Portsmouth and Gosport sit a few hundred metres apart across the mouth of the harbour, yet by road they are the best part of an hour apart. The little green and white Gosport Ferry cuts straight across the water in about four minutes, which makes it one of the handiest, and cheapest, boat trips on the south coast.
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It runs from dawn until past midnight, carries cyclists and dogs, and hands you a grandstand view of the naval base on the way. This guide covers where to catch it, what it costs and how to make the short hop part of a good day out.
Where to catch it
On the Portsmouth side the ferry leaves from The Hard, right beside Portsmouth Harbour station and the shops of Gunwharf Quays. If you are arriving by train at Portsmouth Harbour, the pontoon is a one minute walk down from the platforms, and buses and the Hovertravel link stop close by too.
On the Gosport side you step off at the town pontoon, a short stroll from the High Street, the bus interchange and the waterfront. The whole thing is step free, so prams, wheelchairs and loaded bikes roll straight on and off.
Times, fares and tickets
The ferry runs every day from around 5:30am until midnight, with a boat roughly every fifteen minutes through the day. There are no sailings on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day and some bank holidays run a reduced timetable, so check before you rely on it.
Fares are modest. An adult single costs only a few pounds, and regulars can save with open returns, ten trip tickets or a season pass. The main things to know:
- children under 4 travel free, and those aged 15 and under pay a reduced fare;
- over 65s get a concession after 9:30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays;
- you can pay by cash, card or contactless at the Gosport ticket booth or the machines on the Portsmouth pontoon.
Prices and times do shift, so confirm the current fares before you travel rather than taking these as fixed.
Bikes, dogs and the practical bits
This is a proper working ferry for pedestrians and cyclists, not a car ferry. Bikes come aboard for a small extra charge, fully folded bikes travel free, and e-bikes and e-scooters are charged whether folded or not. Dogs ride free as long as they are on a lead and kept close.
In our experience the boat rarely feels crowded outside the rush hours, and even then the frequent service means you seldom wait long. Grab a spot by the rail on the open deck if the weather is kind.
A four minute cruise past the warships
The crossing is short, but the view is pure Portsmouth. As the boat pulls away you look straight into the naval base, where grey frigates and the odd aircraft carrier loom over the quays. Behind you the Spinnaker Tower soaring over Gunwharf leans against the sky, with the masts of HMS Warrior in the foreground.
It is the kind of ride where everyone drifts to the same side of the deck for a photo. For a few pounds and four minutes, you get a mini harbour cruise thrown in with your journey.
One tip from our team that regulars swear by.
Sit on the right as you leave Portsmouth for the best look at the warships, then swap sides on the way back for the Gosport waterfront.
What waits on the Gosport side
Gosport is quieter than its big neighbour, and that is part of the charm. From the pontoon you can wander the waterfront, watch the boats, or head along to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and its walk through submarine, a short bus ride or seasonal waterbus away.
Make a loop of it. Catch the ferry across, spend a morning in Gosport, then ride back with the city skyline rising to meet you. Few four minute journeys anywhere pack in this much to look at.
