Portsmouth’s teeming thoroughfare is the city’s main shopping precinct and is now home to many of the UK’s biggest retail brands.
While the retail sector is unrecognisable from decades ago, Commercial Road has always been the hustle and bustle of the city centre in Portsmouth – as shown by these rare photos below.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: How Buckland took shape | Sailors in Portsmouth | Victoria Barracks
We’ve had a look back through the archives to find some of our favourite photos from 1906 to the 1960s.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: How Buckland took shape | Sailors in Portsmouth | Victoria Barracks
![Princess Elizabeth's motorcade heading north along Commercial Road in 1951. Notice the photographers on the ledge to the left.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMwN2FmMzUwLTk5ZjUtNGZmOS1hNWY0LWIwMWFjMWE4M2JhZDoxZTY5NjdkNC03YTRlLTQzNDItYjYzZi0wY2FkYzJjOTcxMWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Commercial Road
Princess Elizabeth's motorcade heading north along Commercial Road in 1951. Notice the photographers on the ledge to the left.Photo: The News archive
![A close up of the girls pushing their cycles through a bombed out Commercial Road. But who are they? Mcllroy's Store pictured behind.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk2MmUyYTc3LTRlMzktNGZhMi1iNzRjLTVjM2Q3NDVhMjdkNTo1ZDYyYjEzZi1jOWZlLTQ3MzUtYjc2Ni1mNjdlOWYzZGE2Njk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Commercial Road
A close up of the girls pushing their cycles through a bombed out Commercial Road. But who are they? Mcllroy's Store pictured behind.Photo: The News archive
![The Osborne Hotel, Commercial Road. Mile End. Undated](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4NGUwOWU3LTg1N2UtNDUxMC05MGE0LTc3NzU0YzNiNDlhMjoxNWEzODg3NS01OWQ0LTRiZWYtOTMzMy02ZTg3YmVjZTIzNjk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Commercial Road
The Osborne Hotel, Commercial Road. Mile End. UndatedPhoto: The News archive
![Commercial Road/Church Street junction about 1960](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJjZGJjMWYxLTlmOTktNGQzMS1iNjgyLTIzYzA2OTVjZDdhZTo3MzYwN2ZiMC00MzQzLTRmYjUtYTg3OC0wNWI3OTQ2NmVkNGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Commercial Road junction
Commercial Road/Church Street junction about 1960Photo: The News archive