Southsea Castle lighthouse

Southsea Castle lighthouse in Portsmouth is a short white-and-red tower rising from the north face of Henry VIII's coastal fort on Portsea Island, Hampshire. You cannot climb it, but it is one of the best-known sights on the Southsea seafront and a good reason to explore the castle behind it.

Where does the lighthouse come from?

The castle dates from 1544 and was built to guard the Solent against French invasion. When the fort was refurbished in the 1820s, the Admiralty asked for a navigation light, and the tower went up in 1828 on the western gun platform. Historic England lists it at Grade II under its own entry, separate from the castle.

The lamp worked as a sector light, steering vessels into the harbour between Spitsand and Horse Sand forts. One source says the tower was raised in 1854 and its sectors changed from red and white to red and green. It stands about 10 m tall, but because it sits on top of the castle walls, the light shone from a good deal higher above the sea.

Is it still in use?

No. The light was switched off in 2017 and replaced by a new structure at the harbour mouth, a change linked to reworking the approach for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. The old fourth-order lens is displayed inside the castle.

How do you get there?

The castle sits on Clarence Esplanade on Portsmouth's south shore, right beside the seafront promenade and shingle beach. It is an easy walk from central Southsea, and there is pay-and-display parking along the front. The lighthouse is visible from the castle grounds and from the promenade.

What else is nearby?

• Southsea Castle – a 16th-century artillery fort with a square keep and angled bastions, run by Portsmouth City Council as a museum covering Solent defences and Henry VIII's 1545 visit.
• Southsea seafront – a long walk with views of ships entering the harbour and across to the Isle of Wight.
• Spitsand and Horse Sand forts – visible offshore in clear weather, they marked the edges of the old light sectors.

When should you visit?

A clear afternoon between April and October works best, when the castle museum keeps its summer schedule, generally Tuesday to Sunday, with shorter opening outside the season. Check the castle's website for current hours before you go. Stay on for sunset over the Solent.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouse? No, the tower is not open to visitors. You see it from outside, and the former lens is on show in the castle.

When was it built? In 1828, more than 280 years after the castle itself, at the Admiralty's request.

Does the lighthouse still work? No. It was decommissioned in 2017 and a new structure at the harbour took over.

Are the castle and lighthouse the same listed building? No. The lighthouse stands on the castle's north face but has its own Grade II listing.