Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and all of the attractions are temporarily closed. Find Our Latest COVID-19 Updates Here
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and all of the attractions are temporarily closed. Find Our Latest COVID-19 Updates Here
14 January 2021
The Board of the Mary Rose Trust today confirmed that Helen Bonser-Wilton, Chief Executive, will be leaving the Mary Rose Trust at the end of March 2021. Helen is taking up an exciting new role as Chief Executive of the Leeds Castle Foundation in Kent. The Board is enormously grateful ...
03 December 2020
Tick some items off your Christmas shopping list with some help from The National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Museum.
Here are some great gift suggestions to suit the different friends and family in your life.
It might just give you an idea for that person you’re stuck on ...
26 November 2020
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to some of the collection of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Mary Rose Museum and their more curious artefacts.
From the unique and unknown whatcha-ma-call-its to the sublime and ridiculous thingy-ma-bobs, these items paint an entirely different picture of history.
...18 November 2020
Just because we’re in lockdown doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a bit of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard magic!
While you can’t tour the museums right now there are plenty of videos and virtual tours that highlight the different things to see here at the dockyard.
...11 November 2020
Shipwrecks and diving below the waves have long captured the imagination, so when the National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Community Archaeologist Eileen Clegg described new exhibition Diving Deep: HMS Invincible 1744 as the closest to “diving without getting wet” we knew it would be something special.
...05 November 2020
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is popular as an attraction and film site with many personalities that grace the screens and airways. Over the years we’re lucky to have many friendly famous faces visit us, from Dan Snow to Harry Hill, and movies like Transformers and Les Miserables (including the famous casts!).
...28 October 2020
Were the crew of the Mary Rose white Englishmen or did diversity reign on board Henry VIII’s favourite warship?
During Black History Month and in light of the ongoing conversations tackling racial inequalities within society, the Mary Rose felt that it has a role to play within this conversation.
...22 October 2020
New for autumn 2020 is the Diving Deep exhibition and the HMS Victory Under Hull Walkway experience. Both of which launch this half term, ready for your visit to the dockyard.
And, don’t forget, we’ve gone above and beyond to make your visit a safe one with plenty of additional measures ...
15 October 2020
The Mary Rose receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund
The Mary Rose Trust is delighted to announce that it has been awarded £655,000 from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.
...26 August 2020
We’ve done it! We’ve swabbed those decks COVID-clean, and we’re re-open!
The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) and the Mary Rose Museum have re-opened the Dockyard gates to visitors.
...04 August 2020
08 July 2020
The National Museum of the Royal Navy is delighted to be given the guidance that we can reopen our doors to visitors once more.
...22 November 2019
The countdown begins to the Victorian Christmas Festival which opens its doors on Friday 29 November.
...13 November 2019
HMS Warrior, the Victorian battleship moored at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, has a new look for winter as one of her masts and part of her bowsprit are removed for essential restoration
...08 November 2019
The melodic sound of steel pan music played alongside the historic ships and museums of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard recently as visitors were welcomed to a special family fun day event to mark Black History Month.
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23 October 2019
On 15 October 2019, we welcomed HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of The National Museum of the Royal Navy to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to inspect some of the latest developments on the site and to learn more about future projects including the planned Royal Marines Museum.
...21 October 2019
Just in time for the 214th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar on Monday, The National Museum of the Royal Navy has unveiled its latest exhibit - a plan of the battle, hand-drawn by Admiral Lord Nelson himself, that has been tucked inside the pages of a scrapbook for the ...
Thirty million people have visited HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard but not even Nelson himself would have seen the remarkable views that are set to welcome visitors next year.
...27 September 2019
An unforgettable experience awaits guests onboard HMS Warrior this festive season as buccaneers from across Hampshire are invited to attend a special Christmas party on 6th, 7th and 14th December from 7pm - 11.30pm.
...22 July 2019
This summer we’re sharing “wow” moments so imagine Portsmouth woman Cheryl Jewitt’s surprise when she made the intriguing discovery that her great-great-grandmother Mary Anne Gordon was the first recorded live birth on HMS Victory!
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Supporters and visitors gathered on the deck of HMS Warrior at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard this morning to celebrate the culmination of a multi-million pound conservation project.
...07 June 2019
In what is believed to be a first for the museum sector, local community groups in Portsmouth are set to benefit from a stunning, colourful legacy to a highly successful tattoo exhibition held last year.
A full-sized handcrafted, painted tattooed torso nicknamed “Tattoo Jack” and featuring up to 35 designs has ...
15 May 2019
You might have heard about the exciting changes we’ve made to Warrior. If not, we’re now ready to lift the lid on what you can expect when you visit Queen Victoria’s favourite ship.
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There’s a new face in town as a 2.5metre figurehead from 19th century 3rd Rate ship HMS Centurion has been craned into place at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard after a day-long operation. It joins over 20 other figureheads in the Victory Gallery.
As one of the National Museum's historic fleet, HMS Caroline, the World War One light cruiser docked in Belfast since 1924 and which reopened as a museum following an £18m restoration has been selected as one of five finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019, regarded as the ...
19 March 2019
In the centuries following the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’, the reputation of infamous pirates such as Blackbeard and Calico Jack have undergone a significant transformation.
...19 March 2019
Piracy prospered between 1650 and 1720 in a period known as ‘The Golden Age of Piracy’. As colonial overseas trade grew so did the quantities of valuable cargoes being shipped and with that temptations into piracy increased.
...14 March 2019
A new exhibition that sheds light on the little-known cultural history of the Jolly Roger flag will open at The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 6 April 2019.
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27 February 2019
Be the envy of friends and colleagues (or bring them along too) as we invite you to exclusive dinners, one-off experiences and returning favourites you'll just love. The events team have been busy preparing Royal Navy inspired events onboard historic ships and inside museum galleries.
...28 January 2019
From 4 pm today, (Monday 28 January) we’ll be changing the way you buy tickets online for the better.
...24 January 2019
If you arrived to see our big guns like HMS Victory and Action Stations you might have missed things which are equally as historical and epic. Our ‘8 things you might have missed’ guide gives you some great hints on what you could see next time you visit. From spectacular ...
21 December 2018
In the final weeks of an exhibition exploring the long history of tattoos, curators at The National Museum of the Royal Navy have uncovered their own incredibly rare piece of tattoo history within its collection and put it on display.
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18 December 2018
In 1843, public spirit for the Christmas holiday was dwindling. Viewed by many still as a lively pagan festival, the rise of the puritans had a lasting effect on the now sombre celebration which was often seen below Easter and even Boxing Day.
...29 November 2018
Shipwrights from The National Museum of the Royal Navy have been assessing wood from trees on an Aberdeenshire estate for use in HMS Victory’s ongoing restoration.
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28 November 2018
As the festive season dawns, we often forget the simpler joys of life when visiting. From a gorgeous meal inside Boathouse 4 to experiencing the dockyard at dusk – there’s plenty of things to do to warm the soul this winter. Take time to read our ‘top 10 winter wonders’ ...
16 November 2018
We’re pleased to announce the return of the HMS Warrior camera after a short sabbatical, the camera has now been installed up the Mizzen Mast. The new camera now streams in full HD – so sunsets over the camber have never looked so good.
...19 October 2018
This Sunday (21st October) will mark the 213th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, one of the most significant dates in British Naval history and an occasion which will be marked with ceremony and opportunities to step back in history at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
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11 October 2018
A major showcase for most important underwater excavation in decades to begin with a call for volunteers.
...17 September 2018
The Panorama of the Battle of Trafalgar was opened in Portsmouth Dockyard, close to HMS Victory, on 29th July 1930 by King George V. At 42 feet by 12 feet (13 metres x 4 metres), perhaps the largest representation of the battle in existence, it can still be seen today, ...
12 September 2018
Whilst Jack the Painter will be resurrected for Dockyard Terrors this Halloween, who is he? Did he exist or is he an urban legend? History never remains dead for long as we uncover his story.
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Since her discovery ten years ago, the wreck of HMS Victory 1744, the predecessor to Nelson’s famous flagship, has captured the imagination of naval enthusiasts and maritime archaeologists.
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A summer of must-sees and unforgettable moments at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard continue with a special visit of the Italian tall ship, Amerigo Vespucci.
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On August 5 1914 the first shot at sea of the First World War was fired and exactly 104 years later a Lamplight of Peace commemorating the work of the Great War tunnellers and the millions of soldiers, sailors and merchant seamen that lost their lives will embark on its ...
19 July 2018
All hands on deck! Portsmouth is home to the Royal Navy and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the world’s leading destination for naval history, so from today, we’ve changed the name of our 11 attraction ticket to Full Navy Ticket. We want to keep it simple and make the most of ...
It has lain unseen for the last six years but now HMS Victory’s Trafalgar Sail, the only surviving foretopsail from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, is set to be on public display until 31 December 2018.
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Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will be hosting a free Armed Forces Day event on 30 June 2018, and there will be a special appearance from a full-size replica Spitfire MK26 from Ace Squadron as a special tribute to the past.
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A brand new permanant exhibition will open at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport on 15 June to mark the anniversary of the first operational patrol of HMS Resolution.
...08 June 2018
Want to capture the perfect photo of some of the UK’s best-loved naval attractions? Whether you’re travelling the length and breadth of the UK or local to the dockyard, a photo can show more than words ever will.
...09 May 2018
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard provides the best activities this half term for big and little adventurers. From stepping onboard historic warships to taking part in our Fighting Fit Royal Navy challenges – there’s plenty to see and do. What’s more, kids go free this half term and all activities are ...
Details of how The National Museum of the Royal Navy is to invest almost £33million in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the wider city over the next two years were unveiled today.
...14 February 2018
Seven years of chronicling the construction of the Royal Navy’s newest destroyers and monolithic aircraft carriers are the inspiration for Shipyard, a remarkable exhibition by renowned Scottish artist Lachlan Goudie which opens at The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 17 March.
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Theirs was a love affair that scandalised society and continues to grip the imagination and this Valentine’s Day, 14 February, visitors to The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard have a rare chance to get up close and personal to the betrothal ring Vice Admiral Lord ...
29 January 2018
February half term is about adventuring together and loving the great outdoors and the good indoors. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard provides the best activities this half term for big and little adventurers. From building Lego ships to meeting historic characters – there’s plenty to see and do this half term.
11 January 2018
Best-ever visitor numbers for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
The National Museum of the Royal Navy is celebrating its best-ever performance across the country and at its managed destination brand, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
04 January 2018
Join astrophysicists and cosmologists from the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, navigation experts from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, amateur astronomers from Hampshire Astronomical Group, and more at this free event, exploring navigation through space and time.
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The best vantage point of the newly-commissioned aircraft carrier
Best views of Britain’s largest aircraft carrier ever built from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Relive the excitement of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visiting Portsmouth on Thursday 7 December, when she officially commissioned the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard can ...
20 October 2017
- Trademark diamond ornament rediscovered and remade for the first time –
To celebrate Trafalgar Day on 21 October 2017, The National Museum of the Royal Navy has revealed the first authentically recreated replica in diamonds of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s fabled lost jewelled chelengk.
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An 18-month programme to re-support the world’s most famous warship HMS Victory sagging under her own weight is now underway.
...23 June 2017
Cold War submarine HMS Alliance got a dusting of Hollywood magic when it was used as a location for Paramount Picture's Transformers V: The Last Knight. The film is on general release from Friday 23rd June and eagle-eyed fans will see HMS Alliance making an appearance.
...22 June 2017
A question we are often asked at the museum is how many men were on board, and who were they? The muster roll for HMS Victory is held in the archives at the library here at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. It names all the crew of the ...
21 June 2017
“Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.
The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces ...
15 June 2017
On June 15th at 2pm the International Boatbuilding Training College Portsmouth will launch its first fully restored boat, Isabell II.
...12 June 2017
There will be plenty of flash, bang and wallop at Gosport’s Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower’s Bright Sparks Science Weekend on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August. The event runs from 10.00am to 5.00pm on both days. ...
‘We are remarkably fortunate in having such generous and constant support in our task of ensuring the survival of this famous ship.” These are the words of our Director General Professor Dominic Tweddle as he witnessed the handover of a cheque for £100,000 from the Society of Nautical Research this ...
The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s first-ever three day conference got underway on the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, Wednesday 31st May and runs until Friday 2nd June.
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26 May 2017
Trinity House, London which overlooks the Tower of London, was the exquisite venue in May for the annual Submarine Industry Association Dinner in aid of HMS Alliance and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.
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Over 150 people have supported a crowdfunding campaign to save a sole surviving coastal motor boat from the Second World War.
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Over 100 staff and volunteers from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard took part in a Dementia Friends training session run by The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Rachel Goodall this week to mark national Dementia Awareness Week. Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer's Society initiative.
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This May half term, families need look no further than Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for an amazing day out. With 11 attractions waiting to be explored, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard promises all ages a day of heroic encounters, experiencing the ins and outs of ...
16 May 2017
For the first time in 500 years, scientists are using microbiology to examine some of the human remains from Henry VIII’s flagship Mary Rose to determine if any come from the same person.
Research by Dr Garry Scarlett, a DNA expert at the University of Portsmouth, should enable museum staff to ...
Thirty years after HMS Warrior 1860 returned to Portsmouth, it has been announced that her owners, the Warrior Preservation Trust, merged with The National Museum of the Royal Navy as of 1st April 2017.
As Britain’s first iron-clad battleship, Warrior is one of the most influential warships ever built and a ...
• Commemorative visit by HRH The Princess Royal comes nearly a year after successful opening of Boathouse 4.
• The team has reintroduced traditional wooden boatbuilding and training, restoring, repairing and maintaining a fleet of historic small boats and telling the story of these “Forgotten Craft”.
HRH The Princess Royal will ...
07 February 2017
The National Museum of the Royal Navy has announced that the closure of the main galleries of the Royal Marines Museum will take place on April 1st.
As a result, the public galleries of the museum at Eastney will close. The museum will remain open for its corporate (conferences and weddings) ...
04 January 2017
• New date released for panel discussion
• “Question Time” panel debate on Battle of Jutland chaired by popular TV historian and broadcaster Dan Snow
• International panel confirmed
Following the centenary year commemorations for the Battle of Jutland last year, a clash considered the defining naval battle of the First World War, ...
06 December 2016
The story of a Royal Marine bandsman who fought at the Battle of Jutland a century ago is to be told at a blockbuster exhibition from The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN).
The fragment of a trombone played by Bandsman Frederick Charles Palfreman, his medals, a photograph and newspaper ...
28 November 2016
18th February 2017, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
‘Pioneers to Professionals: Women and the Royal Navy’ will open to the public 18th February 2017 and focus on the history of women working in the Naval Service. The exhibition will reveal some of the lesser-known ...
25 November 2016
Statement from Professor Dominic Tweddle, Director General of The National Museum of the Royal Navy. November 25 2016
We are delighted to announce that The National Museum of the Royal Navy has been able to secure the medals and log books of Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown following the intervention of an ...
16 November 2016
Today’s evacuation of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard following the discovery of a 500lb Luftwaffe bomb is an inconvenience, but we should perhaps reflect on the extraordinary ferocity of the wartime attacks on Portsmouth whose lethal legacy initiated it. ...
28 October 2016
Wellbeing survey reveals that new experiences are the most important factor for Brits when choosing a Great British day out.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has canvassed the opinions of nearly 2,000 people from the UK, revealing the ingredients for a “Great British Day Out” and how days out affect our overall wellbeing ...
27 September 2016
• Nelson enthusiast Kate Jamieson taking modern HMS Victory flag to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
• She is raising money for Guillain-Barré and Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies (GAIN), a charity which supports those affected by Guillain-Barré Syndrome and other associated inflammatory neuropathies
A self-confessed ‘Nelson Nut’ has been handed a ...
14 September 2016
• Discovery of time capsule prompts nationwide appeal for artefacts
• Everyday items of Wren life sought ...
• 73% of Brits value new experiences as the most important factor for a perfect day out
• 80% seek a mixture of outdoor and indoor attractions on a day out
• 24% of adults opt for cultural destinations
08 August 2016
The final group of MA students studying fine art are to put on an exciting exhibition at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard from August 19 to September 2.
This year marks the very last fine art exhibition at the University of Portsmouth. The last six MA students wanted to hold the Exodus MA ...
HMS Hood bell unveiled on 75th anniversary of sinking
HRH The Princess Royal strikes eight bells at midday
Official opening of Battle of Jutland exhibition gives first sight of conserved bell from “The Mighty Hood”
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• A Major Heritage Lottery Fund grant will create the country’s newest national collection at The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
• Access to naval heritage will be transformed as key artefacts from five museums across the National Museum will be relocated to one Centre for ...
08 April 2016
A landing craft which helped Royal Marines liberate the Falklands nearly 35 years ago is to enjoy a fresh lease of life – running tourists around Portsmouth Harbour.
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21 March 2016
• New Battle of Trafalgar colours and greatly improved visitor route around Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship are a revelation
• Visitors can now access never-before-seen areas of the ship, including the Poop Deck and Nelson’s Great Cabin – increasing the space visitors can walk around by a massive 80% ...
National Museum of the Royal Navy launches an innovative digital project to map stories of the people at the Battle of Jutland
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Timber has long been a vital backbone for shipbuilding and famously HMS Victory was built from over 5,500 oak trees, 250 years ago. It even inspired the Royal Navy’s anthem Hearts of Oak. That strong tradition will now continue with a generous donation of timber from three estates in Aberdeenshire ...
Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport is asking residents to raid their attics and dig out old photographs and items as part of an exciting new project.
The new project – Priddy’s People – aims to bring to life the stories of local men and women who worked at the ...
‘36 Hours: Jutland 1916, The Battle That Won The War’ Blockbuster Exhibition to open at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 19th May 2016.
...26 November 2015
Guns that saw action at Jutland are travelling from Orkney to be shown as part of the main UK exhibition on the key naval battle of the First World War.
...24 November 2015
This November the Mary Rose will embark upon the next stage in her long and remarkable history.
This exciting chapter of the Mary Rose Museum will see an extraordinary transformation in visitor experience. The walls that currently separate visitors from the ship will be replaced with glazing to provide unrestricted views ...
05 November 2015
• Descendant of Admiral Lord Nelson visits his famous ship HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
• Fourth great granddaughter of Nelson moved to tears after experiencing story of Nelson at Battle of Trafalgar first hand
16 October 2015
The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is excited to announce its major contributions to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Jutland for 2016, highlighting the pivotal role played by the Royal Navy.
...02 September 2015
The Mary Rose Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive, Helen Bonser-Wilton. Helen will take over the post from Rear Admiral John Lippiett who retires this September after twelve and a half years in the position.
...20 August 2015
Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th September 2015
Free events but must be booked in advance
• Go under HMS Victory and the newly-opened HMS M.33 for an exclusive tour
• See submarine HMS Alliance in a different light
On 6th August The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) will open HMS M.33 to the public for the first time in her history, following a distinctive and extensive conservation project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
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On behalf of all stakeholders operating within the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust is pleased to announce Latz & Partner as the winner of its Architectural Competition for the Hard Landscaping of this internationally renowned historic site.
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The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), Portsmouth has announced a historically accurate re-painting of HMS Victory, the most celebrated ship in naval history, in collaboration with expert conservators Crick Smith, University of Lincoln.
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