Portsmouth is one of the UK's most vibrant and exciting cities. Situated on the south coast of England and only 90 minutes by direct train to central London, it is a great place to live, work and study.

The Historic Dockyard is home to some of the most famous warships in the world, including Henry VIII's Mary Rose and Nelson's HMS Victory. In fact, Portsmouth is so rich in history that tourists from all over the world flock to the city to visit its numerous attractions, museums and places of historical interest. Celebrated people born in Portsmouth include Charles Dickens and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whilst authors HG Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling all called Portsmouth 'home' at one time.

Portsmouth's skyline is dominated by the impressive Spinnaker Tower, which offers stunning views over the city and beyond. Portsmouth is also home to calm marinas, green parks in which to relax and a beautiful coastline to enjoy. As one of the country's sunniest spots, Portsmouth also has much lower rainfall than the national average, making it the perfect place for those who enjoy great weather.

Welcome to the island-city

Portsmouth is one of the most important ports in the UK and is used to welcoming people from all over the world. The city is compact, so travelling around by foot or bike is very convenient and the money saved on transport means the cost of living in Portsmouth is relatively low. In addition to this, as an ICP student, you will have access to a free bus service provided by the University of Portsmouth using your campus card.

If you wish to travel further afield for your adventures, Portsmouth has hourly ferry links to the Isle of Wight and continental Europe as well as an airport just 20 miles from the city. In addition to being within easy reach of London, Portsmouth also sits close to the picturesque countryside of southern England with rolling green hills and typical English woodland.

If you like shopping, you will love Portsmouth. The city boasts three main shopping areas, including the £200 million waterside complex at Gunwharf Quays, which offers over 60 designer outlets, 30 restaurants/bars, a multi-screen cinema and a bowling complex. There are many restaurants throughout the city and diners are spoilt for choice with, amongst others, Chinese, Indian, Italian, French, Greek, Vietnamese, Turkish and Thai menus all available. You'll also find cafes and eateries along the cobbled streets of historic Old Portsmouth between Southsea and Gunwharf Quays.

Something for everyone

Sport is a major part of life in Portsmouth and the city boasts its own prestigious football team – Portsmouth FC – who were the proud winners of the world-famous FA Cup in 2008 and runners up in 2010. Cricket is also popular in Portsmouth and Hampshire Cricket Club play at the nearby Rose Bowl, which also features international matches. Sports facilities in the city are of an international standard and a brand new Olympic-sized swimming pool is currently being used as a training venue for London's 2012 Olympic Games.

The University of Portsmouth offers excellent sports facilities and its Athletic Union has over 50 different clubs that ICP students are able to join, with everything from football, tennis and cricket to skydiving, skiing and sailing on offer. All in all, Portsmouth really does have something for everyone and the wonderful location, the excellent weather plus the wide array of activities available make it one of the UK's premier places in which to live and to study.

Did you know?

• Portsmouth is the only island-city in the United Kingdom
• The city's iconic Spinnaker Tower is the UK's tallest accessible structure outside of London
• Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and his birthplace is now a museum
• Portsmouth is home to the UK Royal Navy and is at the forefront of maritime innovation

For more information go to visitportsmouth.co.uk