HMS Victory invites visitors inside bold new phase of £42m conservation project

HMS Victory which is conserved by the National Museum of the Royal Navy is about to enter its most dramatic phase yet, as her decade-long, £42 million conservation scheme reaches a new high point. The next phase of HMS Victory: The Big Repair will see the ship fully wrapped in a redesigned scaffolding structure bringing visitors closer to her than ever before and opening up sightlines into areas of the 260-year-old warship that have stayed hidden for generations.

For the first time in her history, visitors will be able to look directly into Victory’s inner workings as specialist teams prepare her bow and stern for the next phase of conservation works.

The new scaffolding will include two new viewing platforms at the back of the ship (Stern) alongside fresh perspectives from the existing Victory Live: The Big Repair viewing points. Greater glimpses into the project will also be offered with new museum displays installed to help visitors understand the layers of the ship and how the team are repairing her.  

Visitors will also be able to take part in immersive demonstrations showcasing traditional shipbuilding skills, as well as caulking workshops.

Andrew Baines, Executive Director of Museum Operations for NMRN, said: 

“This is a bold new stage of the project, and 2026 is set to be the most exciting year yet. For the first time, visitors will have an uninterrupted view into the inner workings of the ship and the hugely impressive engineering and skilled work that goes into that. We’re going to reveal parts of Victory that were last seen by the 18th century shipwrights who built her. It feels like we’re shaking hands with that team from across the centuries.”

During 2025, shipwrights focused on replacing large sections of rotten timber frames on the starboard side of the ship. In August, they installed the 100th new futtock, the curved wooden ‘ribs’ that form Victory’s frame, marking a major milestone in the project.  

The final futtocks are now being installed to replace the remaining rotten wood on the starboard side of the ship. Replanking of the hull will begin in early 2026, rebuilding the outer ‘skin’ of the ship, while managing its ongoing internal repairs.  

To enable the new full-height scaffolding, shipwrights, riggers and conservation specialists will carry out one of the most technically demanding elements of the project: the removal of Victory’s remaining masts.  

Andrew Baines continued, 

“Removing the masts is a huge job and a vital part of the project plan. We plan to do it all over one night, using very specialist equipment and knowledge, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right first time,”

“Our highly-skilled archaeologists, conservation scientists, shipwrights and riggers are adapting our work every single day in response to discoveries and challenges, and we look forward to sharing Victory’s story with visitors as we continue to uncover more of her history.”

This is a once-in-a-generation conservation effort. The scale of this work means people are unlikely to see HMS Victory opened up like this again for decades. Visitors are encouraged to experience this unique phase of the repair first-hand and see conservation in action.  

Top image credit: Courtesy of PHD Access

Please note: The scaffolding process is starting now and will be installed in sections, with the aim of having the final walkway in place by summer.

Planning a visit

A visit to HMS Victory is included in a ticket for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which gives access to multiple attractions on site. Visitors will be able to see the evolving conservation work, explore the ship and discover more about Horatio Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar and the wider story of the Royal Navy

To find out more about HMS Victory: The Big Repair, including the latest project updates, milestones and stories from the team, the public can visit the project’s dedicated online information hub.