And now for something completely different!

The British winter can be a dull and depressing time, so it is important to find something fun to divert yourself until the two days in June when we actually see some sunshine. Happily, Time Out has helped us out here by listing 11 of the top attractions in Portsmouth & Southsea to while away your idle moments. Enjoy!

Their list is woefully incomplete, of course. I can add a few:

Eating out

Steam Rüme Café – slick, modern, and close to the Uni on Elm Grove. I’ve never been in for some reason, but mean to one day soon.

Parade Café – Expensive but refined, with slices of cake that could each feed an entire family, this cafe boasts great views over Southsea Esplanade. Often crowded because it is so popular.

Canoe Lake Café – An inexpensive café overlooking the boating lake along the Southsea seafront. Watch the swans wander over and inspect your lunch from a respectful distance. You may still be able to buy special feed to give the swans -feed them and you will be their friend for life!

Sourdough Bakehouse – A cut above your usual greasy spoon cafe, with friendly staff selling everything from cooked breakfasts to toasted sandwiches and a range of mouthwatering cakes.

Café Fresco – Tucked away behind the cheap, cheerful and very popular Canoe Lake Café this gem sells a small but exquisitely executed menu at reasonable prices.

Sights and sounds

Blue Reef Aquarium – One of the very best attractions in Southsea. I don’t know how Time Out missed it off their list, visiting here was one of the most chilled days out I’ve ever had watching the sealife drift and swim past. A wonderful antidote to the stress of modern living.

Aspex and Jack House Gallery – There are probably many more but these three art galleries/studios host frequent events

No. 6 Cinema – An inexpensive independent cinema in Gunwharf Quays. Expect cheap tickets, a mixture of popular and more obscure films. The only downside is the limited leg room.

Clarence Pier and South Parade Pier – Since their heyday in the Edwardian era, Britain has started slowly losing its piers to erosion due to chronic underinvestment, so enjoy these two fine examples while you can! Lots of hidden entertainments, eateries and even a funfair at certain times of the year await, and the view from the end of a pier is something you cannot get anywhere else… did I mention that unlike the Spinnaker Tower, they are free to wander around?

Butterfly House and Natural History Museum – Free, warm even in winter, and you get to stare butterflies and colourful moths in the face. What’s not to like? Plus there is a museum right next to it. Best enjoyed either side of school half-term weeks, when people are literally queuing to get in.

D-Day Museum – Free to visit on D-Day itself (6 June) each year, this is the most comprehensive museum collection focused on this turning point in the war.