This page will tell you everything you need to know to make your visit more enjoyable.
The Mary Rose Museum houses King Henry VIII’s warship and her collection of thousands of artefacts from the shipwreck. It is a great place to find out about Tudor life. There is no larger collection of authentic Tudor artefacts elsewhere in the world. The museum focuses on the men who worked on-board and how they lived their life rather than naval history or military history.
Yes! Children are more than welcome in the museum and there is plenty for them to do. You can:
We have family events during seasonal periods and school holidays. For upcoming events see https://maryrose.org/families/
Yes! Our museum is fully accessible. You can find out more about accessibility here: https://maryrose.org/accessibility/
The museum is quite dark and atmospheric to make you feel like you are on the ship. The other reason the museum is quite dark is because UV light damages our artefacts.
There are also noises that make you feel as if you are at sea. For example, the whooshing of waves and the footsteps of people who might be on decks above you.
On selected dates every month we have a ‘Relaxed Opening’ morning. The house lights of the museum are left on and it is not so dark. Some of the audio-visual effects are also switched off. You can find details of the next event here: https://maryrose.org/
It can be busy and noisy in the museum especially during the school holidays and special events. In general, the busiest times at the museum are between 12pm and 3pm. In term time, there will be lots of children around between 10am and 2pm. Generally, the winter months are the quietest times to visit.
There are also a number of attractions that feature noise and can also be visually stimulating. Some to note:
You might want to bring ear defenders if your child is sensitive to noise.
Please note: we do not provide audio guides.
All of our staff and volunteers at the museum are happy to help you with any queries or issues. They wear pink shirts or a grey jumper, or are dressed in Tudor costumes. Managers will be in plain-clothes but will be wearing a name badge and a Mary Rose lanyard.
If your child is distressed, a Team Member can direct you to a quieter place in the museum. If necessary, we can direct you to the nearest exit.
Security is taken very seriously because we are situated in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. There are various precautions to keep us all safe including:
Please contact us and let us know if you think we should add something to this information!