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City of Portsmouth

Portsmouth
City of Portsmouth
City & unitary authority area
Clockwise from top: Portsmouth viewed from Portsdown Hill, HMS Victory,  Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth Cathedral, the Spinnaker Tower alongside Portsmouth Harbour at night, Gunwharf Quays, Portchester Castle and an aerial view of Old Portsmouth
Clockwise from top: Portsmouth viewed from Portsdown Hill, HMS Victory, Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth Cathedral, the Spinnaker Tower alongside Portsmouth Harbour at night, Gunwharf Quays, Portchester Castle and an aerial view of Old Portsmouth
Flag of Portsmouth
Flag
Nickname(s): Pompey
Motto: Heaven's Light Our Guide
Location within Hampshire
Location within Hampshire
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South East England
Ceremonial county Hampshire
Admin HQ Portsmouth City Centre
Government
 • Type Unitary authority, City
 • Governing body Portsmouth City Council
 • Leadership Leader & Cabinet
 • MPs Flick Drummond (Con)
Penny Mordaunt (Con)
Area
 • City & unitary authority area 15.54 sq mi (40.25 km2)
Population (2011)
 • City & unitary authority area 205,100 (Ranked 76th)
 • Urban 855,679
 • Metro 1,547,000 (2007 estimate)
 • Ethnicity
(United Kingdom Census 2011 Estimate)
84% White British
4.3% White Other
6.1% Asian
1.8% Black
2.7% Mixed
1.1% Other
Time zone GMT (UTC0)
 • Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
Postal code PO1 – PO8 Inclusive
Area code(s) 023
Website Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth (Listeni/ˈpɔːrtsməθ/) is a port city in Hampshire, England, mainly on Portsea Island, 70 miles (110 km) south-west of London and 19 miles (31 km) south-east of Southampton. It is the United Kingdom's only island city and has a population of 205,400. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Southampton and the towns of Havant, Waterlooville, Eastleigh, Fareham, and Gosport.

The city's history can be traced to Roman times. A significant naval port for centuries, Portsmouth has the world's oldest dry dock and was England's first line of defence during the French invasion in 1545. Special Palmerston Forts were built in 1859 in anticipation of another invasion from continental Europe. By the early-19th century, Portsmouth was the most heavily fortified city in the world, and was considered "the world's greatest naval port" at the height of the British Empire throughout Pax Britannica. The world's first mass production line was set up in the city, making it the most industrialised site in the world. During the Second World War, the city was a pivotal embarkation point for the D-Day landings and was bombed extensively in the Portsmouth Blitz, which resulted in the deaths of 930 people. In 1982, a large proportion of the task force dispatched to liberate the Falkland Islands deployed from the city's naval base. Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia left the city to oversee the transfer of Hong Kong in 1997, which marked for many the end of the empire.


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