Fort Nelson

Fort Nelson, near Portsmouth, is home to the Royal Armouries’ national collection of artillery and historic cannon – free admission.

Opening times

• 10am to 4pm – Tuesday to Sunday term time
• Open daily during school and bank holidays
• Closed 24, 25 & 26 December

What to see and do at Fort Nelson

Step back in time and explore a fully restored Victorian fort with its high ramparts, original fortifications, massive parade ground, underground tunnels, stunning panoramic views and exciting collection of big guns.

Explore the museum housing over 700 pieces of artillery from across the world and spanning 600 years of history, including a 15th-century Turkish bombard cannon, a gigantic 200-tonne railway howitzer, and the infamous Iraqi supergun.

We also have entertaining children’s activities, and a café serving delicious refreshments. It’s a great day out for the whole family – there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Booking tickets

We recommend pre-booking tickets, but walk-in tickets are also available.

For visits up to 31 December 2022

For visits between 1 January and 31 March 2023