Open today: 10:00am - 5:30pm

Family fun at the Mary Rose

From handling tables and interactive displays to our amazing light show that brings the ship to life, not to mention our great activities, there’s something for children of all ages at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

What’s on during the school holidays?

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Hatch’s History Detectives

Hatch’s History Detectives

Join Hatch, the ship’s dog as he leads you through the museum on a multi-sensory exploration of the story of the Mary Rose, her crew and the Tudor world.

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Talk and tour: the tale of the cook

Talk and tour: the tale of the cook

Join us for a brand new talk, led by one of our expert costumed guides, which explores the role of the cook, and eating and drinking on board the Mary Rose along with a behind the scenes tour of the museum.

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Afternoon talk: the tale of the cook

Afternoon talk: the tale of the cook

Join us for a brand new talk, led by one of our expert costumed guides, which explores the role of the cook, and eating and drinking aboard the Mary Rose.

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Information for grown-ups

hatchs-history-detectives

Hatch’s History Detectives trail

Follow the ship’s dog through the museum on a multi-sensory exploration trail through the story of the Mary Rose.

 Hatch’s History Detectives
Kids in Museums logo

Kids in Museums

We’re signed up to the Kids in Museums manifesto, which means we strive to make everyone feel welcome to the museum.

 Read the manifesto
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Visiting

The historic dockyard site and the museum itself are fully accessible to buggies and pushchairs, and the museum has baby changing facilities.

 Plan your visit
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Food

The Mary Rose Café offers drinks and food, with assistance available for warming baby bottles.

Breastfeeding is permitted throughout the museum.

 Shop and cafe
A model of the Mary Rose hanging from the ceiling, with a shadow behind

Lighting

The lighting within the Mary Rose Museum is kept low to create a stunning atmosphere and display, as well as helping protect the delicate collection of objects within the gallery showcases.

 Accessibility
A Blue Peter Badge

Blue Peter badges

The Mary Rose Museum is one of over 200 attractions around the UK that Blue Peter badge holders can get into for free.

 Find out more
The Mary Rose as seen from the lower decks of the museum

More information

If you have any further questions about visiting The Mary Rose please do not hesitate to contact us.

 Contact us

The changing face of the Mary Rose

If you visited the Mary Rose Museum on a school trip in the 80s, 90s or early 2000s you may have memories either getting wet or trying to look through misted-up windows.

We’ve changed a lot since then; the sprays were turned off in 2013, the ship and her objects are now in a state-of-the-art museum and the ship is easier to see and understand, with new displays, lights and sounds!

1980s - The ship was sprayed with water, and visitors got very wet! Originally displayed on her side, the ship was turned upright in 1986.
1980s – The ship was sprayed with water, and visitors got very wet! Originally displayed on her side, the ship was turned upright in 1986.
1990s - The ship was put behind glass as the ship was sprayed with polyethylene glycol, a wax that would prevent the ship 's timbers from shrinking when they dry. The ship remained this way until the ship hall closed in 2009.
1990s – The ship was put behind glass as the ship was sprayed with polyethylene glycol, a wax that would prevent the ship ‘s timbers from shrinking when they dry. The ship remained this way until the ship hall closed in 2009.
2013 - The sprays were turned off, and the ship was dried with ducting, which meant the shiphall could only have small windows to keep the temperature regulated. The ship was displayed this way until 2015.
2013 – The sprays were turned off, and the ship was dried with ducting, which meant the shiphall could only have small windows to keep the temperature regulated. The ship was displayed this way until 2015.
Today - The ship is fully revealed, with glass walls on two levels and open air between you and the ship on the top level of the Museum.
Today – The ship is fully revealed, with glass walls on two levels and open air between you and the ship on the top level of the Museum.