Victory Live: The Big Repair

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is the proud custodian of HMS Victory, the world’s oldest commissioned ship and flagship of the Royal Navy. Built over 250 years ago, she was expected to operate for only nine years without major repair. She has undergone multiple repairs over her life and now we embark on the latest. 

As we undertake this decade-long process we are excited to share this Big Repair with our visitors, allowing access to the scaffold surrounding the ship, getting up close to painstaking work taking place to preserve her and meeting the incredible teams of craftsmen, conservators, engineers and shipwrights who seek to protect her for the next 50 years. The experience is part of your HMS Victory ticket complimenting your onsite and under hull walkway experience. A family trail is also available for young explorers keen to understand the scale and spectacle of the project. 

As the project evolves, we will update the experience and reflect the latest analysis and planning, making a truly unique visit worth coming back for time and time again. 

We will also be sharing this incredible story via our website and social media platforms, getting under the skin of the ship and forensically exploring the science and skill involved in this once-in-a-lifetime project. 

Additional Notes: Access to the scaffold may be limited due to operational circumstances, where possible we will inform visitors ahead of their visit. The scaffold is accessible via a lift for those with mobility issues.