The Hotel Portsmouth - Downtown
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Book it if you want a walkable downtown base with a well-liked buffet breakfast and you are happy to pay a little more than for our other two Portsmouth picks. Skip it if spotless housekeeping is your top priority, because a minority of guests reported dust and missed cleaning.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is a 4-star hotel at 40 Court Street, and it is our Luxury choice in Portsmouth. It suits couples and short-break travellers who want to walk to shops, restaurants and the waterfront rather than drive everywhere. People who care about breakfast should also look closely, since the buffet is one of the two things guests praise most.
It is a weaker fit on a tight budget: at €184.44 a night it costs more than both of our other picks in the city.
Location and getting around
The location score is 9.6 out of 10, which is high. Guests describe the setting as walkable to downtown shops, restaurants and the waterfront in the historic district.
The nearby sights in our data are all a fair distance away. New Castle, New Hampshire is about 3.6 km, roughly 45 minutes on foot. Fort William and Mary is about 4.1 km, around 51 minutes. Fort McClary is about 4.2 km, around 53 minutes. These are straight-line estimates, so real routes may be longer. All three are far on foot, and you will need a car, public transport or a taxi to reach them.
Free parking is listed by the property, which helps for those trips. Confirm it for your dates.
What guests say
The score is 8.6 out of 10 from 495 guest reviews. In the sample we compared, that put it in joint fourth place out of 8 eligible properties for review score, so it is good but not the top-rated option in town.
Two themes stand out on the positive side. First, location: guests like being able to walk to downtown and the waterfront. Second, breakfast: reviewers mention a European-style spread with smoked salmon, fresh fruit, bagels and homemade treats.
The main complaint is cleanliness. Many guests found rooms spotless, but some reported dust, trash or missed housekeeping.
Price and what you get compared with our other picks
The reference price was €184.44 per night, seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults. That is about €369 for the two nights. The median in our sample was €154.76 per night, so this hotel sits above the middle of the market. These are not live quotes, so check today's price for your dates.
Our Budget pick, Holiday Inn Portsmouth by IHG, came in at €108.86 a night with a score of 8.0 and 3 stars. Our Best Value pick, Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth Downtown, was €162.23 a night and scored 8.9, also with 3 stars. So for about €22 more per night than the Hampton Inn, you get a fourth star and the buffet breakfast guests describe, but a slightly lower guest score.
Listed facilities include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk. Whether breakfast is in your rate is not confirmed, so check.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 8 eligible hotels in Portsmouth. For the Luxury slot, five-star hotels get priority, and a four-star hotel can only take the place if it scores at least 8.5. This one has 4 official stars and an 8.6 score, so it qualified as the four-star fallback.
The strong location score and the praise for breakfast also count in its favour.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition and cancellation terms have not been assessed, so read the room description and policy before you pay. The property is tagged as pet-friendly in our data, but the pet policy and any fees are not confirmed. Ask the hotel if you travel with an animal.
If cleanliness matters a lot to you, read the most recent reviews first.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is The Hotel Portsmouth - Downtown walkable to restaurants?
Yes, according to guests. They say it is walkable to downtown shops, restaurants and the waterfront in the historic district, and the location score is 9.6 out of 10.
Does the hotel have free parking?
Free parking is listed by the property. Check availability and any conditions for your dates when you book.
Is breakfast included?
Breakfast is a buffet, and guests mention smoked salmon, fresh fruit, bagels and homemade treats. Whether it is included depends on the rate, so check before you book.
How much does a night cost?
The reference price was €184.44 per night, seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults. Prices change, so check today's price for your dates.