Royal Armouries Museums

There is always lots to see and do at the Royal Armouries.
Our museums are open every day and admission is free!

Opening times

10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Latest opening information

There are 43 items tagged with ‘artillery

14 Pages

1. Fort Nelson History

The history of Fort Nelson, from its origin as one of Palmerston’s Forts to the present day as the home of the Royal Armouries national artillery collection.

2. General Sir John Lefroy

A brief account of the life and work of General Sir John Lefroy (1817-1890)

3. Art of Artillery

This gallery displays some of the most wonderfully decorated guns that can be justifiably considered works of art.

4. Ordnance Society

The Ordnance Society was intended to promote, encourage and coordinate the study of all aspects of the history of ordnance and artillery.

5. Online Image Library

The object catalogue is a searchable database of the Royal Armouries collections presented through its image library and digital archives.

6. What's On

Come and discover for yourself the new galleries and displays, our new Cafe 1871 plus a brand new visitor centre. Admission will still be free of charge.

7. Fort Nelson Events

New galleries, new visitor centre, new cafe, coming soon.

8. Fort Nelson

SUMMER April – October
Daily 10am – 5pm
except Wednesday 11am – 5pm
WINTER November – March
Daily 10.30am – 4pm
except Wednesday 11.30am – 4pm

The Fort is closed 24-26 December
(inclusive)

9. The Life and Phases of Fort Nelson

Discover the evolution of Fort Nelson, from its inception to the present day.

10. Building the Fort

Discover how the Fort was built.

11. Galleries

Probably the best surviving example of a Victorian fortress, Fort Nelson has been restored to its original state, together with important parts of its Second World War heritage.

12. Ordnance Society

The Ordnance Society was intended to promote, encourage and coordinate the study of all aspects of the history of ordnance and artillery.

13. Ubique Right of the Line

The Ubique Right of the Line Group was originally formed in 1996 to display and fire the World War Two Guns at the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, Hampshire.

14. Glossary

Glossary of arms and armour terms

26 Events

1. WORLD AT WAR

1940s soldiers battle for Fort Nelson.

2. VE DAY SALUTE

Commemoration of 65th anniversary VE Day.

3. A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Special evening event.

4. BIG GUNS FOR FATHER'S DAY

Give your Dad a right royal day out!

5. VJ DAY SALUTE

Commemorating the 65th anniversary of VJ Day.

6. TRAFALGAR DAY GUN SALUTES

Commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar.

7. TRAFALGAR DAY GUN SALUTES

Commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar.

8. TRAFALGAR DAY GUN SALUTES

Commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar.

9. REMEMBRANCE DAY SALUTE

Remembrance Day commemorations.

10. REMEMBRANCE DAY SALUTE

Remembrance Day commemorations.

11. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

12. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

13. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

14. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

15. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

16. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

17. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

18. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

19. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

20. BIG GUN DISPLAYS

Experience the power of the big guns in special displays of key weapons from our collection and gun-firing demonstrations.

21. DIAMOND JUBILEE 21-GUN ROYAL SALUTE

Fort Nelson fires a great gun Royal Salute to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

22. Victorian 64-pounder Gun Firing

Portsdown Artillery Society will be firing the Victorian 64-pounder gun on the ramparts of Fort Nelson. There will be 3 firing times and each firing will be preceded by a talk by the Keeper of Artillery.

23. Victorian 64-pounder Gun Firing

Portsdown Artillery Society will be firing the Victorian 64-pounder gun on the ramparts of Fort Nelson. There will be 3 firing times and each firing will be preceded by a talk by the Keeper of Artillery.

24. Victorian 64-pounder Gun Firing

Portsdown Artillery Society will be firing the Victorian 64-pounder gun on the ramparts of Fort Nelson. There will be 3 firing times and each firing will be preceded by a talk by the Keeper of Artillery.

25. LECTURE: THE IRAQI SUPERGUN AND DR BULL

Join Mark Murray-Flutter, Senior Curator of Firearms, to discover more about the infamous Iraqi ‘Super Gun’ and its capabilities.

26. SMOKE AND THUNDER

As part of Culture 24’s Museums at Night 2013 the Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson is offering an exclusive evening gun firing event.


3 Press Releases

1. Free day out for all the family... new-look Fort Nelson is unveiled

The Royal Armouries unveils its state-of-the-art new museum at Fort Nelson on Saturday (August 6) – home to the big guns.

2. Celebrating Britain's Glorious Past!

Take a fascinating look behind the scenes at historic Fort Nelson as part of the National Heritage Open Days weekend. Enjoy guided tours of Fort areas not normally open to the public and witness the power and might of big gun firings by the PAV.

3. Six impressive cannon go on display at Britain’s oldest museum

Six newly-restored cannon are due to be unveiled at the Royal Armouries (RA) Museum, Leeds, on Thursday 22 April – creating a “wow factor” as visitors arrive at Clarence Dock.

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