Once made up of open marshland and farms, King Henry VIII built Southsea Castle overlooking the sea in 1544 to protect Portsmouth's naval base from a French attack. For a gorgeous beach stroll, start off at Southsea Castle and walk along the glistening coastline to reach Point Battery and Round Tower. There is step-free access at Round Tower should you want to extend your walk to Gunwharf Quays shopping centre. It is free to enter both monuments, and parking is available at The D-Day Story car park (PO5 3NT) near Southsea Castle. Alternatively, if you fancy pausing for a quintessentially British afternoon tea overlooking Southsea Common, you can park at The Queen's Hotel (10 minutes walk from the castle and 20 minutes walk to Round Tower).