Visit Royal Navy Submarine Museum

Take a deep dive into the fascinating world of submarines at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

Discover HMS Alliance, the only remaining Second World War era submarine. Explore the decks and narrow corridors, look through the original periscope, and hear the stories of those who served onboard.

As well as HMS Alliance, you can explore the other submarines including Holland I and X24 as well as photographs, documents, ship plans, and artefacts from another time.

Don’t forget to go to our Silent and Secret exhibition which follows the Royal Navy's at sea nuclear deterrent, telling the story of those who served under water for months at a time. See objects that retell hidden conflicts and first-hand accounts from crew onboard.

Museum Open

Wednesday to Sunday | 10am to 4.30pm
Open daily during Hampshire school holidays

Haslar Road, Gosport, PO12 2AS

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Original Royal Navy Jolly Roger flag from HMS E45

See Beneath the Surface

Did you know that Royal Navy submarines used to fly Jolly Roger flags? This cheeky tradition started over a hundred years ago in response to one Admiral comparing submariners to "pirates".

Lieutenant Commander Max Horton embraced the comparison and flew the first Royal Navy Jolly Roger as he returned from sinking a German warship in 1914. From this act submariners began handmaking their own flags, each one telling the unique story of the submarine on which they served.

You can see the earliest surviving Royal Navy Jolly Roger, and learn more about their incredible history, only at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

Find out more

What to see

Silent and Secret

Take a fascinating look into the personal accounts of those serving onboard Britain’s At-Sea Nuclear Deterrent Programme at the Silent and Secret Gallery.

Learn about Silent and Secret

Science and Submarines Gallery

Have you ever wondered how a submarine works? Well you can find out how these marvels of engineering work, and the science behind them, at our Science and Submarines Gallery.

Learn about Science and Submarines Gallery

X24

Uncover the remarkable stories of the X-class submarines which played a crucial part in the success several Second World War operations, proving that size isn’t everything.

Learn about X24

HMS Holland 1

Come and see the first ever submarine commissioned by the Royal Navy at the Royal Submarine Museum.

Learn about HMS Holland 1

HMS Alliance

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a submarine? Now you can find out on HMS Alliance at the Royal Submarine Museum in Gosport.

Learn about HMS Alliance

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

D-Day Map: Operation Neptune

Learn more about one of the largest naval campaigns in history, 'Operation Neptune'. This interactive map, created for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, is based of the original Southwick House Map used to plan the landing at Normandy.

Find out more

Plan a visit

By car:

You can access our museum by car and if using a satnav device, please use the address: Haslar Road, Gosport PO12 2AS

The car park closes at 4.45pm. Please be aware that any cars left in the carpark after this time are at risk of being locked in.

Waterbus:

A Waterbus from the Historic Dockyard runs regularly to the museum. To see the up to date timetable please click here.

The waterbus operates between 10am to 4pm daily during Summer, unless weather or other operational restrictions apply. During Winter, the waterbus operates under a restricted service, weekends only and subject to weather or other operational restriction.

The Waterbus is unfortunately unable to accommodate wheelchairs, due to the unsuitability of the jetty and steps. A suitable wheelchair can be pre-arranged to meet the waterbus on arrival in Gosport. Please ask a member of staff for details or email enquiries@nmrn.org.uk to confirm availability.

Please note that your safety is our number one priority and the sea is subject to change. Due to this, the waterbus may not be running. In the unlikely event the waterbus stops running when visiting one of our Gosport sites from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, you will need to arrange alternative travel back. This can be on the Gosport Ferry, which is larger than the waterbus so can operate in rougher conditions, or arrange a taxi from a local company. The National Museum of the Royal Navy will not be able to reimburse you for alternative travel arrangements.

Walking:

You are able to walk between our two Gosport sites (Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower and The Submarine Museum). Please note however that this is a 2 mile walk and will take roughly 40 minutes.

We welcome all visitors to the Dockyard and we have tried to make it as safe as possible. However, some of our attractions are historic buildings and ships, and we know that there can be challenges for some visitors.

For those who believe they will be limited in their visit or need extra support we do offer access restriction discounts, free carer tickets and on-site additional support.

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum has a buggy park is available for guests to use. Please note that your buggy and any items left in the buggy are left at your own discretion and we take no responsibility for anything lost or stolen.

Accessible toilets are available to guests at the museum

Free WiFi is available to our visitors. You will need to sign in and agree to terms and conditions.

Snacks, sandwiches, drinks and ice creams are available during your visit from the Visitor Centre.

During Hampshire School holidays additional hot snacks and pasties are available from the onsite Harbour Coffee Stop.

We source our ice cream from Judes, Winchester. We are eager to stock local from other South Coast suppliers – if you are interested in supplying to our café, please contact us.

Visitors are also welcome to bring their own picnic to enjoy on-site.

Find out more information on our dedicated school visits page.

Groups of 15 or more are welcome at the Submarine Museum.

Want to come back and experience the thrills of the Royal Submarine Museum again?

Book your return visit today!

Guidelines for visitors (2024)

To ensure all visitors to The Royal Navy Submarine Museum have a safe and rewarding experience we have compiled these brief safety notes.

All buildings, historic submarines, and exhibits are assessed regularly and maintained to a high standard, as are equipment and procedures (e.g. fire evacuation). Due to the nature of our attractions, some hazards cannot be avoided but they can be mitigated. They all may have raised sharp edges, electrical hazards, fire hazards, trip/fall/slip hazards and rusty/dusty artefacts. First aid trained staff are available at all sites. Please approach the nearest members of staff if any assistance is required or an emergency occurs.

All Front of house staff are trained in evacuation procedures; in the event of an evacuation alarm, please follow the instructions given by the staff. Do not stop to collect your belongings. Please contact a member of staff should you need assistance.

The General Environment

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum was once part of the HMS Dolphin site and has undergone many changes over the years. Visitors will encounter uneven surfaces across the site made up of a variety of materials including cobbles, decking, tarmac and concrete.

While efforts have been made to make the museum as accessible as possible to all visitors, some areas may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, have restricted mobility or have visual or hearing impairments.

We recommend you wear sturdy shoes and dress for the outdoors i.e. layers and warm coats.

Security

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is protected by 24-hour CCTV. Visitors are responsible for their own health and safety while visiting our museum and are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent accidents or injuries.

In the event of an emergency evacuation please follow staff instructions, who are trained to ensure people get out of the museum galleries safely and quickly.

Conservation and Maintenance Work

There is always work happening across all our sites to keep our historic Submarines and buildings safe and well maintained. You may come across areas barriered off during your visit. Please ensure that members of your group do not enter any of these areas.

Safety Information

Common hazards on site include.

Outside areas and museum galleries

Historic site with uneven surfaces across the site. This includes cobbles, concrete, tarmac, decking, and uneven concrete steps.
Very cold temperatures during winter months and hot during summer months.
Site is exposed to the elements in sunny weather with limited shelter.
Low light levels in galleries to protect collections.
Proximity to water on waterbus jetty.

HMS Alliance

Historic submarine.
Access via metal steps (a lift is available to access the aft torpedo compartment for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility).
Very cold temperatures during winter months and hot during summer months.
Low light levels.
Multiple pipes, valves and fittings - mind your head!
Trip hazards on the decks (various deck fittings).
Small hatches to step through. Trip hazard.
Claustrophobic environment.

Holland 1

Historic submarine.
Access via a ramp and steps.
Low light levels.
Multiple pipes, valves and fittings - mind your head!
Trip hazards on the decks (various deck fittings).
Small hatch to step through. Trip hazard.
Claustrophobic environment.

Please see below for who is eligible for any discounts and T&C’s applicable. Please note that none of these offers can be used in conjunction with another. All of the offers below are available when purchasing tickets on the gate on arrival and cannot be booked online in advance.

UK Serving Personnel

UK serving personnel qualify for free entry, with to up to five guests receiving 30% off walk-up ticket prices. This offer can be redeemed at our ticket box by showing a valid MOD 90 card. This offer cannot be purchased online or used in conjunction with any other offer.

You are required to present your valid MOD90 ID when visiting the site. No other forms of ID are accepted.

Defence Discount Service

Defence Discount Service cardholders can receive a 30% discount on an Ultimate Explorer Family ticket, or for up to 4 individual Ultimate Explorer tickets (plus card holder). This offer is a walk up offer and can be redeemed in the Visitor Centre by showing your Defence Discount card.

Veterans

We have two options available for veterans:

OPTION 1: Veterans can pay a reduced price of £20 for a single Ultimate Explorer ticket (for their use only).

OPTION 2: Veterans can receive a 30% discount on up to five (including themselves) Ultimate Explorer tickets.

Either option can be redeemed at the Visitor Centre. There are many different ways you can show your veteran status and purchase this ticket. We will accept the following: Veterans card, Veterans rail card, discharge papers. If you are wearing a veterans pin badge we will also accept this.

International Service Personnel

International serving personnel receive a 30% discount on an Ultimate Explorer ticket purchased for themselves. This discount does not extend to guests of the ID holder. This offer can be redeemed in our Visitor Centre, by showing a valid ID. Cannot be purchased online or used in conjunction with any other offer.

Portsmouth Naval Base Pass

Base pass holders (including BAE) receive a 50% on up to 5 (including base pass holder) Ultimate Explorer Tickets or 1 Family ticket. Offer can be redeemed at the Visitor Centre.

Naval Associations

Naval Association cardholders can receive a 30% discount on an Ultimate Explorer Family ticket, or for up to 5 individual Ultimate Explorer tickets (including cardholder). This offer is a walk up offer and can be redeemed in the Visitor Centre by showing an in-date Naval Association card.

Blue Light Cardholders

Blue Light cardholders can receive a 20% discount on an Ultimate Explorer Family ticket, or for up to 4 individual Ultimate Explorer tickets (e.g: 1 adult, 1 senior, 2 children) or 1 family ticket. This offer is a walk up offer and can be redeemed in the Visitor Centre by showing your Blue Light card.

Blue Peter

Children with a Blue Peter badge are entitled to free entry, alongside purchase of a walk up rate (full price) Ultimate Explorer ticket. The ticket does not need to be purchased at the same time, but you must be able to show that you have previously bought a full price Ultimate Explorer Ticket. If you have purchased your ticket online, the £5 upgrade must be paid on the day of your visit. A child can visit with different parents/carers as long as they have a valid full price Ultimate Explorer ticket. We simply issue a free child day ticket from our Visitor Centre in any of these scenarios.

Art Fund/National Art Pass

Members/cardholders are entitled to free entry to our Portsmouth Historic Dockyard attractions, including the Mary Rose Museum. This offer will apply to the corresponding number of memberships holders:

Single membership = 1 free Ultimate Explorer ticket
Joint membership = 2 free Ultimate Explorer tickets
Family membership = 1 Family Explorer ticket (valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children
This offer is only redeemable in our Visitor Centre and free tickets are only able to be used on your chosen visit date. To redeem show your Art Pass to our team.

Portsmouth Leisure Card

Leisure card holders are entitled to 50% off a family Ultimate Explorer ticket, or 50% off 5 individual Ultimate Explorer tickets (including cardholder). This offer is available as a walk up offer only. Please show your purchase Leisure card at the Visitor Centre when you buy your tickets.

Hampshire Police Sport Leisure Club

Card holders are entitled to 30% off a family Ultimate Explorer ticket, or 30% off 5 individual Ultimate Explorer tickets (including cardholder). This offer is available as a walk up offer only. Please show your purchase Leisure card at the Visitor Centre when you buy your tickets.

Museums Associations

Valid for 1 free day entry on an Ultimate Explorer ticket for the cardholder. This offer is available as a walk up offer only. Please show your card at the Visitor Centre on arrival.

National Museum of the Royal Navy Members

Members can get 25% off up to 4 guest Ultimate Explorer tickets or "3 Attraction Tickets". This offer is available as walk up offer only. Please show your in-date membership card at purchase.

Queens Hotel

Visitors with the correct flyer can receive 20% off on up to 5 (including flyer holder) individual Ultimate Explorer tickets. Please show flyer when purchasing ticket on walk up.

Society for Nautical Research

Valid for 1 free day entry on an Ultimate Explorer ticket for the cardholder. Cardholder can have 1 additional guest gain access to HMS Victory and Victory Gallery for free. Cardholder will also receive 10% of National Museum of the Royal Navy shop prices. This offer is available as a walk up offer only. Please show your card at the Visitor Centre on arrival.

Tesco Clubcard

Vouchers can be redeemed on single Ultimate Explorer tickets (adult/senior/child). Not redeemable against Family tickets. Vouchers can only be redeemed on walk up and cannot be used online or in conjunction with any other offer.