The Gosport Ferry
The harbour crossing to Portsmouth
The Gosport Ferry is the quickest and most direct route between Gosport and Portsmouth, crossing Portsmouth Harbour in roughly four minutes. For thousands of Gosport residents, it is a daily part of life.
The ferry runs from the pontoon at the foot of the High Street in Gosport to the Hard in Portsmouth, adjacent to Portsmouth Harbour railway station. This makes it exceptionally convenient for commuters, as the railway provides direct services to London Waterloo, Southampton, Brighton, and beyond. The walking distance from the Gosport ferry pontoon to the platform at Portsmouth Harbour station is less than two minutes.
Services run every few minutes during peak hours, with reduced frequency during the evenings and at weekends. The first ferries depart early in the morning and the last crossing is late enough for most evening activities in Portsmouth, though it is worth checking the timetable for the last sailing if you are out late.
Fares are charged for the crossing. Single and return tickets are available, and regular users can buy season tickets or stored-value cards for a reduced per-trip cost. Contactless payment is accepted. Concessionary bus passes are not valid on the ferry, which is operated commercially rather than as part of the subsidised bus network.
The ferry takes pedestrians and cyclists. There is no vehicle ferry across the harbour; drivers must use the A32 north to the M27, a journey of approximately twelve miles that can take thirty minutes or more in traffic.
The ferry is operated by the Gosport Ferry Company and uses modern passenger catamarans that can carry several hundred passengers per sailing. The boats are enclosed with seating, though many passengers stand on the open deck for the brief crossing, enjoying the views of the harbour, the naval base, and the Historic Dockyard.
The Portsmouth Hard terminus is also the departure point for the Isle of Wight hovercraft and catamaran to Ryde, making the Gosport ferry the first leg of a journey to the island.
When services are disrupted by severe weather or mechanical issues, Gosport becomes effectively cut off from Portsmouth by anything other than road. This reinforces the town's peninsula character and the importance of the ferry link.