The incredible UK seaside island city that's one of Britain's 'best kept secrets'

The UK's only island city is one of the country's "best-kept secrets" and the "soul" of our seafaring nation. Just off the coast of Hampshire, Portsmouth sits on Portsea Island, a low-lying peninsula separated from the mainland by Portsea Creek. It's a city which has played a pivotal part in 800 years of British maritime history.

Portsmouth was home to the headquarters and a major embarkation point for military and naval units destined for Normandy in the D-Day landings. The world's first dry dock was built by King Henry VII here in 1495. King Henry VIII's favourite ship, The Mary Rose, was built in the city. Britain's most celebrated warship, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's HMS Victory, now sits proudly in the docks. The city is also home to the 40-gun steam-powered frigate HMS Warrior - the first iron-hulled warship to rule the waves for the Victorians after it was built for the Royal Navy in 1859-61.

Dominic Jones, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Museum, told the Express Portsmouth has so much going for it in terms of its history and cultural offering.

He said: "It's an incredible place. It's an island city, which makes it really special. There's so much going for it from a historical and cultural point of view. It's probably one of Britain's best-kept secrets. Before I worked here I didn't know how amazing this place is. It's got everything you want from a city. It's just unique. The soul of our seafaring nation is here."

This includes the only museum in the UK dedicated to telling the story of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The D-Day Story on Portsmouth's Clarence Esplanade offers visitors the chance to board the last surviving landing craft tank.

At the Mary Rose Museum, you can see the wreck of Henry VIII's iconic battleship, which sank off the Isle of Wight on July 19, 1545, during the Battle of the Solent. That conflict saw Tudor England triumph over the French, but also saw almost all 500 men on board the Mary Rose drown.

The wreck lay at the bottom of the sea for 437 years until 1982 when it was raised from the Solent after its rediscovery in 1971 when Percy Ackland came across three exposed timbers sticking out from the ocean floor thanks to Alexander McKee's efforts to find the historic vessel.

A new 4D immersive experience lets visitors hear the stories of those who dived on the ship, ranging from Tudor divers to Mr McKee and his team of volunteers.

Mr Jones explained that for a long time, the remains of the Mary Rose sat in dry dock, and you couldn't get near it, but the public can now get much closer thanks to its purpose-built home - a timber-clad building designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Besides the Mary Rose, the museum, which first welcomed visitors in 2013, is full of artefacts raised along with the ship. These include the skeleton of a dog which died on board as well as a backgammon board recovered next to the skeleton of the ship's carpenter. Mr Jones said it is like "Britain's Pompeii" in the way so much had been retrieved and is now on public display.

As well as HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth boasts the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, which is home to what it describes as the only remaining World War 2 era submarine - HMS Alliance. Visitors here can also find out about Britain's at sea nuclear deterrent.

While Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a major draw, being home to HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior, the city's highlights also include Spinnaker Tower where you can dare to cross a glass floor or enjoy a truly "high" tea.

The Tower soars over Gunwharf Quays, a designer shopping outlet with big brands along the city's waterfront.

Near the seafront is Henry VIII's Southsea Castle, which has great views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. There are also miles of beach and seafront promenade to explore, as well as play areas, splash pools, a Blue Reef Aquarium, and two piers.

Visit Portsmouth said the city has a range of places to stay from "good" budget options such as Travelodge and Premier Inn, major chains such as Holiday Inn, Ibis, Marriott and Village and independent hotels, including the Queens Hotel and Royal Maritime Hotel.

For places to eat you can find major chains at Gunwharf Quays and a range of independents in Southsea. In Old Portsmouth, there are pubs with sea views offering food and along the seafront the Courtyard in Southsea Castle, The Briny and Southsea Beach Café.

It takes about 2 hours 20 minutes to drive to Portsmouth from London. It takes the same amount of time from Bristol. From Birmingham, it takes about three and a half hours by car.

There are regular trains to Portsmouth via South Western Railway. It takes less than 90 minutes from London and about 45 minutes from Southampton.