The train is the way to get here in the unlikely event that it's a Saturday and
if there's no engineering work affecting services. The best fare deal you'll get
is:- Advance Singles to Kings Cross and back
- One Day Travelcard (Zones 1-6, not Zones 1-2 which is all you need to get to Waterloo)
- Cheap Day Return from the end of Zone 6 to Fratton
If there are more than two of you travelling then you can save a few more quid by getting a Group Save ticket between the end of Zone 6 and Fratton. You need to do this at Waterloo.
The fastest way from Kings Cross to Waterloo is to get the Victoria line, then change at Oxford Circus. It might not look the fastest on the map, but it is. Trust me.
If going by car, the route is M1, A43, M40 (briefly), A34, M3 and M27. Don't listen to anyone that tries to tell you there's a better way.
The ground is in Fratton (map), quite a way from the town centre. As it happens the trains from London conveniently stop at Fratton station which is 10-15 minutes walk from the ground.
As for pubs, there are plenty of options. If going by train, there's a Wetherspoons (the John Jacques) not far from Fratton station (map) but a good 15 minutes walk from the ground. It's your typical Wetherspoons, with prices well below what you normally expect to pay in the south. The nearer you get to kick-off the longer it takes to get served, so you might want to pop over the road into the Magpie (always popular with Toon fans for some reason!) for your last pint. Nearer the ground you could try one of the pubs below, all of which are recommended for away fans by Portsmouth web sites. Click on the pub name for a map. One place definitely to avoid is the Milton Arms apparently.
Brewers Arms
Rutland Arms
Shepherds Crook
Good Companion
Meon Valley
Useful sites
Internet Ground Guide
Pompey-Fans.com (excellent guide for away fans)
pompeyweb.co.uk (top pub guide!)
London Clarets (Burnley supporters in London) pub guide