After all the build up and hype the London Olympics are nearly upon us. On Sunday, 15th July, the Flame will arrive in the city by water (from Gosport) at about 6pm, and will initially travel through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard; past the world-famous naval vessels HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS Victory.

From the Historic Dockyard, the Flame will travel along Queen Street and through Portsea – one of the oldest parts of Portsmouth – towards the city centre, past St John’s Catholic Cathedral, along Edinburgh Road, and on to the bottom end of Commercial Road.

The Flame then travels past Portsmouth and Southsea railway station, under the civic offices on to the city’s Olympic Live Site (Big Screen) at Guildhall Square at about 6:30pm. Prior to the torches arrival there will be performances in the Square by Southzone Dance Academy, Amici Dance Company, and the British Bangladesh Cultural Association. These groups have collaborated with Rant Studios and New Theatre Royal as part of the imPact Dance Festival.

The Flame will then cross the square and travel along Guildhall Walk and onto to Winston Churchill Avenue. The Flame then travels along Landport Terrace, Hampshire Terrace and on to Duisburg Way, before it reaches Southsea Common and the FREE evening celebrations at about 6:50pm. The entertainment itself begins at 5pm and includes a live performance from Rizzle Kicks and local dance team Most Wanted.

Early on Monday, 16 July, the city will be giving the Flame a proper Pompey send-off, with a brilliant event just for local schoolchildren at the home of Portsmouth Football Club, Fratton Park. From here, the Flame will travel past the Pompey Centre and along Goldsmith Avenue (about 7:30am) towards Fratton. The Flame will then start the final leg of its journey as it travels along Fratton Road, Kingston Road and then left on to Kingston Crescent (7:40 – 8am). From here it will be transported by vehicle out of the city via the M275 on its journey to Petersfield.

The map of the route is available on the Portsmouth City Council website.