Royal Naval Museum


 

As an island Nation, the sea has always played a major role in Britain’s history.

Founded in 1911, the Royal Naval Museum is one of country’s leading maritime museums and is the only museum devoted to the ships of the Royal Navy and the men and women who served in them. Visitors can see, touch, hear and even smell the history of the Royal Navy through a rich collection of artefacts and award-winning permanent exhibitions. 

The Trafalgar Experience brings the Battle of Trafalgar vividly to life and The Nelson Gallery features one of the best collections of Nelson material in the world. The galleries devoted to the 20th century Navy focus on the changing face of the senior service from the launch of the Dreadnought to the Falklands War.

Sea Your History: 20th Century Royal Navy

Open daily from 10am

Sea Your History is a special exhibition focusing on the real experiences of the Navy’s people - in combat and under stress, doing their day-to-day work, at rest and play, at home and abroad, at sea and  on land - during a century of almost continuous conflict and rapid technological and social change.

The exhibition will include colourful, surprising and often touchingly intimate items of both official and personal material selected from the collections of the Royal Naval Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Royal Marines Museum and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

The exhibition is part of a larger project to make the Museums’ 20th century collections available to the public via a new website, www.seayourhistory.org.uk. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to explore this website.

Supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project is a joint effort by the four museums, Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust and the Mary Rose Trust.

FREE with a valid attraction ticket




Royal Naval Museum events

'Discover New Zealand and Pacific Islands at the Royal Naval Museum'
'Discover New Zealand and Pacific Islands at the Royal Naval Museum'

11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

 

Where in the world are you? Learn how the Polynesian people navigate. Build your own Maori meeting house or cre...

Starts Jul 29 FULL STORY Full Story 
'Discover West Africa at the Royal Naval Museum'
'Discover West Africa at the Royal Naval Museum'

11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

 

Celebrating Africa! Find out more about African symbols. Make your own shield or mask and learn how to play Owa...

Starts Aug 05 FULL STORY Full Story 
'Discover Canada at the Royal Naval Museum. '
'Discover Canada at the Royal Naval Museum. '

11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm

 

Where will you end up this week?  Model your own totempole or create a spirit strand to take home.

Starts Aug 12

FULL STORY Full Story 

See all Royal Naval Museum events See all events


Corporate Venue

The Royal Naval Museum is available for Corporate hire for any special event, dinner or party. For more details, please see the Royal Naval Museum Corporate Venue page.

More Information

Visit the Official Royal Naval Museum web site