Buoyant bounce back bodes well for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Friday, 18 March 2022 17:23

By V2 Radio News Team

Image Credit: Colin Smith - Creative Commons

New visitor figures released today highlight the overwhelmingly positive response to the joint commercial venture between the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Trust which has recently marked its first full year of operation.

The joint venture was set up in 2020 to deliver a new and revitalised offer for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard including a great value joint Ultimate Explorer ticket and has been a hit with both locals reacquainting themselves with what’s on their doorstep and those on staycation seeking out must-see attractions.

Annual figures record a 150% increase in visitor numbers for 2021, recording 438,376 visitors for the site, the UK’s premier destination for naval and maritime history. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the home to HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior, is placed 39th out of 306 recorded visitor attractions across the UK and in the top 20 attractions in England outside London. The joint venture and combined Ultimate Explorer ticket offered has proved hugely popular with 80% of visitors opting for the best value option that is valid for a year.

Matthew Sheldon and Dominic Jones of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Operations Ltd said:

“These visitor figures are a terrific endorsement of our collaboration and we’ve worked incredibly hard to make the Historic Dockyard an even better place to visit, and a great value destination to explore all year round.

“We’ve loved welcoming locals and day-trippers back who have been exploring what’s on their doorstep and being the bucket list must-see for those holidaying in the UK. And this year bodes even better with national Platinum Jubilee celebrations and growing international interest in the 40th anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose, which starts in October.”

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