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Filming in Portsmouth

From stunning historic ships to castles and forts, Victorian buildings and modern architecture, Portsmouth could be just the location you’re looking for. City streets, urban areas, open spaces and parks, and our own seaside resort of Southsea adds a further dimension – four miles of seafront promenade, stunning gardens, a castle and a Victorian pier.

Portsmouth has been increasingly popular for filming and photography over the years and has hosted EastEnders, Silent Witness, James Bond, a Robbie Williams music video and the naval drama Making Waves.

Some great Portsmouth locations include:

• Port Solent is the country’s third largest marina, with stylish Mediterranean atmosphere. Cafés, bars & restaurants make the most of the waterside setting.
• The Florence House Hotel, Southsea, is the area’s only Boutique accommodation. Designer furnishings within a lovingly restored Edwardian building – a unique setting.
• Old Portsmouth’s cobbled streets and narrow lanes are home to some great English pubs and tearooms. Add to this the vibrant Camber Dock’s fish markets, stunning sea views and ancient fortifications.
• Sites such as the Hilsea Lido and South Parade Pier lend themselves perfectly to music videos and photo shoots.
• Pounds Marine began life as scrap merchants in the early 1900s. Disused ship parts, storage buildings and scrap give it a fantastic industrial feel.
• Southsea’s streets are host to a range of contemporary cafés and bars, individual and high street shops. Further south to the seafront, there’s a traditional pier, funfair, award-winning gardens and hovercraft landing point – with panoramic views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
• The D-Day Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Royal Marines museum have all advised on major feature films in recent years, including Saving Private Ryan and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
• Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower has viewing platforms at 100m, 105m and 110m with unrivalled views. It stands in Gunwharf Quays, a multi-million pound waterfront development with designer outlet shopping, stylish bars and restaurants.
• Portsmouth has two magnificent theatres – The Kings Theatre (opened 1907) and the New Theatre Royal (1884).
• Fort Nelson, Fort Widley and Fort Purbrook are situated high on top of Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour. Networks of tunnels and plenty of open spaces.
• The award-winning Blue Reef aquarium has themed displays featuring everything from seahorses to tropical sharks and a giant tropical ocean reef tank and underwater walk-through tunnel.

Our services

We offer a free information service for film crews, location managers and photographers wishing to use the area. We will liaise with the relevant council departments, police, residents and local businesses for you – and help find hotel or guesthouse accommodation for your film crews.

For more information, please contact Louise Rodwell on 023 9283 4116, or email tourism@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.