Royal Navy Submarine Museum

The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is a maritime museum in Gosport that traces the international history of submarine development from early concepts to modern nuclear-powered vessels. It is part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and is the primary national repository for the history of the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service.

Where It Is
Location: The museum is situated on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour at the historic grounds of HMS Dolphin.
Address: Haslar Jetty Road, Gosport, PO12 2AS.
Getting There: Visitors can take a waterbus service from the main Portsmouth Historic Dockyard site to reach the museum across the harbour.

What You Can Do There
Step Inside HMS Alliance: Take a guided tour—often led by veteran submariners—through Britain’s only surviving WWII-era ocean-going submarine. You can explore the torpedo room, control room, and cramped living quarters.
See Historic Vessels: View Holland 1, the Royal Navy’s very first submarine (launched in 1901), and the X24, the last surviving British midget submarine from WWII.
Interactive Galleries: Visit the Science and Submarines Gallery to test sonar pings, learn how submarines stay buoyant, and try out a submarine command simulator.
Explore Exhibits: Discover the “Silent and Secret” exhibition, which reveals the personal stories and hidden history of the British nuclear deterrent fleet.
Harbour Views: Peer through working periscopes for a panoramic view of Portsmouth Harbour.

Who Should Go
Families & Children: The museum is highly family-friendly with interactive games, a dedicated indoor play centre called “Busy Boat Bay” for younger children, and hands-on science exhibits.
History & Engineering Fans: Those interested in naval warfare, military history, and the evolution of engineering will find the collection of vessels and personal accounts fascinating.
Adventure Seekers: Anyone who has wondered about the visceral experience of living in confined, underwater spaces.