The best cheap hotels in Portsmouth

Rooms at this stylish converted Edwardian mansion vary from small doubles with shower rooms to a superior wedding suite with a grand double bathtub (ideal if you’ve just tied the knot) and there are also in-room spa treatments available. The hotel’s gastropub, The Florence Arms, is just opposite, serving everything from burgers to scallops and sea bream, while Southsea beach is just a few minutes walk away.

If you’re an independently minded traveller, this converted Victorian house on a quiet residential street behind Clarence Parade is worth a visit. All the rooms are modern and have en suite wetrooms; there's free wi-fi, parking, a bike lock-up and laundry. But best of all is the communal kitchen, ideal for knocking together a spectacular picnic before heading off to the beach, a ten-minute walk away.

This pretty, simple guesthouse attached to a pub in the heart of Old Portsmouth has a variety of rooms to suit budget travellers, from doubles with shared bathrooms (from £50) to large en suite twin and family rooms, all with free wi-fi. It’s a short walk to the beach, Clarence Pier and the Gunwharf Quays shopping centre. Fancy going further afield? You’re a stone’s throw away from Portsmouth Harbour, which has ferries to the Isle of Wight and the Continent.

From the sea views to the superlative breakfasts, there’s plenty to recommend the family-run Seacrest Hotel. You can even bring your pets (you’ll need to call ahead). The 28 en suite rooms here come with TVs, free wi-fi and a bountiful breakfast running the gamut from bacon and eggs to waffles to a cheeseboard. A small bar and lounge, complete with big leather armchairs to sink into, round up the offerings.

For boutique style on a budget, try this Edwardian townhouse turned hotel a few minutes walk from the Aquarium, the D-Day Museum, Clarence Pier and Southsea beach. Rooms are all en suite and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities and fluffy towels. Breakfast is included and plentiful, and the hotel is particularly handy if you’re catching a boat: there’s a car park around the back and the ferry terminal is a ten-minute drive away.

Although it’s in Fratton, a five-minute drive east of the centre of Portsmouth, what the Ibis lacks in location it makes up for with its bright, clean interiors and in value for money – with rooms from a bargainous £30. They come with en suite showers and TVs, plus there’s free Wi-Fi throughout and (limited) free parking for guests.