Portsmouth is a city on the south coast of England. It belongs to the ceremonial county of Hampshire, but form a unitary authority. Nicknamed Pompey, Portsmouth is one of three most important naval ports of England.
The city of Portsmouth is located on the northeast coast of the Solent, on the island of Portsea (separated from the rest of England by the Portsbridge Creek), between Portsmouth Harbour to the west and Langstone Harbour to the east, and facing the Isle of Wight.
Southampton, north-west, is the nearest large city of Portsmouth.
Being based on an island, Portsmouth offers a natural port that has its main historical interest. The island was virtually uninhabited before the twelfth century. However, the beginning of the fifteenth century saw the development of a naval base. To the west of this port is Gosport.
Portsmouth is one of the few city-island of the United Kingdom and the limited space for a significant number of inhabitants making it the second most densely populated area of all the UK after central London.
The north of the island is separated from the English land by a narrow stream that gives the island the appearance of a peninsula and the horizon, always north side is marked by Portsdown Hill.
