Hovercraft Museum
Volunteer-run museum of hovercraft in two listed First World War seaplane hangars at Lee-on-the-Solent, with a cross-Channel SR.N4 you can board.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Hovercraft Museum was born from concern about the fate of the early hovercraft. In 1986 a group of people from the Hovercraft Society began to plan a museum, because many craft were being taken out of service and scrapped. The Hovercraft Museum Trust was formed and registered as a charity in 1988, and for years the collection was stored at several places across the country.
From 2000 the museum gained premises in two defunct First World War seaplane hangars in Seaplane Square, on the former naval air station HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-the-Solent. The hangars are listed buildings and the museum plans to restore them. Regular opening to the public began on Saturdays in January 2016, Sunday opening was added in April 2024, and the museum is now open every weekend of its season.
The museum gained full accreditation from Arts Council England in 2023, and in January 2024 the original trust was merged into a charitable incorporated organisation. It is run entirely by volunteers and won the Volunteers of the Year award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026. The collection is the only one of its kind in the world and includes the surviving SR.N4 cross-Channel passenger hovercraft, craft built for film and television, and many experimental and military hovercraft.
Highlights
- SR.N4 “The Princess Anne”, the largest commercial hovercraft ever built, which visitors can board
- Two hovercraft used in the James Bond film Die Another Day
- Military BH7 and the Isle of Wight ferry AP1-88
- Hover Mini, a hover lawnmower and the Hover Midget, billed as the world’s smallest hovercraft
- Climb-on cockpits, an I-spy trail and a family quiz
Permanent exhibitions
- SR.N4 “The Princess Anne” – The surviving cross-Channel SR.N4 passenger hovercraft, the largest commercial hovercraft ever built, which visitors can board.
- Film and television hovercraft – Craft that appeared in screen productions, including two used in a James Bond film and craft built for Scrapheap Challenge.
- Founded
- 1988
- Operated by
- The Hovercraft Museum CIO
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £7Over-60s, students, disabled visitors, military and veterans, and emergency services |
| Children & teens | £5free up to age 4 · Child ticket for ages 5 to 17; infants aged 4 and under are free. |
| Seniors | £7Concession for visitors aged 60 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £7companion free · Concession for disabled visitors; one carer goes free. |
| Students & apprentices | £7Concession with valid student ID. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £6 per personGroup rate per person on a regular open day or at an event without ticketed entry. |
| Families | £22 |
Paying an extra 10 per cent lets the museum claim Gift Aid on the entry fee. Cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard and American Express, minimum £1).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: not available
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The public areas are all at ground level and almost all of the collection is accessible to wheelchairs. Mobility scooters wider than 78 cm may not fit through some doors of the main building. The passenger cabin of the SR.N4 has steps (its car deck is reached by a steep ramp), and some other craft can only be boarded by steps. One gender-neutral accessible family toilet in the Winchester Hangar has baby changing and incontinence disposal. Free sensory bags with ear defenders and sensory toys can be borrowed, and a visual story is available online. There is no parking for disabled visitors on site.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £22 |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The museum describes itself as family friendly. Children can climb aboard the James Bond craft and the SR.N4 cockpit, follow an I-spy trail, take part in a family quiz and use the children’s corner in the shop. Buggy parking and free sensory bags are available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Drake Road
Bus 5 (Fareham to Gosport) stops at Drake Road and Richmond Road, outside the museum. The nearest railway stations are Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour; from Portsmouth Harbour take the Gosport ferry and then bus 5.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no visitor parking on site. Free and paid parking is available on Marine Parade West and the surrounding roads. Coaches can use a drop-off and pick-up area with prior notice.
- Accessible parking: not available
Leave the M27 at junction 9 or 11 and use PO13 9NS for the satnav, which leads to Drake Road; once on Marine Parade West, ignore the instruction to turn into Drake Road. The museum is about a 10 to 15-minute walk from Solent Airport along the seafront, and bike storage is available.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The café serves hot and cold drinks, ice cream and light snacks (no hot food). The gift shop has hovercraft-themed souvenirs. Dogs are welcome in the shop and café.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
The museum can be hired for corporate, community and private events and for filming; evening paranormal investigations for about 30 people are offered on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photographs and video are encouraged for personal use; commercial filming needs prior permission. |
| Good to know | A free guided tour is offered. The museum suggests allowing one to three hours for a visit. Groups are welcome without booking, but larger groups should get in touch in advance, especially for guided tours. Schools and youth groups can often arrange weekday or evening visits. Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside. |
