Spinnaker Tower - changing the landscape of my city (Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth))

Member Name: Ostinato

Product:	Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth)
Date:	13/06/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great views, multiple viewing decks, glass floor, lots of parking in Gunwharf Quays

Disadvantages: Gets busy, lifts can be crowded.

The Spinnaker Tower stands in Gunwharf Quays, at 170 metres tall, overlooking the dockyard, the city and the Isle of Wight.
Having weighted many years for it to be completed, and seeing the delays and lift problems etc advertised quite broadly locally, I was anxious to get up there and see what it was really like! Was it worth it? The money, the weight, the problems it caused?
Simply, yes. Maybe more so to me as a local, as I watched its construction progress and develop, and saw it change the landscape of the city I call home.
The views over the boats in the dockyard are good, the city looks totally different from up there, and looking out over the harbour towards the Isle of Wight on a sunny summers afternoon, is just gorgeous. There's a panoramic view finder too, which points out places of interest from points all around the tower, and kids (and big kids!) love the section of glass floor that they can walk over and wave to people down below!
Downsides are the cost to get in, though not so much of a problem for a one off, and having to have your photo taken on the way in...there's no obligation to buy, so best just to bear with it! Queues can also be quite large on sunny days so might be worth bearing in mind.
The tower can also be hired out for events during sunrise or evening, which I think would just be stunning, I love watching the lights of the city...I wonder what event I can wangle to have there!?!
There's plenty of parking in Gunwharf Quays, and a huge cinema, bowling, restaurants a plenty, shopping, and many other attractions nearby including the historic dockyard, Southsea castle, the forts, the Isle of Wight, and many more, so why not make a day of it! :)

Summary: A great family attraction :)