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List of tallest buildings and structures in Portsmouth facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Gunwharf Quays from the Spinnaker Tower
Gunwharf Quays and a section of the Portsmouth skyline
Spinnaker Tower from the Gosport Ferry
Portsmouth's two tallest structures viewed from Portsmouth harbour

Welcome to Portsmouth, a city on the south coast of England! This article explores the tallest buildings and structures that reach for the sky here. We'll look at structures taller than about 46 meters (150 feet). The most famous and tallest structure in Portsmouth is the amazing Spinnaker Tower. It stands at 170 meters (558 feet) tall. It's also the tallest building you can visit in the United Kingdom, outside of London!

Portsmouth's Tallest Structures Today

Portsmouth is home to many impressive buildings. Here's a list of the tallest ones you can see today. Some buildings might have the same height, so they share a rank.

Rank Name What it's used for Height (meters) Height (feet) Floors Year built
1 Spinnaker Tower Observation Tower 170 558 4 2005
2 East Side Plaza Portsmouth (Lipstick Tower) Homes 101 333 26 2008
3= Crown Place Student homes 73 239 23 2018
3= Greetham Street Student homes 73 239 24 2016
5 Ladywood House Homes 72 236 24 1971
5= Mammoth Mega Crane Industrial 72 236 0 2019
7 Admiralty Tower Homes 69 223 22 2008
8 Portsmouth Energy Recovery Facility Industrial 69 213 NA 2005
9 Europa House Student homes 64 207 18 1969
10 HMS Victory Museum Ship 62.5 205 5 1765
11= Catherine House (formerly Zurich House) Student homes 62 200 15 1973
11= Sarah Robinson House Homes 62 200 21 1967
13 HMS Warrior Museum Ship 59.5 195 6 1860
14 Travelodge Stanhope Road Hotel 59 194 11 2020
15 Millgate House Homes 57 187 21 1964
16 Stanhope House Student homes 56 184 19 2020
17 Guildhall Civic building 53.5 176 NA 1890
18= Barkis House Homes 52 171 18 1965
18= Nickleby House Homes 52 171 18 1965
20= Barnard Tower Homes 51 167 13
20= Edgbaston House Homes 51 167 18 1966
20= Handsworth House Homes 51 167 18 1967
20= Leamington House (demolished) Homes 51 167 18 1966
20= Tipton House Homes 51 167 18 1966
20= Horatia House (demolished) Homes 51 167 18 1965
20= St Mary's Church, Portsea Church 51 167 NA 1887
27 Goliath Floating Crane Industrial 50 164 NA
27 Park Building UOP University building 48 164 5 1908
29= Brunel House Student homes 46 150 12 1968
29= Trafalgar Hall Student homes 46 150 15 2002
29= Main Ship building Hall Industrial 46 150 1 2009

What's Next? Future Tall Buildings in Portsmouth

Portsmouth continues to grow! Here are some tall buildings that are planned or have been approved for construction.

Approved Projects

These buildings have been given permission to be built.

Name What it's used for Height (meters) Height (feet) Floors Notes
12-28 Arundel Street Tower Student homes 87 285 28 Expected to start in Autumn 2023
56 Arundel Street Tower Homes 72 236 22 Expected to start in Summer 2023
Portsmouth Point Tower 1 Hotel 67.55 222 19 Start date unknown
Victoria Building Education 52 170 13 Expected to start in Autumn 2023
Portsmouth Point Tower 2 Homes 50.5 166 16 Start date unknown

Proposed Projects

These buildings are still in the planning stages.

Name What it's used for Height (meters) Height (feet) Floors Notes
Slindon Street Mixed use 62 - TBC TBC 20 This is part of a Post Office redevelopment.
Debenhams Portsmouth Mixed use 120 (including a spire) 393 38 Planning submitted in December 2022.

A Look Back: Portsmouth's Tallest Through History

The story of tall buildings in Portsmouth really began in the 1960s and 1970s. Before that, older structures held the title of tallest. The Spinnaker Tower has been the tallest since 2005.

Years it was tallest Name Height (meters) Height (feet)
1130–1693 Portchester Castle - Great Tower 30 98
1693–1880 Portsmouth Cathedral 37 121
1887–1890 St Mary's Church, Portsea 51 167
1890–1912 Portsmouth Guildhall 53.5 176
1912–1969 240/250-ton Arrol crane, HMNB Portsmouth 61 200
1969–1971 Europa House 63 207
1971–2005 Ladywood House 72 236
2005–present Spinnaker Tower 170 558

Images for kids

  • Spinnakertower

    The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth's tallest structure.

  • Portsmouth Number One Tower

    The East Side Plaza, also known as the Lipstick Tower.

  • Crown Place, Portsmouth

    Crown Place, a tall student accommodation building.

  • Greetham Street

    Greetham Street, another student accommodation building.

  • Portsmouth Ladywood House

    Ladywood House, a residential building.

  • Portsmouth Admiralty Tower 5

    Admiralty Tower, offering residential living.

  • Portsmouth Energy Recovery Facility 2

    The Portsmouth Energy Recovery Facility.

  • Europa House, Portsmouth

    Europa House, a student accommodation building.

  • Victory Portsmouth um 1900

    HMS Victory, a historic museum ship.

  • Catherine House from Victoria Park, Portsmouth

    Catherine House, providing student accommodation.

  • Sarah Robinson House portsmouth

    Sarah Robinson House, a residential building.

  • HMS Warrior ensemble

    HMS Warrior, another historic museum ship.

  • Travelodge Stanhope Rd

    The Travelodge hotel on Stanhope Road.

  • Portsmouth Mill Gate House

    Millgate House, a residential building.

  • Stanhope House, Portsmouth

    Stanhope House, a student accommodation building.

  • Portsmouth Guildhall 20180617

    The Portsmouth Guildhall, a civic building.

  • Barkis House, Brownlow Close, Landport, Portsmouth (November 2017)

    Barkis House, a residential building.

  • Nickleby House, Church Street, Landport, Portsmouth (November 2017) (3)

    Nickleby House, a residential building.

  • University of Portsmouth Barnard Tower

    Barnard Tower at the University of Portsmouth.

  • Portsmouth Edgbaston House

    Edgbaston House, a residential building.

  • Leamington House, Earlsdon Street, Portsmouth - geograph.org.uk - 497565

    Leamington House (now demolished).

  • Flammable cladding being stripped off Horatia House

    Horatia House (now demolished).

  • St Mary's Church, Fratton Road, Fratton (NHLE Code 1104279) (November 2017) (10)

    St Mary's Church, Portsea.

  • Tipner Point, Portsmouth

    The Goliath Floating Crane.

  • Portsmouth University building

    The Park Building at the University of Portsmouth.

  • Brunel House, 42 The Hard, Portsmouth (March 2019) (2)

    Brunel House, student accommodation.

  • University of Portsmouth Trafalgar Halls

    Trafalgar Hall, student accommodation.

  • Main ship building hall, HMNB Portsmouth (cropped)

    The Main Ship Building Hall at HMNB Portsmouth.

  • Portchester castle 04

    Portchester Castle's Great Tower.

  • PortsmouthCathedral WestEnd

    Portsmouth Cathedral.

  • Portsmouth Dockyard during Portsmouth Navy Day 1980 3

    The Arrol crane at HMNB Portsmouth.

  • Portsmouth, Spinnaker Tower

    The Spinnaker Tower.

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