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 5.30pm | Last Entry 4.30pm
National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool
Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ

Museum Open

10am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday 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 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 Open daily during Hampshire school holidays
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Haslar Road, Gosport, PO12 2AS

Museum Open

Wednesday to Sunday | 10am to 4.30pm 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

Barracuda Live: The Big Rebuild

See conservation in action as we bring the Barracuda DP872 back to life. This 10-year restoration project will rebuild this extinct aircraft and preserve aviation history for future generations. Inside our new Arthur Kimberley Viewing Gallery, visitors can can discover more about science and archaeology involved in the restoration and hear stories of the brave crew who used to pilot these incredible aircraft.

Learn about Barracuda Live: The Big Rebuild

A wooden map showing the ship maneuvers of the Royal Navy during D-Day

D-Day Map: Operation Neptune

To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, also known as 'Operation Overlord', uncover the true scale of the naval assault that landed Allied Troops on the beaches of Normandy.

Code-named 'Operation Neptune', this staggering assault involved over 150,000 troops and required meticulous planning. Based off the original Southwick House D-Day map, this brand-new, interactive website, lets you get a new perspective on one of the most important military campaigns.

Discover the D-Day Map

Worlds Beneath the Waves

Embark on a voyage of discovery to the Worlds Beneath the Waves and delve into the extraordinary tale of the HMS Challenger Expedition. Go on a 150-year voyage of scientific exploration; from the early days of oceanographic research to the high-tech world of the modern Royal Navy.

Find out more about the Worlds Beneath the Waves