Nothe Fort
Victorian coastal fort in Weymouth run as a charity museum, with underground passages, a Cold War bunker, hands-on displays and sea views.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Nothe Fort was built by the Royal Engineers in the 1860s to guard Weymouth and Portland harbours at a time when new French naval technology raised fears of invasion. It was part of a national network of coastal defences and worked together with neighbouring forts and the Royal Navy. Soldiers trained, kept watch and maintained the guns there, and many of them lived in the fort with their families.
The fort stayed in military use through the twentieth century. In 1983 its underground level was secretly converted into a local authority emergency control centre, a reinforced nuclear bunker designed to let a small team coordinate relief and rebuilding after an attack. After the military left, the fort fell into disrepair and was later restored.
Today Nothe Fort is a museum run by the charity Weymouth Civic Society. Visitors can walk through the Victorian gun deck, explore underground tunnels and passageways, see a WW2 gun on the ramparts and visit the Cold War bunker, with views along the Jurassic Coast from the top. The fort also hosts living history and re-enactment groups, talks, tours, family events and open-air performances throughout the year.
Highlights
- Victorian gun deck and ramparts with sea views
- Underground tunnels and passageways
- Cold War nuclear bunker of 1983
- WW2 gun on the ramparts
- Hands-on family activities and the Mouse Hunt trail
- Dog-friendly museum with a café and terrace
Permanent exhibitions
- Victorian Origins – The fort's beginnings in the 1860s and the life of its Victorian garrison, including the gun deck.
- Cold War bunker – The underground emergency control centre of 1983, shown on tours and talks.
- Founded
- 1860
- Operated by
- Weymouth Civic Society (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £11 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £9.50Over 65s, service personnel, veterans and students |
| Children & teens | £4.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 16; under 5s are free. |
| Seniors | £9.50Over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One registered carer is admitted free; proof may be asked for. |
| Students & apprentices | £9.50 |
| Groups (10+ people) | £9.50 per personGroups of 10 or more. |
| Families | £26.50Two adults and two children. |
| Small family ticket, one adult and two children | £15.50 |
Each admission ticket includes a free annual pass. Visitors can add Gift Aid to their ticket price.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is an accessible route into Reception and ramps around the Parade Ground. A lift at the far end of the Parade Ground serves the Magazine Level and the Ramparts; its wheelchair opening is 1150 mm by 850 mm, so some large mobility scooters will not fit. Wheelchairs can be borrowed for use around the fort. Accessible toilets are in the fort and in the Fort View Café. Hearing loops are fitted at the Reception desks but may not work with every hearing aid. Nine disabled parking bays are in Nothe Gardens, three of them close to the fort. The quietest times are usually 10:00 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 15:00; ear defenders can be borrowed from Reception and sensory Mini Explorer packs are available. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £26.50 · Two adults and two children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Children's trails, the Mouse Hunt and Mini Explorer Mission Packs keep younger visitors busy, and hands-on activities include dressing up, sending Morse code, finding fossils in the walls and firing a cannon with a stomp rocket. There is a Family Room for eating and resting. Pushchairs can use the lift, and baby changing is in the accessible toilets and the café. Nothe Gardens next door has a small play park.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Boot Hill (bus) · 10-min walk
Buses stop at Boot Hill, about a 10-minute walk through Nothe Gardens: route 10 from Dorchester and route 1 from Portland. Weymouth railway station is about a 20-minute walk along the seafront and harbour. The Route 1 Land Train stops at Hope Square, a short walk from Nothe Gardens. In summer a rowing boat ferry runs from Custom House Quay to the foot of the fort.
By car
Paid parking
Three council-run pay and display car parks are in Nothe Gardens, with charges from 08:00 to 18:00 (JustPark location 6208). Nine disabled bays are in Nothe Gardens, three of them close to the fort, and three electric vehicle charge points are available.
- Accessible parking
Phone signal on the peninsula can be limited, so download the parking app beforehand. The what3words location is dogs.claim.nest. The South West Coast Path passes nearby, and there are bike racks at the fort.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free wifi is available in the Fort View Café, which serves home-made light lunches and cakes. There is a gift shop, a picnic area on the ramparts, a terrace with views of the Jurassic Coast and a Family Room for eating and resting. Buggies and bags can be left at the admission tills.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 70 guests.
Weddings are held in the licensed North Terrace and the Victorian Casemates, for up to 70 guests.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The fort runs talks and tours, including Cold War tours of areas that are rarely open, on selected dates through the year. Allow one to three hours for a visit. |
