Royal Navy Museum

About the museum

The museum began in 1911 as the Dockyard Museum, the idea of a dockyard official who wanted to save naval objects for the future. It closed after his retirement in 1919 and its collections began to be scattered. When HMS Victory was placed in dry dock in 1922, many items were kept to be shown with the ship, and the purpose-built Victory Gallery beside her opened in 1938. From 1972 the museum also used the ground floor of No. 10 Storehouse, and No. 11 Storehouse joined it in the 1980s.

In 1985 the museum passed from the Ministry of Defence to become an independent public body and was renamed the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth. The National Museum of the Royal Navy was created in 2008 to coordinate naval heritage, and in 2010 the Portsmouth museum became part of it. Today the group of museums uses the name Royal Navy Museums.

The galleries occupy a row of historic buildings facing HMS Victory. No. 11 Storehouse, from 1763, and No. 10 Storehouse, from 1776, are Grade I listed and are joined by a glass atrium. The Nelson Gallery shows the life and legacy of Horatio Nelson, the Sailing Navy Gallery tells of life at sea in the age of sail, and the Hear My Story gallery presents stories of ordinary men, women and ships over the last century. The Trafalgar Sail, the fore topsail of HMS Victory, is also on show. The museum is part of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a working naval base.

Highlights

• Nelson Gallery on the life of Horatio Nelson
• Sailing Navy Gallery on life at sea in the age of sail
• Hear My Story gallery with stories from the last century
• Trafalgar Sail from HMS Victory
• Grade I listed 18th-century storehouses

Permanent exhibitions

• Nelson Gallery – The life and legacy of Horatio Nelson, with artefacts from the Battle of the Nile and other battles.
• Sailing Navy Gallery – Life on board sailing warships, including food, discipline and naval traditions that survive today.
• Hear My Story – Stories of ordinary men, women and ships of the Royal Navy over the last century, told through technology and objects.

Founded

1911

Operated by

National Museum of the Royal Navy

Admission & discounts

The museum has no separate ticket: it is one of the ships and museums of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard day ticket, which covers one attraction of the visitor's choice. Tickets with Gift Aid include a voluntary donation. UK serving personnel with a valid MOD90 card enter free, several other groups such as veterans and Blue Light Card holders receive 20% off walk-up tickets, and Art Fund National Art Pass holders enter free; these offers are redeemed at the Visitor Centre. Children under 16 with a Blue Peter badge enter free alongside an adult full-price ticket.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The museums and buildings are historic, so floors can be uneven but can be used by wheelchairs and buggies. Most galleries have hearing loops, and audio transcripts and large print text are available on request. Accessible toilets are in the Royal Navy Museum, and the museum shop is accessible for wheelchair and pushchair users. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed from the Visitor Centre, preferably booked in advance. There are fifteen disabled spaces in the Dockyard car park, about 400 metres from the Dockyard entrance. Assistance animals and guide dogs are allowed in all areas.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Buggies can be used in the museum galleries, though not on the ships; two buggy parks are on the Dockyard site, one outside HMS Victory and one by the harbour tours. Accessible toilets with baby changing are in Boathouse 4, Boathouse 7 and the Mary Rose Museum.

Getting there & parking

The Dockyard is less than 5 miles from junction 12 of the M27; follow the brown and white signs for the Historic Dockyard. Satnavs may direct drivers to the centre of the naval base, so tourism signs should be followed, and the entrance via Trafalgar Gate should not be used. The museum is in the buildings facing HMS Victory.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available
• Wi-Fi

The Royal Navy Museum Shop is in the museum. Cafes and restaurants are elsewhere on the Dockyard site, in Boathouse 4, Boathouse 7 and the Visitor Centre, and visitors may bring their own picnic. There is no luggage storage because the Dockyard is part of a working naval base, and bags are searched on entry. Free Wi-Fi is available to visitors of the Dockyard; users sign in and accept terms.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit