The area
A very popular commuter hub, Gosport is located on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. It is situated directly opposite the City of Portsmouth, a place famous for its historic dockyard, its football team, its old town and its maritime prowess (it is home to the Mary Rose, HMS Warrior and Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory).
The two are linked by the Gosport Ferry, which runs frequent services and takes between 7 and 15 minutes depending on the time of day.
The natural, untouched beauty of the New Forest and the South Downs is on Gosport’s doorstep, offering ample opportunity for walking, running, cycling, days out and summer picnics.
Gosport’s town centre, located close by to the Ferry and the waterfront, is largely pedestrianised and is home to a wide range of shops and a bustling street market every Tuesday and Saturday.
On these days the high street is full to the brim with stalls selling everything from arts and crafts and flowers to clothing and local produce, with the market catering to all kinds of tastes. Throughout the year, specialised markets also pop up.
The shops on the high street range from chain stores and hair & beauty salons, to charity shops, pubs, mini-supermarkets, betting stores and two travel agents.
There are also a number of independent, local stores, selling everything from cakes and sweets to fishing tackles and old vinyl records.
As for property in Gosport, it’s a good mix of terraced, semi-detached, bungalows, maisonettes, new builds and one and two-bed flats.
The area can definitely be considered an affordable location in which to buy, with an average two-bed terraced home costing you around £190,000 and a 3-bed semi setting you back around £230,000.
In other words, considerably cheaper than London and other parts of the South East. Rents are also reasonable, with a nicely furnished two-bed apartment or flat costing tenants between £550 and £800pcm.
Things to do
Portsmouth, with all that city has to offer, is very close by, but Gosport has plenty to keep people entertained as well.
The town is a home to a number of fantastic museums, none more so than HMS Alliance, a Royal Navy Submarine Museum that has recently benefitted from a £7m refit. There is also Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower, an award-winning museum housed in 18th-century buildings on the waterfront, while the Diving Museum is also a family-friendly gem.
Fort Brockhurst, a 19th-century fortress with a moated keep, is one of Gosport’s most iconic landmarks – and well worth a visit (entry is free) – while the town also has a wide range of leisure activities available at various venues.
Monkey Bizness Indoor Play Centre is the ideal place for young kids to burn off all that excess energy, whereas those looking for peace, quiet and picturesque walks should head to the Alver Valley country park.
All over, Gosport is best explored by foot. The 3km long Waterfront Trail not only provides stunning views of Portsmouth Harbour, it also takes you past many of the town’s best museums and allows you to experience the hustle and bustle of Gosport’s thriving marina.
Food & Drink
Gosport is a haven for keen foodies, with a wide range of restaurants, bars and pubs. The best of the pubs is the, ahem, interestingly named “The Fighting Cocks”, which is a good old-fashioned local boozer with great home-cooked food, an excellent array of ales, friendly staff and a large beer garden that comes into its own in the summer.
TK snak is arguably the best café in town, although Lakeside Café & Bar might have something to say about that.
Arty’s at the Coach House – offering a mixture of Italian cuisine and pub grub – and The New Bengal are other popular local establishments, while Bobby’s Italian and Sapori are the place to go for pizza.
As expected of a town close to the sea, there are also many great places in which to get some fresh-tasting, deliciously authentic fish & chips. Pebbles Fish & Wine Bar, for something a bit different, and Karen’s Plaice or Smart Fish Bar, for something a bit more traditional, are the best places to go on a Friday evening.
Transport
Gosport has the dubious honour of being the largest town in Britain without an operational train station. However, Portsmouth Harbour station is a short ferry trip away, while Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea stations are also close by.
Further to this, Gosport’s numerous road and bus links more than make up for a lack of a train station.
Southampton Airport is a 42 minute drive away, with flights to destinations all across Europe.
Gosport is primarily a dormitory town and, as well as excellent links to Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and other major areas on the South Coast, has good connections to London, making the town a viable location for commuters working in the capital.
You can get to London Waterloo from Portsmouth Harbour in 1hr 39m, while Southampton can be reached by train in just over an hour.
Here at ChimneyPots we will do all we can to get your Gosport property sold or let. For more info please get in contact with us on 01489 584298.
Alternatively, to find out how much your property could be worth in Gosport (or how much you could rent it out for), check out our free and instant valuation tools.
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