The Royal Navy Submarine Museum

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Reviews

1. Domonic Gregory ★★★★★

   Great addition to the Historic dockyard, the only issue is that there is not alot to see and do, and you are about 1hr 45m before the boat to go back, and HMS alliance and look round the museum is done in about an hour, also very limited times to go to the explosions / missiles site, so unable to do that this weekend aswell due to limited boat crossings.

   1 month ago
2. Issac ★★★★☆

   It’s quite rare to see a submarine on land, and even more special that you can actually go inside and experience what life was like on board. The interior of the submarine is fascinating, though the nearby museum has relatively few exhibits, and some interactive displays didn’t seem to be working. Overall, still a good experience.

   almost 3 months ago
3. Bee Bee (sewlittlebee) ★★★★☆

   Visited the Submarine Museum in Gosport with a Full Dockyard Pass. Drove there—easy route and free parking, which was a plus. If you're already at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, there's a water taxi option, which makes visiting more convenient if you're hopping between sites. HMS Alliance is a rare and fascinating vessel—the last surviving Royal Navy Amphion-class submarine, with Cold War service and a record-breaking dive in her history. For adults interested in naval history, she’s genuinely impressive. Unfortunately, the tour didn’t do her justice. The guides were friendly and helpful, but both said they couldn’t go into much detail, which rather defeated the point. The visit felt rushed and surface-level. Inside the museum, many of the interactive displays weren’t working. We had a young child with us who generally finds museums boring, and the broken exhibits meant there was little to engage him or bring the experience to life. It was a missed opportunity to make the museum more accessible and enjoyable for families. Even with the Dockyard Pass, the ticket price felt steep for what was on offer. The museum has potential, but it needs better upkeep, more engaging interpretation, and a slower, more thoughtful approach to justify the cost—especially for families and history enthusiasts.

   almost 3 months ago

1. stevie bowen ★★★★★

   Truly exceptional museum full of interesting exhibits, one of a kind peices and all well laid out with just the right level of explanation. Highlights are HMS Conquerors captains cabin, the Jolly Roger flags and HMS Holland. An easy 5 stars and the best of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Explorer Ticket

   almost 4 months ago
2. Scott B ★★★★★

   Really interesting museum, have to admit didn't spend too long in the main museum, most of the visit was concentrated on HMS Holland, amazed a submarine this old has survived, houses in a brilliant gallery. HMS Alliance, was really great to look around, there aren't many places you can go on board and explore a 1940's submarine, bit cramped, but well worth it and the submariner on board was really helpful with questions. If you are visiting the dockyard, well worth popping over and having a look around.

   almost 5 months ago
3. Karen Ballantine ★★★★★

   Fantastic museum. Interesting walk through the Alliance talking to the guide who was once a submariner trainer. He brought everything to life for us step by step. Other buildings housing the first submarine built along with a mini sub used in the Second World War. Highly recommend a visit!

   almost 2 years ago

1. Duncan Andrews ★★★★★

   The RN Submarine Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in naval history. The exhibits are well-curated and provide a detailed look into the lives of submariners and the technology used in submarines. The highlight of my visit was the tour led by 84-year-old Charley. His firsthand knowledge and personal anecdotes brought the exhibits to life and made the experience even more interesting. Charley's insights into the daily routines and challenges faced by submariners were particularly enlightening. Overall, the RN Submarine Museum is a great way to learn about the history of submarines and the brave men who served on them. The tour by Charley was a fantastic addition and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the museum

   almost 3 years ago
2. Emmy T ★★★★★

   We took the Gosport ferry and walked down to the Submarine museum(10 minutes walk). Lots of sign posts so we knew where to go. We loved going onto the old submarines and imagining how life would have been on one. We were then met by an elderly volunteer who previously worked on the submarines and was happy to answer all our questions. There were plenty of interactive displays/games to do and sights to see. Great gift shop - who doesn’t like a gift shop?! Instead of walking back to the ferry we took the water taxi straight from the submarine museum to the historic dockyard. Staff were friendly, helpful and proud of the work they do. Great day out!

   almost 3 years ago
3. George Taylor ★★★★★

   By far my favourite out of the exhibitions. You can get the boat over from the dock yard here. Which is great to see the aircraft carrier. Once here there is a little cafe perfect for a snack or lunch. Inside the building there is lots of history on subs. Then you have the massive submarine outside you can walk through and really gives you a feel of what it was like. And if your lucky your see the friendly fox who's not fased by humans and lives here.

   almost 3 years ago

1. Peter Reaney ★★★★★

   Really good museum covering the history of submarines, with a wide range of exhibits (including video clips). The best part is going aboard HMS Alliance, the retired submarine docked there, and hearing from the guides (ex-submariners) about life below decks. Access is via the waterbus from the Dockyard across to Gosport.

   almost 3 years ago

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