For international students, Portsmouth is such a great city to visit and Portsmouth in the summer is even better! As restrictions are starting to ease and the sun is shining down on us, we wanted to share some of our top picks of what is going on in our beloved city during summer 2021!
For the Music Lovers:
If you too have missed the buzz of seeing bands perform, that unique shared experience of live performance, then look no further than Portsmouth’s very own Victorious Festival. Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, Southsea Common is transformed in to a mega festival zone with over 10 stages of music. This year sees acts including Madness, The Streets, Richard Ashcroft, The Kooks and Feeder take to the stage to entertain us and remind us of what we’ve been missing out on. Tickets are available here.
If your visit to Portsmouth doesn’t happen to be on the Victorious weekend, there are many other gigs lined up for you to book, have a look at local venue, The Wedgewood Rooms on Albert Road in Southsea.
For the Culture Vultures:
If you feel like getting your walking shoes on and taking in some local art at the same time, then there are three walkable art trails created by 20 local artists which make up the ‘We Believe’ arts trail. Each artist has produced a piece guided by the theme of hope & optimism for our city beyond Covid-19.
For the Gigglers:
Live comedy is also coming back! Understanding a joke in another language might just be the ultimate test. Comedy gigs will be starting up again in various locations throughout the city. Take a look at musical, comedy sister duo Flo & Joan who will be at The Wedgewood Rooms on 5th August and funny man Russell Howard who’s appearing at The Guildhall on 1st August.
For the Aerodynamic:
Let’s go fly a kite! The Portsmouth International Kite Festival takes place on Southsea Common on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August and is a real spectacle with the sky filled with kites of all shapes and sizes. What’s even better is that this is a free event.
For the Sporty:
Being an Island city, Portsmouth is the ideal place to try Watersports! If you’re in Portsmouth this summer do check out The Watersports Hub for tuition in Stand Up Paddleboarding, Open Water Swimming and Kite Surfing. Why not see Portsmouth from the water too? However, if you prefer staying on dry land how about a tennis match? The Portsmouth Tennis Centre has indoor and outdoor courts available.
For the Foodies:
If you do like to be beside the seaside AND you enjoy super tasty street food then this event should be one for you. Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth is hosting the southern heats of the British Street Food Awards 2021 over the weekend of 28th August. Not around in August? Try fabulous street food any time of the year by heading over to ‘Outside-In’ in Middle Street near LSI/IH Portsmouth where you will find the most delicious range of street food in a hidden warehouse turned indoor food court. Thursday nights are popular when there is usually live music too!
Check out what’s going on in other cities in the UK and Ireland this summer with our friends at other IH schools:
IH Belfast
IH Bristol
IH Galway
IH Manchester