The 170-meter-tall Spinnaker Tower may dazzle tourists even from a distance. Not only due to its height, but also the construction sector that charms the eyes with its unlikely design. It resembles a sail that is ready to set on a journey on the water. Furthermore, no design can more accurately represent Portsmouth than this one.
Portsmouth takes pride as a harbour town in Hampshire, England. It is the only city in England whose areas are mostly not on the mainland of the country. Rather, it is situated on Portsea Island, which is off the south coast of England in the Solent. Find more cool stuff about the Spinnaker Tower in the paragraphs that follow.
What is the spinnaker tower?
Spinnaker Tower is the name of a tower in Portsmouth. Its exact location is on the waterfront of the Gunwharf Quays shopping centre of the town. The tower has a long history. In 1998, the residents took part in a poll to determine the design of the construction. The majority of the voters opted for the spinnaker as it currently appears.
After around seven years of construction, the Spinnaker Tower was open to the public for the first time on 18 October 2005. Visitors can climb the tower to enjoy the 360° view of Portsmouth. Thus, this is the tower that people can see when they are in the Isle of Wight, the Manhood Peninsula and the Highdown Gardens in Worthing.
The reasons why the spinnaker tower is famous
Spinnaker Tower is popular because it offers breathtaking scenery above sea level. It has three options for viewing, which are at heights of 100 metres, 105 metres, and 100 metres. Whichever position chosen, the guests will explore an amazing panorama as far as 23 metres across Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth city, the Solent, the South Downs, and the Isle of Wight.
By design, the Spinnaker Tower is a stunning construction. To reiterate, the tower perfectly sums up the status of Portsmouth as a coastal city. It reflects sails billowing in the wind, much like what a real ship does while adventuring on rough waters. Moreover, the materials for the tower shape are two large, white metal arcs. Once more, the structure can captivate visitors' attention for a considerable amount of time when viewed from a distance.
They can simply adore the building without having to spend the money to enter it. The Spinnaker Tower is also rich in history, and that alone is such a fascinating study for history freaks who wish to know more about the port. Interactive touch screens provide information that will enrich their understanding of the surrounding areas.
Cool activities inside and around the spinnaker tower
The Spinnaker Tower is the major attraction within Gunwharf Quays. It is a shopping complex in the Portsea area of Portsmouth. It first welcomed public visitors on 28 February 2001 after undergoing repairs for around six years. Together with the tower, the area is a must-see when visiting the town.
Whichever you are fond of, the Spinnaker Tower and the surroundings provide exciting activities to try. From adrenaline junkies to history nerds, explore the site to quench your thirst for whatever meets your preferences. Below is the list that you can try while considering the budget you have at the moment.
1. Indulging the eyes from above
The once-in-a-lifetime experience starts from the inside of the Spinnaker Tower. Learn a bit about the Sail of the Solent as you enter the tower. The lift inside the building takes you to the three viewing decks in just 28 seconds. The host takes up your questions regarding the history of the tower and explains it as well. The full sight of the south coast is visible and changes every time, depending on the cruise liners and warships crossing.
2. Abseiling
No need for specific skills to try this activity. You only need the bravery to step out of your comfort zone. Instead of walking on the viewing decks, abseiling means you will go down using strong ropes to enjoy yet another spectacular sight from the Spinnaker Tower. From 100 metres above sea level, the landscape of the city becomes doubly pleasant as you conquer your fear.
3. Sipping tea in the clouds
Invite your friends for a special traditional British afternoon tea culture at the Spinnaker Tower. Sip high-quality tea from the Spinnaker Kitchen and Bar along with yummy cakes and sandwiches. As you chat with your friends, change your focus to view the clouds, the sky and the port activity from above.
4. Savouring crafted drinks with a magnificent panorama
Imagine sipping your personally crafted drinks while watching the sky turn dark with orange hues stretching between the clouds. The Spinnaker Tower has skilled mixologists who craft the drinks that meet your current moods. As you gulp the drinks, freeze the moment by enjoying the majestic panorama that surrounds you.
5. Shopping
After exhausting yourself exploring the entire Spinnaker Tower, you might go down and relax a little around the Gunwharf Quays. The area is packed with more than 90 high-end stores, from fashion and sportswear to makeup brands. Upgrade your look or keep up with the lifestyle trend by scrolling around the area.
6. Tasting unique al fresco dining
Eating British meals to international foods seems special while at the site. Try reserving a seat at one of the eateries that have outdoor seating with appealing lighting. While you eat, absorb the harbour scenery with fresh and windy air. Watch the cruises sailing over the port to add to the overall activity while you are here.
7. Playing
Take your family to explore the area of the Spinnaker Tower by booking Onboard RIBs or Wetwheels Solent packages. The Onboard RIBs invites your family to surround the Solent in 45 minutes at full speed or enjoy a half-day trip to Cowes. The Wetwheels Solent, on the other hand, is inclusive for disabled tourists along with their friends or family members.
Available pricing schemes
Experiencing the Spinnaker Tower comes with various pricing schemes depending on your wishes. For example, it offers an All Day View package to enable you to visit the tower as frequently as you like on the day of your visit. Moreover, you can test the adrenaline by doing a skywalk 100 metres up at the tower or enjoying the open-air sky garden. The experience costs £18.95 for one adult and £67.50 for one family.
High Teas and Brunches must be pre-booked with a charge of £40 for every adult visitor. The early reservation also applies to the abseiling experience. Three options are available for this, with prices ranging from £110 for the abseil, £140 for the Gold Abseil, and £150 for the Platinum Abseil. Participants for the Gold and Platinum Abseil get medals and documentation, while the ordinary ones don’t.
Key takeaways
Spinnaker Tower is one of the iconic landmarks that has successfully drawn millions of tourists per year to Portsmouth and the UK. It serves as yet another proof of what modern architecture and construction can offer to the world. And indeed, the mixture of technical and aesthetic sides leads to creating constructions that impress people for many years to come.
The College of Contract Management creates full courses on Construction to equip you with reliable knowledge before practising them all. In addition, the ever-changing landscape of the sector will be within your scope of the study with the teachers. If you are curious, start your academic journey by contacting them right away!
