Announcements
The following gives a brief description of the planned closures and changes in opening times at the attractions that have been announced in advance. If you would like to check details on the day you are visiting, please telephone the Visitor Centre on 023 9272 8060.
The Historic Dockyard is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and opens at 11am on New Years Day.
Please note that your site ticket is not valid during special events.
Mary Rose
The ship, together with a recreation of the boat’s missing side, will next be open to the public on the 31st May 2013, when she will be housed in a brand new boat-shaped museum.
Harbour Tours
A Harbour Tour is included free with a site ticket. For more information please telephone 023 9272 8060. Harbour Tours are subject to availability and prevailing weather conditions during the winter months and their availability cannot be guaranteed:
We hope to be running Harbour Tours each weekend up until 16th February (half term - when hopefully they will revert to daily tours for the holiday week). To avoid disappointment, check with our Visitor Centre on 023 9272 8060.
HMS Victory
Last entry at 4pm on Thursday May 30th.
Visiting HMS Victory is currently on a free flow basis when guides are positioned around the ship to answer any queries and you can take your time during your visit.
HMS Victory is currently undergoing a period of restoration and visitors have the unique opportunity to witness the process taking place on the oldest commissioned warship in the world and a proud memorial to Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, Britain's greatest Naval hero and his stunning victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Her topmasts and rigging have been struck, or taken down, and her planking is under investigation. This is nothing unusual as wooden ships like Victory needed constant care and attention from the day they were launched. These repairs are simply the latest in a long tradition of regular upkeep.
An update from Andrew Baines, Project Director for HMS Victory ‘The work to tidy and paint the lower masts was completed in the first week of August. The ship is now free from scaffolding except for a small section on the port bow, where some of the hull planking has been removed. This scaffolding is likely to be in place for several years.
The most significant projects to be undertaken over the next two months will be pilot studies for a programme of 3D laser scanning and structural engineering analysis, along with archaeological surveys of the ship’s timbers and historical paint finishes. These studies are essential in providing information that will allow us to develop a plan for how Victory is to be conserved and restored. They will not have an impact upon visitors to the ship, and the specialists undertaking the work, along with Victory’s guides, will be happy to answer any questions.’
The last time HMS Victory was seen without her top masts was back in 1944, so this really is a once in a life time opportunity to see HMS Victory under-going such extreme maintenance. Interestingly, with her topmasts down, Victory will look much as she did after the Battle of Trafalgar when she had to be towed to Gibraltar for repairs.”
To find out more about the background to the restoration visit our news page
We will update this section regularly, so you are aware if there are any areas affected by work. Access to the sick berth is not available until mid November.
For important information on HMS Victory guided tours, click here.
28th November - closed until 12.30pm.
HMS Warrior 1860
No current closures.
Action Stations
No current closures.
National Museum of the Royal Navy
Work is now underway with the NMRN’s new galleries.
The Lewin Gallery – now closed
Bones of Oak and Iron and Trafalgar Sail are currently withdrawn from public view.
To compensate, The National Museum of the Royal Navy will be running free gallery talks every weekday over the winter, beginning on 5th November.
They will run at 11am and 2pm every week day, lasting around twenty minutes. The galleries offered are the Victory Gallery, Nelson Gallery and the Sailing Navy Gallery.
Mondays and Thursdays – Victory Gallery
Tuesdays and Fridays – Sailing Navy Gallery
Wednesdays – Nelson Gallery
22 May 2013 - closed all day
21st - 24th May 2013 - The Yarnscape of Portsmouth will not be on display in the Victory Gallery.
9-13th December Victory Gallery closed for maintenance
16-17th December Nelson Gallery closed for maintenance
18-20th December Sailing Navy Gallery closed for maintenance
Trafalgar Sail
The Trafalgar Sail will be removed from public display from 29th October 2012 for vital conservation work.
Mini-Port
Not currently available
Dockyard Apprentice Exhibition
No current closures.
Boathouse No. 7 Restaraunt
No current closures.
Costa Coffee
No current closures.
