# Lee-on-the-Solent: Full Reference > A comprehensive community guide to Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport, Hampshire, England. ## About the Site Lee-on-the-Solent (leeonthesolent.com) is a community information resource covering the seaside town of Lee-on-the-Solent in the borough of Gosport, Hampshire. The site provides historical research, community guides, street directories, area profiles, and local news aggregation. ## Location and Geography Lee-on-the-Solent sits on the Solent coast of Hampshire, five miles west of Portsmouth and three miles west of Gosport town centre. The town faces south across the Solent toward the Isle of Wight. Stubbington lies to the north, Hill Head to the west, and Stokes Bay to the east. - Borough: Gosport - County: Hampshire - Postcode district: PO13 - Coordinates: 50.8010N, 1.2020W - Population: approximately 11,000 (2021 Census) - Nearest rail station: Fareham (5 miles) ## History Lee-on-the-Solent was founded in 1884 as a planned Victorian seaside resort by Charles Edmund Newton Robinson and his father John Charles Robinson. A railway connection opened in 1894 (the Lee-on-Solent Line from Fort Brockhurst), and the town developed around Marine Parade and the seafront. In 1917, a naval seaplane training station was established. This became HMS Daedalus in 1939, and the airfield served as the busiest south coast base on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The iconic Lee Tower, a 120-foot Art Deco complex with cinema, ballroom and restaurant, opened in 1935 and was demolished in 1971. HMS Daedalus was decommissioned in 1996. The site is now home to Solent Airport (civilian), an HM Coastguard helicopter base, the Solent Enterprise Zone, and the Hovercraft Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of hovercraft. ## Key Timeline - 1884: Founded as planned seaside resort - 1894: Railway opens from Fort Brockhurst - 1917: Naval seaplane training station established - 1935: Lee Tower Art Deco complex opens - 1939: Commissioned as HMS Daedalus - 1944: Busiest south coast airfield on D-Day (6 June) - 1971: Lee Tower demolished - 1980: Hovercraft Museum established - 1996: HMS Daedalus decommissioned - 2015: Solent Enterprise Zone launched at Daedalus ## HMS Daedalus Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) operated from 1917 to 1996. During the Second World War it was a major Fleet Air Arm base. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, more sorties were flown from Lee-on-the-Solent than from any other south coast airfield. The station was home to Spitfires, Typhoons, and Mustangs. After the war it served as a ground training establishment before closure in 1996. The site now houses Solent Airport, HM Coastguard operations, the Solent Enterprise Zone, and new housing at Daedalus Village. ## Lee Tower Lee Tower was a 120-foot Art Deco landmark built in 1935 by architects Yates, Cook and Derbyshire. It housed a 1,200-seat cinema, a ballroom, a restaurant, and a cafe. For decades it served as the social heart of Lee-on-the-Solent, hosting dances, film screenings, and community events. It was demolished in 1971 following declining attendance. The tower remains one of the most remembered features of the town. ## The Waterfront Lee-on-the-Solent's seafront runs along Marine Parade East and West. The beach is shingle with sand exposed at low tide. Views south across the Solent take in the Isle of Wight, passing ships, and ferry traffic. Facilities include a free splash park (seasonal), children's play areas, a skate park, and seafront cafes. Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club (LOSSC) operates from the western end of the promenade. ## Hovercraft Museum The Hovercraft Museum on Marine Parade West holds over 60 hovercraft, making it the largest collection in the world. Exhibits include the SRN4 Princess Margaret (the largest hovercraft ever built), experimental Saunders-Roe prototypes, military hovercraft, and the James Bond hovercraft from Die Another Day. The museum is open on Saturdays and selected Wednesdays in summer. Admission is free with donations welcomed. ## High Street Lee-on-the-Solent High Street supports over 70 independent businesses. The Book Shop has traded since 1928. The street features a mix of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, gift shops, and convenience stores. Notable pubs include The Bun Penny and The Old Ship. Community events including Lee Victory Festival, Summer in Lee, and Christmas in Lee centre on the High Street and seafront. ## Transport Lee-on-the-Solent is served by bus routes from Fareham station (approximately 15-minute frequency). The nearest rail station is Fareham, five miles north, with services to London Waterloo, Southampton, and Portsmouth. By car, the town is reached from M27 junction 11 via Stubbington. On-street parking is available along Marine Parade, with pay and display car parks near the seafront. ## Schools Primary schools include Lee-on-the-Solent Infant and Nursery School (Elmore Road) and Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School (Salisbury Terrace). The nearest state secondary school is Bay House School in Gosport. Independent options include Portsmouth Grammar School and Portsmouth High School. ## Areas and Neighbourhoods - Seafront: Marine Parade promenade, beach, sailing club, splash park - Town Centre: High Street, shops, cafes, Victoria Square - Daedalus: Former HMS Daedalus site, Solent Airport, Enterprise Zone, Hovercraft Museum - Eastern Lee: Residential area, schools, recreation ground - Western Lee: Residential area, Cherque Way - Northern Lee: Broom Way area, links to Stubbington - Hill Head: Adjacent coastal village to the west - Stokes Bay: Coastal area to the east toward Gosport - Stubbington: Village directly north ## Page Directory - Home: https://www.leeonthesolent.com - About: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/about - History: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/history - HMS Daedalus: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/hms-daedalus - Lee Tower: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/lee-tower - Waterfront: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/waterfront - Hovercraft Museum: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/hovercraft-museum - High Street: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/high-street - Things to Do: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/things-to-do - Getting Here: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/getting-here - Schools: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/schools - Sources: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/sources - Streets Directory: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/streets - Areas Guide: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/areas - Timeline: https://www.leeonthesolent.com/history/