£15m Royal Marines Experience to open at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 24 October 2026

Designed for families, veterans, serving personnel, history lovers and anyone curious about what it takes to become a Commando, the Experience will combine powerful storytelling with hands-on activities, multimedia displays, immersive technology and objects that reveal the people behind more than 360 years of service.

The £15m project has been supported by a £4.4million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, alongside funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Royal Navy Museums reserves and private donations. Thanks to this grant as well as future donations, the Royal Marines Experience is set to transform the historic 1840’s Grade II* listed Boathouse 6 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard into a dynamic national centre, celebrating the service and history of the Royal Marine.

 

“We want this to feel like a museum you can step into, not simply look at. Most of us will never know what it takes to earn and wear the green beret of the Royal Marines Commandos, but the new Royal Marines Experience will bring visitors closer to the tests of training, the reality of deployment and the humour, teamwork and resilience that run through the Corps. 

“Through real voices, remarkable objects, hands-on challenges and immersive technology, visitors will be able to explore more than 360 years of Royal Marines history in a way that feels human, powerful and enjoyable. We want people to leave with a deeper understanding of the people who serve, and with a sense that they have shared in a story that belongs to the nation.”

- Matthew Sheldon, CEO, Royal Navy Museums

Royal Navy Museums has developed the Experience with Royal Marines voices at its heart, drawing on serving and former Royal Marines, families and specialists, so the galleries connect heritage with today’s service.

Visitors will move through interactive galleries and Commando challenges that reveal the Corps’ ethos, operations, and the physical and mental demands of service. Through the latest VR and AR technology, visitors will be able to step into the shoes of a Marine, whilst physical and mental challenges will encourage visitors of all ages to take on some of the tasks new recruits to the service are faced with during training and across the various terrains in which they operate.

100s of historic and modern items will be on display, revealing the Royal Marines rich, on-going history, including:

• Warrant Officer ‘Mac’ McNaghten’s AI Faw briefing model, built in secret whilst onboard HMS Ocean enroute to the Persian Gulf in 2003 and used by 40 Commandos to plan their attack on the Al Faw peninsula.
• All 10 Victoria Crosses awarded to the Royal Marines, from the Crimean War to Second World War, brought together to tell stories of exceptional bravery and service.
• A medal presentation box given to Marine David Davidson by his husband Ernest and the Royal British Legion. The decoration shows David landing in Egypt during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

• A Green beret worn by Marine W.G.C. 'Molly' MacPherson who served in 3 Troop, K Company, 42 Commando during the Falklands War. Marines serving during the Falklands war preferred to wear Green Berets rather than helmets as they thought that the Green Beret was 'bulletproof'.

   

The Experience will also create a sense of place where members of the Royal Marines Family can connect with their history and each other. At the heart of this will be the newly established Remembrance Room, free to enter, where families can reflect on, and remember those who gave their lives in service to their country.

The former Royal Marines Museum closed in 2017 with plans to move to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and create a new centre for Royal Marines heritage. In the last 9 years, the Royal Navy Museums Team have carefully safeguarded the historic Royal Marines collection.

Royal Marines Experience is based at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - where one ticket unlocks entry not only to Royal Marines Experience, but also to all attractions. A visit promises a full and memorable day out, with highlights such as HMS Victory, the Mary Rose Museum, and HMS Warrior among the historic treasures to explore.

Boathouse 6 will also house a Royal Navy Museums; Exhibition Space, conferencing facilities and a Royal Marines commando-themed Laser Quest arena.

Royal Marines Commando themed Laser Quest

The Royal Marines Commando themed Laser Quest is a c270m2 Laser Quest arena that plunges players into a hi-tech battle inspired by the Royal Marines. Laser Quest has long been popular at the Dockyard, and this newly refreshed attraction aims to bring a new generation of gamers in.

The experience makes the perfect action-packed addition to visitors’ days if they are coming along to visit the Royal Marines Experience or any of the other attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It’s also the perfect venue for parties and corporate away days.

Royal Navy Museums: Exhibition Space

The new Studio is the first purpose-built special exhibition space in the Dockyard. On the first floor of the historic former boathouse overlooking the Mast Pond, at 400m2 and will be one of the biggest temporary exhibition spaces in the South of England.

This compelling and flexible space will enable the Royal Navy Museums and partners to mount special exhibitions.

The space also supports the wider area, providing a place for community and business partners to work with Royal Navy Museums to bring new stories to Portsmouth, build

partnerships, and explore a wide range of arts, culture and heritage narratives. The first temporary exhibition will be Through Their Eyes - The Royal Navy Photographic Competition.

Royal Navy Museums: Mezzanine

The expanded and upgraded corporate hire and events space, including a 275-seated auditorium, and 300m2 flexible mezzanine floor offers unique opportunities for private events, conferences and meetings. The expanded spaces boast glass walls overlooking the new museum, and a state-of-the-art AV and technology setup to support conferences, presentations, screenings, and workshops.