Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will be able to see HMS Victory from a new perspective this summer, with rare objects and new views.
As part of HMS Victory: The Big Repair, the £42 million conservation project caring for Nelson’s flagship, new viewing platforms are opening in July. They will give visitors a closer look at the ship’s inner workings and the specialist skills being used to preserve her for future generations.
From 4 July to 30 September 2026, HMS Victory’s Trafalgar Sail will also return to public display. The huge, battle-damaged sail is one of the largest surviving objects from the Battle of Trafalgar, still marked by stains, holes and damage that tell the story of the ship and the crew who fought on board.
For six Wednesdays only, Nelson’s silver tableware will be displayed inside HMS Victory’s Great Cabin. The room will be set as if Nelson has just stepped out before dinner, with his steward preparing the table and sharing stories behind the man, the myth and his lasting fame.
The silver will be on display every Wednesday from 22 July to 26 August, between 10am and 5pm.
From 27 to 31 July, visitors can also drop into Meet the Makers, a week of hands-on sessions showing traditional skills and conservation work. Activities will include carving, sailmaking, sign painting, gilding, rope work and conservation science.
At the Mary Rose Museum, summer activities will include Cowdray artwork packs and Tudor-style ribbon and cord weaving with Artist in Residence Laurence Wen-Yu Li on selected dates.
The summer programme brings together rare objects and living skills across the Dockyard, linking the restoration of HMS Victory with the stories of the Mary Rose.
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