The suburb lies to the north-north-east of the city centre and is bounded by (clockwise from west) Freemantle, Highfield, Swaythling, St. Denys and Bevois Valley.

[2] The Manor of Portswood, which originally included the modern-day Bevois Town, Swaythling, St Denys and Highfield, was first named in a charter dating from 1045.

[4] The land, and the title Lord of the Manor, were purchased by Francis Dawtrey in 1538, and passed through several hands before being bought by Giles Stibbert in 1771.

[4] In 1871 an attempt by the Southampton board of health to improve the local sewage system was opposed over concerns about higher taxes.

A parliamentary paper from 1837 indicates that the Village of Portswood consisted of about thirty houses at this time,[9] and in the 1861 Census, the population of the entire tithing was placed at 3,546.

Although having never won the seat, it's the Southampton ward where the Green Party have historically polled the best, winning 38.9% of the vote in the 2022 local elections for example.

Portswood Library opened on 25 October 1915 despite a failed application for Carnegie funding in 1914 and the subsequent outbreak of the First World War.

Another hub of note is October Books,[20] a bookseller run by a not-for-profit co-operative and based in Portswood's main high street.

As well as mainstream publications, it also sells a range of Fairtrade and organic products, in addition to magazines and books focusing on environmental, political, social and vegan/vegetarian subjects.

[24][25] The nearest railway station is St Denys 0.8 miles away, which is on the London Waterloo to Weymouth mainline and the West Coastway Line.

[26] According to a report in the Daily Echo, Coldplay drummer Will Champion used to live in Portswood, and used to attend a youth activities group at Highfield Church.