T

owering above the city at full sail, bathed in blue lights against the night sky, Portsmouth’s 170-metre Spinnaker Tower is quite literally unmissable. Head up to the third floor observation deck on a clear day, and you can see for 23 miles across the surrounding towns and beaches, and from the harbour below to the Isle of Wight – and beyond.

The panoramic external lift whizzes you up to the first viewing deck, where you can walk on air – or at least feel like you are – thanks to Europe’s highest glass floor. If vertigo hasn’t taken hold yet, head up to the second floor – where telescopes bring the history of the south coast into the present. And if that’s not enough, the outdoor crows nest awaits. With the wind tickling at your neck, it’s hard to tell if the goosebumps come from the cold or the stunning views of glittering water and sandy beaches spread out in front.