePotato]

I live there.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

@@MousePotato Got a spare room? 😉

[@MousePotato]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow I wish. I barely have enough room for myself. But would love to have one of the big houses along the front :D

[@geordieb3959]

They used to abseil down the tower , not sure if it still happens. Apartments will cost you an arm and a leg lol.

[@danhollifield]

My wife is from Portsmouth, so I told her she'd like this video. She was correcting the narrator all the way through, LOL! She pointed out that the mix of old and newer houses in the same neighborhoods was probably due to reconstruction after the Blitz smashed so many homes to splinters. --Dan

[@davedevonlad7402]

Same as Plymouth in Devon, especially around the docks.

[@QALibrary]

The sea wall and path have been changed since this video was filmed and at the start, the area has been upgraded with cleaning and new decking and lights and the Nelson Passageway was reopened due to redevelopment work along with the new sea wall.

[@helsbells8980]

My dad born in 1933 was bombed out of two homes in Fratton, Portsmouth in the blitz

[@anncampbell4892]

i am a scot and i have lived in portsmouth for 50 years and i love it

[@robert-hh2ft]

OMG my home town!!!!lived here all my life!!!!!MEGA STOKED FOR THIS!!!!!!

[@sarahskeens3625]

Me too 😀

[@davidhayward5625]

And me!

[@AANDYist]

lived in gosport till 31 but lived this side 22 years.... Play Up Pompey :)

[@robert-hh2ft]

@@AANDYist its great isnt it?!!!pup!!!

[@dennoh01]

I'm a Londoner who moved to Portsmouth with my work. It is a great city with a unique history, with the bonus of being on the coast with all the benefits of a seaside resort. I agree with the previous commenter when they said that unfortunately the video missed the most interesting feature of Portsmouth ... the actual historic dockyard. Walking the decks of the Victory, standing by the spot where Nelson was shot , to the lower decks where he died and the amazing cannon decks where you are in awe of what the sailors went through in battles such as Trafalgar. I've lived here nearly forty years now and never regretted my move from London. Keep up the good work Ladies!!

[@AlBarzUK]

“Kismet, Hardy.” or “Kiss me, Hardy.”?

[@TheCarl82]

I also find the Solent forts and the ones on Portsdown hill like fort nelson really interesting but they often get overlooked for the Southsea attractions which is a shame.

[@tonys1636]

He failed to mention that Pompey is not just an Historic Naval Port but an active one and the home port of the two new Queen Elizabeth class Aircraft Carriers, although they weren't Commissioned when the video made. HMS Victory will be closed for quite a while longer as Termites were discovered in her timbers, a problem with wooden ships once dry docked and the timbers allowed to dry, shrinkage and joints opening is another. Their eggs laid in damp/green wood remain dormant until it dries.

[@peckelhaze6934]

I have been down to Portsmouth several times. The raising of The Mary Rose was live on TV at the time. I was one, of many, who watched it.

[@paulguise698]

It was on Blue Peter

[@AANDYist]

yes lads i remember it well, Us local ppl went down the harbour to watch with the school

[@sheert]

Southsea used to be a separate town from Portsmouth but now it is a large neighbourhood within the city, so you should watch the Southsea video as well! 5:47 The ruined church is a rebuild of a medieval Domus Deui which used to care for pilgrims and the sick. There is a good Time Team episode on that site (Governor's Green). 8:22 Spice Island actually begins by the house you admired (4 Broad Street). There used to be a city gate at that location. 9:22 The former storage space has been converted to artist studios, known as The Hot Walls. 6:13 The Square Tower is one of the oldest buildings in the city dating from 1494, it is now an events and wedding venue. 12:30 From that courtyard, a chain could be tightened across the mouth of the harbour to create a defensive boom against invading ships. 12:57 The peach coloured building on the right was the home of the marine artist William Lionel Wylie. 13:27 They missed showing the great customs watch house, which has a mini garden bridge to access. 15:31 I don't think Spice Island was literally used to import spices. It was an area outside the fortified city which became popular with sailors to spend time on leave. It was originally packed with pubs and brothels and became "notorious for lewd behaviour". The modern area has now been gentrified to be an exclusive historic neighbourhood. 17:45 The waterfront is very touristy. 18:12 Old Customs House on the right was part of HMS Vernon, a naval and undersea warfare base. 19:43 The Vulcan block behind the crane now contains an art gallery Aspex and flats. 19:55 There is a figurehead from HMS Vernon (presumably the naval base had a figurehead?) 22:15 That area is call The Hard, but it does include Portsmouth Harbour station. 24:15 HMS Warrior was the first ironclad ocean-going armoured battleship and world's first iron-hulled ironclad, and was launched in 1860. There is so much history in Portsmouth apart from the sea front but that route does contain many of the highlights. I am a resident of Milton/Southsea and a fan of the channel :)

[@robert-hh2ft]

i know im biased...but our history is legendary!

[@timhannah4]

Good, but not Quite Devonport........Largest Naval Base in W Europe!

[@janolaful]

​@@timhannah4which is in Plymouth also where the mayflower left not by Christopher columbus who never went near usa Christopher Jones was the captain. Been to both places meny meny times. 😊

[@willgatenby4118]

PUP!

[@Tommy-he7dx]

HMS Victory is still a commissioned Royal Navy warship!! it has 246 years of service with no plans to change, She is designated as the Flagship of the First Sea Lord.

[@tonys1636]

HMS Victory was the Flagship and official office of the Admiral Commanding Portsmouth until her current ongoing restoration, the First Sea Lord's Flagship is the most senior ship currently HMS Queen Elizabeth. Previously Battle Cruisers until they were withdrawn and the role landing on Aircraft Carriers, the last Battleship being HMS Vanguard, scrapped in 1965 only 20 years since her launch. Vanguard took the late Queen on her Commonwealth Tour in 1952.

[@michellejones5541]

My daughter served on HMS Victory for 12 months before she was deployed to the Falklands. She often tells of a time when a old lady asked if they were the original cannonballs by the cannons her reply was no we didn't ask you for them back 😂😂

[@duncancallum]

They might need it soon as we have very little ships left.

[@christopherharrop2923]

Great video, your reactions and enthuiasm are infectious. Some years ago an organisation I was a member of arranged a dinner on HMS Warrior. We sat on benches at tables between the guns where the gun crews would have worked and taken their meals. It was an incredible experience, never to be forgotten.

[@bluesilvahalo3576]

If you're checking out more video's please check out Portchester Castle which is right opposite Portsmouth dockyard, its a stunning castle built in the third century AD. I go there practically everyday because I live two minutes away from it but paid to go inside and to the top a few days ago (all the grounds around the castle called the outer bailey including a beautiful church Called St Mary's is free but to enter the castle itself you have to pay) and the history on display inside still blows my mind everytime I go.

[@AANDYist]

lived in Gosport and Portsmouth all my life and never been. You just sold it to me mate, I'll have a butchas sat cheers

[@christineharris4146]

Hi from Calgary. Visited Portsmouth twice when I still lived in England. Saw HMS Victory , which made me realise how hard it was for the sailors of the day, so cramped. Also left from Portsmouth on my way to the Isle of Wight. Well worth seeing.

[@MichaelHill-we7vt]

Portsmouth born and bred...........and for the past 35 years I've been a tour guide and worked within the historic dockyard, principally on HMS Warrior(even to the extent of being married aboard her!) it's a fascinating city being the most densely populated city in the UK after London, it's the only city on an island in the entire UK, it was among the ten most heavily bombed cities in the country during WW2 and it's the birthplace of Charles Dickens, Peter Sellars (and me!)and my dad was born in Old Portsmouth, on Spice Island itself, to be precise, right opposite the pub, the Still and West....................., and at one time or another, home to H G Wells, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, to name but a few......it also has the only commercial hovercraft ferry service anywhere in the world, and it's got the best football team on the entire planet (ok, I admit, I'm a bit biased there.........) I love the place, and wouldn't live anywhere else........and if you lovely ladies ever manage to get here and want to visit our beautiful city, I'd be only too happy to be your guide all around the historic dockyard, and the incredible collection of historic ships....as I said, I've been luck enough to be involved with that for the past 35 years, and its been a lot of fun........God, I LOVE this place, I really do, and I appreciate your doing a reaction on the dear old homestead.....Pompey till I die...........!!!

[@sarahskeens3625]

Me too 😀

[@ChrisPar-r]

Douglas is now a City on an Island

[@Psylaine64]

Ohh I hope they come and you can take them!

[@MichaelHill-we7vt]

@@Psylaine64 I'd be delighted to do that!

[@AANDYist]

u must know Emma Nash then (Dont know married name), i grew up with her brothers. shes a good egg deff

[@AdrianCurtis-n7f]

So many cool resorts in the south coast check out Bournemouth , Weymouth and Swanage and corfe castle and sandbanks

[@ThomasGarside-g5q]

I served in the Royal Navy, and was based in Pompey (Portsmouth) in the 1970's. Not been down there in a long while, as I live in Lancashire in Northern England. Can't get over how much it has changed, but seeing the dockyard gates brings back so many memories of my time on the grey funnel line 😊

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Thank you for your service 🙏🏻

[@ThomasGarside-g5q]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Thank you, love how Americans respect their servicemen/vets, wish we got the same reaction from people over here

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

We've made it our mission to make it happen

[@catherinewhite8819]

I always wanted to visit Portsmouth since a teenager when I watched the process of the Mary Rose being lifted from the seabed. I finally went last year, decades since. The Mary Rose was mind blowing!! It is a definite MUST to visit if nothing else when you come to the UK. Items on board look like they were made yesterday, the preservation is fantastic.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

We are definitely going to be visiting!!

[@catherinewhite8819]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Brilliant! And I feel honoured that you replied to my post!! 😊

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

@catherinewhite8819 We are honored that you watch our Show!

[@seantaylor4095]

I was born in Portsmouth and also went to university there. The historic dockyard is well worth a visit. The interactive tours of HMS victory and the Mary Rose really transport you back to the time, to experience what it would have been like to live and work on those ships during battle all those years ago, from the crew below deck to the captains.

[@AlisonAlmond]

My dad was in the navy & we lived In gosport, used to get the ferry to Portsmouth. When he went to the fawlklands on HMS Hermes he left from Portsmouth. Emotional day, I'm 49 now & can still remember it like it was yesterday. Love your channel xx

[@frankparsons1629]

HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was ordered in 1758, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. With 246 years of service as of 2024 she is the world's oldest naval vessel still in commission. Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Victory has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012. My grandfather was shown over her after the First War by a friend who was stationed onboard, she was then at anchor in the roads at Portsmouth. By 1921 a public Save the Victory campaign was started. On 12 January 1922, her condition was so poor that she would no longer stay afloat, and had to be moved into No. 2 dock at Portsmouth, the oldest dry dock in the world still in use. Since then much work has been carried out to her and still continues to this day. She sustained damage in WW2 when a 500 lb. bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe broke her keel. A nothing but eventful life for such a venerable and famous Royal Navy ship of the line.

[@TGSpectre1]

Born in Portsmouth and have done this walk more often than i can count. Really nice to see an outsider perspective. In the UK portsmouth has a reputation as a bit of a dive, and if you go a little way away from the money on the seafront, it's not entirely unearned. But it's the only city in Great Britain on an island and not the mainland, so at least we have that.

[@debbie8674]

Portsmouth is incredible! There really is so much more here than I had any idea! Did not expect any of this!!

[@brendabickers65]

I was born in Portsmouth and remember my early days growing up and playing in the rubble of derelict and bombed out buildings. Dad used to go through the rubble collecting all the old wood from the buildings to burn on our coal fire. The bombing left most of the remaining houses with serious structural damage ...we had to vacate the upstirs of our house and live in the downstairs rooms in-case high winds or storms brought the roof down. I still remember the many sites, sounds and smell of my childhood and loved my days growing up in Portsmouth.

[@LeeXRV]

This is incredible Brenda, thanks for sharing.

[@heraklesnothercules.]

I can remember as a child in the 1960s seeing all the dockyard workers streaming out at the end of work on their bicycles... much less traffic then, of course, so it was much safer than it would be today.

[@brendabickers65]

@@heraklesnothercules. Yes I remember that too. xx

[@brendabickers65]

@@LeeXRV My pleasure. x

[@lauraburnett9320]

I visited Portsmouth in the early 1980`s on the eve of the British Fleet sailing to the Falklands to take back the Islands from the Argentinians. We went out in a small motor boat to look at the ships preparing to sail, the crews were still adding protective paint to the hulls and painting out the `plimsoll' line to hide how much weight they would be carrying. We circled round the Royal Yacht Britannia which was anchored out in the bay, she served as a hospital ship. The leaving next day was watched by 1,000`s of people all cheering to their loved ones on board, and when they eventually came home, the whole town was fluttering in flags to see the Fleet return home. We will also never forget those who lost their lives, ships and aircraft while trying to secure the freedom of the Islanders......Admiral Nelson is also on top of the famous `Nelsons column ' in Trafalger Square, London.

[@carltontweedle5724]

I was on one of those ships RFA OLNA.

[@valerieshores8076]

I’ve been ,my husband was stationed there when he was in the Navy, also my dad when he was stationed there. The Mary Rose is well worth a visit, its fascinating,

[@garyandrews9020]

HMY BRITANNIA was not used as a Hospital ship during the Falklands war

[@stephenpetermay1721]

@@garyandrews9020 The Schools Cruise Ship SS Uganda was Taken Up From Trade converted to Hospital ship and sailed with the Task Force. One of my friends was a pupil on board at the time and was off loaded in a Med Port.

[@AANDYist]

yes mate i was 11 at the time and we would go down to the harbour with school and cheer on our school friends dads on ships leaving to go to war and come back, Stuck with me for life them memories

[@paulhanson5164]

Been meaning to visit Portsmouth since I moved about 40 miles up the coast to Bournemouth, I've always intended to see The Victory. So glad I watched this, taught me that I need to pre-book and that there is more to see than I realised.

[@ian-t7t]

The tower building across the harbour in Gosport is the "Hundred foot tower", part of HMS Dolphin the RN submarine base and nowadays museum. The tower was used to train in underwater escape and was bloody terrifying, not to mention cold and smelly. Keep breathing out all the way up to avoid your lungs bursting.

[@sjbict]

and just up the road is Royal Naval Hospital Haslar (RNH) where i did first part of my Medics training before going to Stonehouse in Plymouth. The Navy hospitals vary rarely get mentioned or shown on channels yet they were very advanced at the time they were designed built and operated. From Napoleonic wars through both world wars up to their closures.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

My brother-in-law's old boat is there. HMS Alliance.

[@jakejackson1969]

Hung out in the officers mess in Dolphin in the early 80s beautiful views over the solent

[@seanstanley-adams6511]

The 100’ Tower is no longer used for escape training. This function has now been moved to Plymouth, according to #1 son who is a LtCmdr WEO in subs

[@neilanyon4792]

Portsmouth has been one of my favourite cities since our first family holiday there in 1979. My dad fell in love with the combination of history, the naval dockyard and watching the shipping in the harbour. A couple of years ago we were able to scatter his ashes into the water between the Round Tower and Spice Island, so it will always have a certain resonance with us. My own kids have inherited the love of the place - the shops of Gunwharf Quays might have something to do with this in the case of my daughters!

[@davidjackson1794]

HMS Warrior was the first iron clad warship. It was restored in Hartlepool (my hometown) back in the 1980’s then towed to Portsmouth.

[@AANDYist]

my brother slept on it in the 80s for a week on a school trip thing

[@philbell5774]

I was a student in Portsmouth many years ago and this took me right back to some great memories.

[@stephensmith4480]

What an Amazing place. The Historic Naval Dockyard has so much to see and do. HMS Victory is well worth the visit alone. He Mentioned Gosport, which you could see across the Bay and is now where The Special Boat Service (SBS ) are Based.

[@simonc858]

Great video, I was lucky enough to attend a wedding on The Warrior, the small ceremony was held in the captains cabin and the reception was in a larger area, it was magical x

[@alanrobinson8065]

Being ex RN the Round Tower holds a special place, in many RN sailors hearts. It was usually the last glimpse of our families as our ships were deployed. And often the first glimpse of families on return. I will be down there again in November for a Messdeck re-union. Will be meeting in the pub just behind the cameraman whilst filming the Warrior. You got a glimpse of it on the right (black and white Tudor front)

[@monkey56001]

I used to live 30 min from pompey (Portsmouth) I watched the Mary Rose being raised as a child in 1982, I was fortunate a few years ago and attended a charity ball on HMS warrior, for help for hero's, we sat at the original tables and benches that the crew used on the gun deck, so right behind where you were sat, were huge cannons, and the tables and benches folded up Into the walls, when in battle, not that it ever saw battle, it was so well armored and bristling with cannon, that it never had to fire a shot in anger, the historical Dock yard is an amazing place, you should make a video. Love your show, keep up the good work.

[@Paul-yh8km]

When Royal Navy ships leave for or return from an assignment or mission, the family of the sailors go to the top of the Round Tower to cheer and wave goodbye or welcome them back. It also looks quite high, but when the new aircraft carriers come or leave port, they dwarf the surrounding buildings, including the tower.

[@chrisbrown4002]

Hello Natasha & Debbie, thanks for all your videos. I suggest you watch that chaps video on Southsea. Portsmouth is the UK's only Island city, declared a city in 1926. Southsea is a town within Portsmouth and is basically the seaside/holiday part. Portsmouth property is quite cheap BUT in Old Portsmouth the prices are sky high for obvious reasons !! There are forts out in the sea that you can see from Southsea and two of them have just been sold at auction. One or two of them were completely modernised as luxury home & hotel so interesting as a video on their own. Portsmouth has its own unusual emblem, an 8 point star over a crescent moon turned sideways, that was granted in medieval times. Portsmouth received its first charter from Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), in 1194. "a crescent of gold on a shade of azure, with a blazing star of eight points. Its my home city so happy to answer any other questions you may have. Cheers Chris

[@RayLawlor-y2n]

Guys I have been a follower of yours for 3 or four years. I've lived here for 15 years. I will watch your video first. And then add what attracted me and whilst I consider it home and safe, compared to London were I was born and raised. I will watch your video first. Then add any further items as a local xx

[@nicnicholson454]

I live in Portsmouth, and so much history was missed (not explained)along the route of this short video walk through. It really is just a tiny fraction of the history of this city which dates back well over a thousand years.If you do visit, you will have to set aside at least one whole day just for the Naval Museum! Great video, keep em coming.

[@AndyEdwards-ss6oe]

I was born in Portsmouth 66 years ago. I now live in Yorkshire (Have done for the past 28 years). Portsmouth is absolutely steeped in history, a must visit City on the South Coast of England with excellent links to the Isle of Wight (Ferry and Hovercraft). I won't say too much as I don't want to give too much away but I think you'll enjoy it. Keep up the brilliant work, I love this channel!

[@robertwatford7425]

I had friends who lived near Southampton, a little bit further West than Pompey, and when I visited we would often go out to Gosport, Portsmouth, Portchester Castle or other places of interest. I have been up to the top of the Spinnaker Tower and jumped up and down on the glass floor looking down at the ground 330 feet below. The Naval Dockyard is a video all to itself if you can find one.

[@ktwashere5637]

the best thing in Portsmouth is the Mary Rose museum. The Mary Rose was a warship for Henry 8th (guy with all the wives) which sank in the harbour. They raised it in the 80s. Its incredible to see and they were able to reconstruct details about the lives of the people on board.

[@minty258]

I'm currently based in Portsmout serving in the Navy. The video barely scrapes the surface. There's so much to the city! It's not far from Brighton, Southampton, London

[@mattymoowhite]

Also, the Portsmouth museum holds the D-day tapestry, depicting the Normandy landings 1944, mirroring the bayeux tapestry in France depicting the Norman invasion 1066

[@AdrianCurtis-n7f]

My great grandfathers brother is on the war memorial in Portsmouth his ship was the first to be torpedoed in the second world war , and my dad's mother was stationed there world war ll , she was in the RAF and was welding , when German bomb hit the building next door x love watching the videos 👍🏼

[@sandykenuk]

We live next to Portsmouth, we live in gosport, which also had a big naval history, and beaches where d day, was started. Were pretty lucky here, because we get very good weather for most of the year, because we are so far south. Even winter can be very sunny. Charles Dickins was born here.

[@lindziloo1478]

Oooh my home city. We have everything - beaches, history, open green spaces etc. We have a few grotty parts but the good outweighs the bad bits 😊

[@RobertSaxby-yo4bd]

Gunwharf Quays was not on a commercil dock but on HMS Vernon a shore establishment for minewarfare and underwater warfare. Minesweepers were based there.

[@exsubmariner]

I remember the missile at the main gate also home of the clearance diving team I was a submariner on the other side of the water

[@laraineweinberg2329]

I live in Portsmouth, it’s got so much history and is a lovely place to live

[@Michailelksav]

You have to find a video of the museum its brilliant. I used to have trips there when i was a child. The ships are amazing and the architecture. Its a brilliant day out. Great video Natasha and Debbie. 😊

[@hannahreynolds179]

This makes me miss my grandma. Even though we didn't live far from there, she took me on a day out to look at the ships and do some shopping because I was having a rough time in school. You would love the whole south coast. It was a fun place to be a teenager

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Grandma's are EVERYTHING!!

[@annedootson6456]

Cant believe he's doing this and hadn't booked its the best bit you will have find a video on raising the Mary Rose and around The Victory it's epic

[@bluesilvahalo3576]

Absolutely!

[@dianepiggott1083]

I would love to visit Portsmouth and see the Mary Rose. I remember being in school and we were supposed to be watching an educational programme. The teachers had a large group of pupils and wheeled the old TV in so we could see this schools programme. The teachers were setting up ready for us to watch the programme but they were on the BBC 1 Channel ( didn't have separate news channels back then), the BBC were showing live the raising of the Mary Rose. All the pupils wanted to carry on watching the raising of the ship. The teachers allowed us to keep watching and they started lifting the ship just before we had to go to our next lesson. I so wanted to stay and watch more, it started my love of history.

[@sarah_j_t]

Its so interesting seeing your home through the eyes of others. It looks pretty cool here. We just walk past all this stuff everyday and dont even notice it anymore

[@brianbridle951]

During my youth this area was pretty run down. Just to the north is Portsdown Hill and there are several Napolionic fort hidden in the hill. Also an obelisk that ships would use to navigate into the port, so the story goes. My birth place was on the far side if this hill in a village called Purbrook. The originall road from Pompey (Portsmout) to London, the A3, went through this village. I haven't lived there for 63 yrs (primarily because they turned my homeland into a concret jungle (Houseing).

[@UKJesterVids]

It's definitely changed from what I remember. The family did leave the area almost 50 years ago though

[@user-sf8jj2ed9g]

I live about a 20 minute drive from Portsmouth so very strange yet interesting to see you react to the City. It often gets a bad name for being a bit rough, but if you stick to the right parts of the City, such as Southsea, then it’s beautiful and its history is undeniable. Great video. May I recommend another Hampshire County city for you to react to, being the City of Winchester.

[@lincoles8301]

Me too I live near Waterlooville.

[@markmosley3547]

FYI the house that Natasha said she loved at 13:15 is called Periscope House and is currently for sale at the guide price of £2,500,000/$3,165,000 so Portsmouth can be very expensive.

[@skillspronto3401]

But equally as cheap. You have both extremes especially when it comes to the suburbs of it and the likes Somerstown, northend and milton😅

[@sarahs7766]

L❤VE Portsmouth (Everyone does) I use to work for the military and was based there. Gunwharf (Quays Shopping) is the best Quays ever… You can’t beat Portsmouth !! I go every year for a visit 🛍️

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

If you keep going east along the coast from Portsmouth for about 50 miles youd get to Brighton. If you go to the west about 20 miles from Portsmouth, you'll get to Southampton. One of the other major port cities, were they the Titanic launched from and were they also built Spitfires

[@lauraburnett9320]

They also built Spitfires in West Bromwich , Birmingham, and several other smaller `secret factories'.

[@adventussaxonum448]

​@lauraburnett9320 They moved manufacture from Southampton to Castle Bromwich to avoid the incessant bombing.

[@fulviozottola5012]

Your Geography is absolutely Spot on, Natasha. Brighton is at the other end of the South Coast of England from Portsmouth. Portsmouth is in Hampshire and Brighton is in East Sussex. But, the coastline connects the two, and I live right in-between the two, in a Town called Worthing, in the County of West Sussex. GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK!

[@johnlocke6506]

With my Mother being Portsmouth born and bred and Dad being in the Navy I and my brothers spent part of our childhood in the city and loved Southsea and Old Portsmouth.

[@ceanothus_bluemoon]

I remember sitting with my dad in 1982 glued to the telly watching the Mary Rose being raised, live, terrified that the cranes wouldn't be able to take the weight. Thankfully all was fine and it's an amazing exhibit to see up close. Another place to put on your tour list!

[@rocketrabble6737]

HMS Warrior was the first 'Ironclad' a iron-hulled, armour-plated, warship, with steam engines and sail power combined, which was built in response to French naval developments. In effect, it made every existing naval craft redundant. It never fired a shot in anger, before being decommissioned.

[@heraklesnothercules.]

Yes, it effectively put paid to Napoleon III's ambitions of empire.

[@Proctors1000]

If I remember correctly, it was partly redundant due to advances (maybe engines, can't remember) in ship design etc.

[@tonym480]

@@Proctors1000 At the time Warrior entered service the technology's of steam engines, armour protection and guns were all advancing at a rapid rate, not unlike the situation with aeroplanes in the first half of the 20th century. Ships that were considered 'state of the art' when laid down were obsolescent by the time they were commissioned. When she entered service Warrior was considered capable of defeating any other ship in the world, within 10 years she was obsolete. Being the first all iron warship she was 'over designed' , built heavier and stronger than necessary compared to subsequent ships of her type, this is probably a part of the reason she survived long enough to be saved for restoration after being used first as a depot ship and then an oil jetty.

[@juliebailey6097]

That’s weird coming on,one and the first thing I see was this video with the heading Portsmouth…. My city lol by the look of the Spiniker tower the video is a few years old now as it’s been re painted. There’s so much more to see via the history route. So glad you saw some of it but you must try and see a video with the new Royal Navy war ships and aircraft carriers that are docked here.

[@jacquelinepearson2288]

You really need to check out the naval museum. Kristen & Joerg made a video on their visit to see Nelson's ship HMS Victory. Nelson is one our national heroes and it would be worthwhile for you to checkout his story. He was given a state funeral (one of only five for people who were not monarchs), and he is buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

[@drytoast1]

I lived in Portsmouth in the eighty's at the pub the mucky duck(white swan one of UK's oldest haunted pubs) and used to be able to go walk around HMS victory its crazy to see how much the city has changed.

[@keithbaker4738]

Just a note people forget that Portsmouth is an island it is completely surrounded by water it is also the most heavily densely populated city outside of London

[@peterlovell]

It also has the most pubs per square mile in the UK.

[@johnduncan231]

Just in case you didn't catch it, on the walk from Southsea to Gunwarf Quays along the promenade, the street lights are the same shape as the Spinikar Tower. Nice observation deck with glass floor. It's always amusing to see people's reaction to standing on the glass floor with the 500 foot drop beneath you. Seems it's the little children who have complete faith in it while some of the adults look like they are trying to walk on water, don't think it's going to hold their weight.

[@planningto]

I can get to Portsmouth in half an hour from where I live. Fantastic place. Well worth a visit. I was there on Tuesday morning, arriving on the overnight ferry from Ouistreham.

[@wrorchestra1]

The Naval museum is 100% worth it. The HMS Warrior is the first armoured, iron hulled warship in the world. The Victory is where Nelson died. The Mary Rose exhibit is so well done. When I first went, as a kid, they had to spray the wreck with water to prevent it deteriorating, but they've been able to dry preserve it now. Each floor of the museum represents the deck of the ship you are level with. A little factoid about Portsmouth itself - the city is on an island, Portsea Island, and has the highest population density of any island in the British Isles archipelago.

[@TheCarl82]

And not forgetting the most important fact. It has the most pubs per square mile than any other UK city. 12 pubs per square mile 😃

[@AANDYist]

Dont forget the D Day museum and dolphin submarine museum Gosport side etc

[@ParamoreMike]

loved this video! I live in a town nearby portsmouth, love this area wouldn't change it for anything!

[@scottmccarter861]

Great video Love your enthusiasm and love you both more than you will ever know. Looking forward to the next fb live as well. Love again from Northern Ireland. Scott.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Thanks so much Scott!

[@lindachallinor5154]

Went to the Naval Museum with my sons about 15 years ago then back about 4 years ago its brilliant something for everyone.

[@davecroad6277]

Portsmouth is a beautiful city the naval history is impressive nice video

[@caroleteare924]

Portsmouth was one of the cities that was bombed to bits in the war. They were aiming for dockyards and ports and a lot of the original buildings were destroyed. Sad as that is, it enabled all the moden building to take place and I think they did a brilliant job. The old and new blend perfectly in my opinion.

[@laraineweinberg2329]

I was born in London, but my family moved to Portsmouth when I was 6, I’m 68 now! I consider Portsmouth to be my home and am very proud of our city. Hope you get to come and visit one day 😃🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@MikeLovesCars]

As you asked about house prices. I don't live far from Portsmouth ladies and the house prices in 'some' parts of Portsmouth are some of the cheapest in the South of England. Also checkout Southsea, it has nice piers, arcades and the Hovercraft, plus lots of ice cream👍

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Seriously???

[@MikeLovesCars]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow some areas are still expensive, but there are a few areas that are notably cheaper in general for the South. Having said that, house prices in the South compared to further up North are generally much more expensive.

[@rodpope7838]

I was there in 2016 - magical. I will be spending a lot longer there next time. Stayed at the historical George Hotel - just loved it. Portsmouth Historical Dockyard is just fantastic! Standing on the deck of the HMS Victory. Just wow. Mary Rose.... just wow. There is a lot more I didn't see so looking forward to exploring more next visit.

[@pabmusic1]

Portsmouth was such a good naval base because it gets twice as many high tides as usual (because of the Isle of Wight). Southampton too.

[@JohnJones-cp4wh]

Completely wrong, two tides a day I what I have always seen and fished in my 88 years of being a Portmuthian.

[@pabmusic1]

@@JohnJones-cp4wh So I'm correct then. I suggest you research the effect of the I.O.W. on tidès in the Solent and Spithead. You will see there are four tides a day, sometimes three, at Southampton and Portsmouth.

[@heraklesnothercules.]

@@pabmusic1 Yes, I heard the same only a few days ago on another video (sorry, can't remember which one).

[@kentthompson3836]

I live just north of Portsmouth. The video just touched on the amount of history in the area which is mainly naval. Also the part the city and the surrounding areas played in the D-Day landings.

[@jackierichardson901]

Congratulations girls on your KZbin award x x

[@debbie8674]

Thank you❤

[@josephturner7569]

Gunwharf quays is built on the site of HMS Vernon, mine clearance school. There was a big sign inside the Main Gate with every excuse painted on it for being late from leave. If you came up with a new one, you got away with it. But, it would be added the next day. Transport for sailors around the harbour was provided by Port Auxiliary Service (PAS) boats. I was at Dolphin in Gosport and used them to get to Portsmouth (Pompey). The main problem was, you left your station card at the jetty in Dolphin but when the pubs chucked out, you invariably missed the last PAS boat so had to get the Gosport ferry. That involved the long walk round, across pneumonia bridge, to the Main Gate. Always forgot to go to the jetty to collect my station card. Monday morning or the next day if in the week, I had to join the queue at the Regulating Office (Naval Police). There were so many of us, punishment was just usually a naval type talking too. Pneumonia bridge crossed Haslar Creek next to the posh yacht marina. It was a rickety old footbridge and the sound of the yacht rigging clanking in the wind was quite spooky. There were no lights. Now, it is like a full on road bridge. Haslar Creek is where the phrase 'Up the creek' comes from. It was access to the naval hospital Haslar from ships moored in the harbour.

[@josephturner7569]

When I was 12, my dad took me on his friends cabin cruiser moored between the ferry and the Warrior. It wasn't there then. We went round the Isle of Wight and broke down. On the far side. With no emergency equipment whatsoever. Eventually, a posh motor yacht came by and gave us a tow. Probably not wanting to be seen with us, it slipped the rope and we drifted into the submarine base. As we came along side a submarine, the sentry on the jetty said "Oi. You can't park that there" I kid you not. Anyway. To cut a long story short, we got a taxi back to Pompey. Little was I to know, I would be doing that very job a mere 4 years later.

[@jamielindsay1506]

I've never seen around Portsmouth, so this was really cool! There's a lot more to it than I thought. My dad was stationed there when he was in the Navy. Wishing you a great weekend ladies! ❤

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Thanks, you too!!

[@jonronton]

My son has just finished his first year at Portsmouth University and he's loving it there. There is a lot more he didn't cover and more gorgeous architecture throughout the city.

[@kristinapettersson1948]

What a beautiful city. 😮 Looks absolutely wonderful. very historical places. Wonderful video. congratulations again❤

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Thank you so much 😀

[@user-ec5kc6fj9i]

I used to mudlark under the hard railway pier. Worth checking out mudlarking.

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

Noice! If you like to see and learn about old ships, one of the other big legendary ship is the SS Great Britain. That's in Bristol. Dan Snow has a roughly 10 minute video on it, saying a bit about it and having a look inside. It is the ship that essentially all modern ships are based on "What Was It Like Aboard The Largest Passenger Ship Of 1850? | SS Great Britain With Dan Snow"

[@LilMonkeyFella87]

@sameebah yes £22 for an adult and you get unlimited returns for a whole year. Theres a lot of places that offer some sort of free return scheme

[@davidlauder-qi5zv]

Why didn't he show HMS Victory? Surely the most famous ship in Portsmouth?

[@heraklesnothercules.]

@@davidlauder-qi5zv I think it's inside the dockyard (haven't been for years) and as he said in the video, all the tickets were sold out.

[@davidlauder-qi5zv]

@@heraklesnothercules. The tickets are for going on board the Victory. I'm asking why he didn't even show the ship from a distance.

[@heraklesnothercules.]

@@davidlauder-qi5zv I thought you also needed a ticket to get into the dockyard, and it was these that were sold out.

[@missep1830]

I've lived in Portsmouth all my life and it's so crazy hearing you get so excited about Portsmouth haha, I've never thought of this as a place to come as a tourist. It made me think about how much history is crammed into our packed city (more densely populated than London!)

[@Paul-yh8km]

Well I live just outside Portsmouth. He mentions the tunnel Nelson used and says it's somewhere nearby. That was quite funny, because it was clearly visible when he walked past it earlier in the video. There's a footbridge over the moat to the right, that leads to it. I'll probably have more comments further into the video.

[@llamagirl2679]

My youngest daughter went to Portsmouth University and she loved it there so much that she still lives there now. She's been there 9 yrs.

[@mattymoowhite]

There was a semaphore telegraph chain all the way from admiralty in London to Portsmouth sushi that orders could go from London directly to ships out on the Solent.

[@heraklesnothercules.]

Sushi? 😅. I'm guessing you meant "such". Auto correct?

[@palerider4015]

Although I’m not from Portsmouth, I do visit often from my home in Warwickshire. I love it down there. So much Naval history to see and experience. I do have a family connection ….. my Grandfather was a Royal Marine barracked at Eastney, Southsea, Portsmouth during WW2. Today part of the former barracks is now the Royal Marines museum. Fabulous place to visit. Grandad was sadly killed in action in February 1944 and is listed on the massive Southsea memorial. I go every year and lay some flowers there to honour his memory. Could tell you loads more about the history of various places you saw on the video, but it would be too long. Best wishes and stay well ladies 👍

[@martinhoult]

if you have google maps click on the UK and you can see all the times and distances from place to place by car bus train bicycle and even walking ?you can change the map to over view and street view to see even more things and places ?

[@sarahwinkle6199]

Thank you so much for showing my old home town ladies. I haven't lived there for 30 years & this was such a lovely nostalgia trip! 🥰

[@drac1st]

When I was younger we lived in a lovely place called longparish and I remember being confused when people would get so excited about going to the seaside. Because I was born in Portsmouth and the seaside was virtually my back garden. 🤣😂🥰.

[@MrSmarty76k]

I'm just about to go fishing in longparish 🎣😁

[@bluesilvahalo3576]

I had a meal a few weeks ago in The Still and West pub restaurant and it's beautiful because you can sit by the window which is literally next to the water and watch the ferries go past, small one's and the much bigger one's. It was a wonderful day like this one, definitely a place to visit if you ever get here.

[@trialen]

Fun fact: HMS Warrior was the first naval ship with washing machines on-board.

[@meghanbailey567]

I live in Portsmouth and it was great to watch the video through your eyes. You don't realise what is on your doorstep because it's your everyday life but this made me appreciate where I live!

[@maitaimik]

Play up Pompey !

[@exsubmariner]

6.57 crew

[@maitaimik]

@@exsubmariner "You'll never take the Fratton End"

[@exsubmariner]

@@maitaimik I can't take a shower without falling over I'm far to old young man 🤣🇬🇧👍

[@sarahskeens3625]

Pompey play up!

[@paulmoore4223]

I'm from Leeds, but Pompey is my favourite English city. Lovely place

[@MaxwellMoore-d1u]

I Love the mixture of old and new in most British Cities.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Yessss!!!

[@phillipridgway8317]

I daresay the German bombing raids were largely responsible for that mix!

[@ollyjay07]

I've been living in Portsmouth all my 40 years so far. I like to kayak from hayling bridge over to Gosport and along the eastern road and back to Hayling. Nice seeing the coastline from another perspective

[@kathrynmcintosh2726]

Good afternoon from a lovely winters day in Perth Western Australia 🌏🦘.

[@winchy162]

The view out over the Solent from The Spinnaker Tower is fantastic

[@seanstanley-adams6511]

Had a lovely Valentines Champagne High Tea with my wife in the little restaurant/cafe at the top.

[@ATwinam]

I'm afraid he left out a colossal amount of historic history on his walk from Clarence Pier, He should have started his walk from Fort Cumberland at Eastney the furthest Eastern point of Portsmouth. I've lived in and around the area for over 60 years. I would have started at Eastney and a long Southsea sea front taking in Southsea Castle and The D-Day museum then around to old Portsmouth and Spice Island to the Historic Portsmouth Dock Yard and then up to the Palmerston Forts on top of the call ridge of Portsdown Hill which runs for about 6 to 7 miles... Yes the History of Portsmouth is absolutely phenomenal.....

[@AntonyMartin-e6c]

He did mention a previous video concentrating on Southsea - he may have covered these then

[@skillspronto3401]

Fort fareham and HMS Sultan has a starfort in, and fort brockhurst. Tonnes of pillboxes across the surrounding areas