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Royal Marines Museum Opens New £15m Experience
23 Oct
Summary
- A new £15m museum dedicated to Royal Marines history has opened.
- The Royal Marines Experience features all 10 Victoria Crosses awarded.
- Visitors can test physical challenges and explore immersive displays.
Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard is now home to the new Royal Marines Experience, a £15 million museum charting over 360 years of history. This new venue replaces the former Royal Marines Museum, which closed in 2017 due to the deterioration of its Eastney Barracks location. The Boathouse 6, a Grade II-listed building, now houses exhibits including all ten Victoria Crosses awarded to the Royal Marines, alongside a dedicated Remembrance room.
The Royal Marines Experience aims to be the 'breathing heart of the Royal Marines community,' blending storytelling with hands-on activities and immersive technology. Exhibits feature uniforms, medals, kit, and weapons from throughout the Marines' history, including a Green beret worn during the Falklands conflict. Visitors can also participate in physical challenges guided by digital instructors, replicating the rigorous training of the Marines.
This new attraction is strategically located within Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which attracts 600,000 visitors annually, a significant increase from the previous museum's 35,000 visitors per year. The project, initially planned for a 2019 opening, saw its estimated costs rise from £10 million to £15 million, receiving £4.4 million in lottery funding in May 2025 after a prior bid was rejected.
