Fort Nelson

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

Please book your free ticket in advance to guarantee your visit and pay for parking on arrival at the reception desk.

Unfortunately bad weather has damaged the ramparts at Fort Nelson, so as a precautionary measure we have temporarily closed visitor access to them for safety reasons. The rest of the site remains open.

For visits between 1st January and 31st March 2023 

For visits between 1 – 16 April 2023

For visits between 18 April – 23 July 2023

Opening times

• 10am to 4pm – Tuesday to Sunday term time
• Open daily during school and bank holidays

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

For visits between 1st January and 31st March 2023