Royal Marines Experience
New Royal Marines museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with commando-style challenges, AR and VR and 360 years of history, opening 24 October 2026.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Royal Marines Museum was founded in 1958 and for decades stood at Eastney, on the seafront at Southsea in Portsmouth. It closed in 2017, and the old building has since been sold to be turned into a hotel. The collection moved to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where Royal Navy Museums, the former National Museum of the Royal Navy, have created a new attraction in Boathouse 6.
Boathouse 6 is a Grade II* listed building from the 1840s. The £15 million project received £4.4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and support from the Garfield Weston Foundation and private donors. The Royal Marines Experience opens on 24 October 2026 and tells the story of the Royal Marines from their founding in 1664 to the present day.
Visitors are meant to take part rather than just look. They can try a traverse wall, assemble kit against the clock, drum with the Royal Marines Band, take a bleep test and ride in a rigid inflatable boat, and use augmented and virtual reality. Personal accounts and objects, including ten Victoria Crosses, a model of the Al Faw peninsula and a Falklands War green beret, tell the history. The building also has a laser quest, a remembrance room and a new studio for temporary exhibitions.
Highlights
- Commando-inspired challenges: traverse wall, kit assembly, bleep test, drumming with the Band and a RIB ride
- AR and VR experiences
- Objects and personal stories from more than 360 years of Royal Marines history
- Remembrance Room
Permanent exhibition
- Royal Marines Experience – An interactive history of the Royal Marines from 1664 to today, with physical challenges, AR and VR, objects, personal stories and a remembrance room.
- Founded
- 1958
- Operated by
- National Museum of the Royal Navy (Royal Navy Museums)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £36 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £26Child ticket for ages 3 to 15. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free tickets for carers are offered to visitors who need support. |
| Ultimate Experience annual ticket, adult | £51Unlimited access to all Dockyard attractions for 12 months. |
| Ultimate Experience annual ticket, child (3 to 15) | £36 |
| 3 Ships or Museums annual ticket, adult | £46 |
| 3 Ships or Museums annual ticket, child (3 to 15) | £31 |
| Ultimate Experience annual ticket, 1 adult and up to 3 children | £99 |
| Ultimate Experience annual ticket, 2 adults and up to 3 children | £120 |
Entry is included with a valid Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ticket. The one-attraction day ticket (adult £36, child £26) allows a visit to any one ship or museum, including the Royal Marines Experience.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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
No access details for the Royal Marines Experience were published yet. The Dockyard lends manual wheelchairs from its visitor centre (booking recommended) and has fifteen disabled spaces in the Admiralty Road car park, about 400 metres from the entrance. Service dogs, guide dogs and assistance animals are permitted.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The attraction is described as an experience for every generation, with challenges for families to take on together. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at the Dockyard.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Portsmouth Harbour station
Rail: Portsmouth Harbour station is about 200 yards from the Dockyard entrance at Victory Gate, on the line from London Waterloo (about 90 minutes). Buses and coaches stop at the Hard Interchange next to the entrance. Park and Ride route PR1 runs every 15 minutes from the M275 to the Hard Interchange. Ferries from the Isle of Wight, Gosport and France also arrive nearby.
By car
Paid parking
The official Dockyard car park (postcode PO1 3GW, Admiralty Road) has 295 spaces about 400 yards from Victory Gate and a height limit of 2.1 metres. Charges run from £3 for up to 2 hours to £15 for up to 24 hours.
- Accessible parking
Tickets are scanned at the Dockyard entrance at Victory Gate, and the attraction is inside the Dockyard in Boathouse 6. The site is less than 5 miles from junction 12 of the M27.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The Dockyard has shops and cafes on site.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
The building includes conference facilities.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The attraction is hands-on and includes physical challenges inspired by Royal Marines training. |
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Museums nearby
Royal Navy Museum
HMS Victory
Mary Rose Ship Hall and Museum
HMS Warrior
Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower
Royal Navy Museums: Submarines
All 7 museums in Portsmouth All museums in South East England