The constituency of Portsmouth North covers the northern portion of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire.  Portsmouth has a population of about 190,000 people on the South Coast.  Most of the city lies on Portsea Island, located where the Solent joins the English Channel.

This makes Portsmouth the United Kingdom's only island city and one of the most densely populated places in Europe. Portsdown Hill (above) dominates the skyline to the north, providing a magnificent panoramic view over the city, and to the south are the waters of the Solent with the Isle of Wight beyond. 

A significant naval port for centuries, Portsmouth is home to the world's oldest dry dock still in use, as well as to many famous ships.  Portsmouth remains a major dockyard and base for the Royal Navy. There is a commercial port serving destinations on the continent for freight and passenger traffic.