Discover the Royal Navy like never before

Create lasting memories and experience the thrills and adventures of the Royal Navy at the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

With six sites across the country, the National Museum of the Royal Navy is more than galleries, displays, and exhibitions. It’s real experiences!

Climb aboard and see the most famous ships, planes, and submarines of the Royal Navy through the eyes of those who served on them. Feel the exhilaration and fear of battle. Be truly captivated by the thousands of unique, emotional, and sometimes quirky stories that have shaped the Royal Navy into what it proudly stands for today.

Our highlights

Victory Live: The Big Repair

Using state of the art technology to document and repair HMS Victory
Set sail for adventure at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Get a breath of fresh air at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and jump into history
Short 184 - The Oldest Existing Royal Navy Aircraft

Find out the story of the oldest Royal Navy Aircraft through the amazing journey of one plane.
Tour of Fleet Air Arm Museum

Have an online tour of our Fleet Air Arm Museum
HMS Trincomalee walk through

Have a look of all the things to expect when you visit HMS Trincomalee
HMS Alliance walk though

Have a look of all the things to expect when you visit HMS Alliance
The Night Hunters

See the journey of MTB 71 and CMB 331 as they travel from the Fleet Air Arm Museum to their new home at Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport.

Visit us

HMS Caroline
Alexandra Dock, Queens Rd, Belfast, BT3 9DT

Museum Open

Friday to Sunday | 8 guided tours throughout the day from 10am until 3.15pm Free flow Wednesday - Sunday during Northern Ireland School Holidays
National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard HM Naval Base (PP66), HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3NH

Museum Open

10am to 5pm | Last Entry 4pm Closed 24, 25 & 26 December 2024
National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool
Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ

Museum Open

11am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday Closed 24, 25 & 26 December 2024 Open all week during Hartlepool Borough Council school holidays.
Fleet Air Arm Museum
RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, BA22 8HT

Museum Open

10am to 4.30pm | Wednesday to Sunday Closed 24, 25 & 26 December 2024 Open all week during South Somerset school holidays
Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower
Explosion Museum, Priddy’s Hard Heritage Way, Gosport, PO12 4LE

Museum Open

10am to 4.30pm | Wednesday to Sunday Closed 24, 25 & 26 December 2024 Open daily during Hampshire school holidays
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Haslar Road, Gosport, PO12 2AS

Museum Open

Wednesday to Sunday | 10am to 4.30pm Closed 24, 25 & 26 December 2024 Open daily during Hampshire school holidays

Featured news & exhibitions

Matthew Sheldon new CEO of The National Museum of the Royal Navy

National Museum Of The Royal Navy Announces New CEO Appointment

Matthew Sheldon announced as new CEO of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, bringing over 30 years of museum collections and leadership experience

Appointment - confirmed by the Board of Trustees following unanimous approval - as only the second leader of the UK’s youngest National Museum, established in 2009

The appointment will support the continued development of the National Museum’s portfolio of sites which span Portsmouth, Gosport, Yeovilton, Hartlepool and Belfast.

Concept image of Royal Marines Commandos Experience

Funding Announced To Reimagine Historic Boathouse Including New Royal Marines Museum

The National Museum of the Royal Navy has secured Development Round funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund

The funding will support the ‘Reimagination of Boathouse 6’ Project to transform the magnificent 1840’s Grade II* Boathouse 6 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, into a home for the new Royal Marines Museum. Boathouse 6 will also be home to new permanent special exhibition gallery, a Royal Marines Commando-themed Laser Quest Arena, as well as a newly integrated auditorium and conferencing and public programming facility.

Learn more

A gallery space featuring a 3/4 angle painting of Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson

Trafalgar Day 2024

Join the National Museum of the Royal Navy as we launch a new digital series for Trafalgar Day - covering the life of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, the man behind the title, the history of the Battle of Trafalgar, and the enduring legacy of 21 October 1805.

Learn More

Three figures look on at the ongoing work to rebuild a Fairey Barracuda

The Princess Royal Pays a Royal Visit to Fleet Air Arm Museum

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal paid a special visit to Barracuda Live: The Big Rebuild at Fleet Air Arm Museum, which is celebrating it’s 60th birthday this year after being opened by HRH Prince Phillip in 1964.

The Princess Royal was able to meet staff and volunteers whilst viewing first-hand the project aiming to save the world's only Second World War Fairey Barracuda from extinction.

Learn More About Barracuda Live

Two costume interpreters sit in the stocks in front of HMS Trincomalee in Hartlepool

Pirate Parties Launched At The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool

Get ready for a swashbuckling good time as the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool introduces an exciting new addition for 2024: pirate birthday parties! Perfect for young adventurers, these parties offer an unforgettable journey into the world of swashbuckling pirates, fascinating history, and endless fun.

Find out more