Portsea Hard

The principal transport hub of Portsea, connecting rail, ferry and bus services at the harbour waterfront.

The Hard is the busy transport interchange and waterfront area that sits between the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays. Its name derives from the hard, or firm landing place, that has existed here for centuries, providing a point of embarkation for boats crossing Portsmouth Harbour. Portsmouth Harbour railway station, a terminus of the line from London Waterloo via Guildford and the direct line via Eastleigh, stands at the western end of The Hard. The Gosport Ferry terminal is immediately adjacent, offering a frequent passenger service across the harbour. The Hard Interchange provides the principal bus terminal for the Portsea area, with services connecting to the rest of Portsmouth and beyond. This concentration of transport links makes The Hard the gateway to Portsea for most visitors. The area also contains several pubs and food outlets that have long served travellers and dockyard workers. The Bridge Tavern, directly overlooking the harbour, is a well-known landmark. In recent years The Hard has been substantially redesigned, with improved pedestrian spaces, cycle routes and better connections between the station, ferry, bus services and the attractions to either side. The area can be extremely busy during the summer months and on event days, when visitors arrive in large numbers for the dockyard and Gunwharf Quays.