Birchwood is a family run, Guest House situated in the heart of Southsea which is totally non-smoking.

Heather and Ken offer a warm welcome, whether for a holiday break or a weekend stay, where we offer safe and comfortable accommodation all year round.

We are situated close to the Continental and Isle of Wight ferry ports (10 mins), the Gunwharf Quays shopping and leisure centre, Naval Dockyard with the Historic Ships and the Marine Heritage area. You will find yourself an easy short level walk to the Seafront with its delightful gardens and all the usual attractions, shops, pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and theatres.

Birchwood enjoys an excellent reputation for providing comfortable accommodation combined with quality and cleanliness. All rooms are en-suite and have complimentary tea/coffee, toiletries selection, hair dryer, colour television, alarm/clock radio, WiFI access and shaver point in the bathrooms.

Full English breakfast is freshly cooked with local produce, continental breakfast if preferred is also available, vegetarians can be catered for by prior arrangement. Breakfast is served from 7.30 - 8.30am weekdays and 8.00 until 9.00am at weekends. Birchwood holds full Fire Safety and Food Hygiene certificates. For the younger visitors we can provide cots and highchairs.

Relax at the end of the day in our comfortable lounge, overlooking Waverley Gardens. The Guest Lounge also has a multi channel large screen digital cable TV and DVD player.


Graded at 4 Star Standard for the last two years by the English Tourist Council, and listed by Portsmouth's Visitor Information Centres.

*Winner of the Crystal Award for "Best Guest House floral display" by Southsea Town Council for the last four years*

For a unique experience, visit the historic ships of Portsmouth, Henry VIII’s ship the Mary Rose, Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and of course, the youngest of the trio, the first ironclad warship HMS Warrior.

You can spend many hours just looking over these ships and the relevant artefacts around them. Why not take a trip around the harbour and see the current fleet in port, an event not to be missed.

Ferry across the harbour to Gosport and visit the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, and actually go inside one! The submarine has been raised on to a platform and you enter though doors in the side of the vessel. It certainly makes an interesting visit.

Take time out to enjoy the views over the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Visit the Royal Marines Museum, the D-Day Museum and the recently re-furbished Blue Reef Aquarium. Take the ultimate undersea safari and discover the marine life of local coastlines from native sharks and rays to the incredibly intelligent and playful octopus. Continue your safari through the underwater tunnel below a tropical sea. Daily talks and regular feeding demonstrations bring the experience to life. Open daily from 10am. Visit the new attractions "Explosion" and "Action Stations" to add a sense of excitement and adventure and which bring Royal Navy life a step closer.

Take some time out in the evenings in one of the seafront bars overlooking Old Portsmouth’s harbour entrance, a marvellous way to end the day watching life in a busy harbour with the large continental ferries and ships passing by where you can almost touch them. Visit the new "Gunwharf Quays", a major leisure and shopping complex with Bowling alley, Multi-screen cinema, many bars and quality restaurants, Nightclubs, Comedy club and Casino. It is around this area that the 550ft tall Spinaker Tower currently nearing completion situated alongside many other attractions, including new promenades and illuminated harbour as part of the Millennium Walk.

Portsmouth is becoming increasingly popular with tourists from both home and abroad and is now becoming renowned as a "world class" waterfront. It is a famous and historic naval port with the added benefit of also having a relaxing seaside resort of Southsea. Why not come and have a taste out of season for it is still a bustling city with lots of night life and excellent restaurants. Being so very conveniently situated for the Continental and Isle of Wight Ferries, why not break your journey with an overnight stay to relax before or after your crossing? We hope that this has given you a small insight into what there is available in this important maritime City and hope it may encourage you to spend some time in Portsmouth and Southsea.