A new £15m museum in Portsmouth is set to tell more than 360 years of Royal Marines history through artefacts, personal stories and immersive displays.
The Royal Marines Experience will open at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in the Grade II-listed Boathouse 6. It replaces the former museum at Eastney, which closed in 2017 after the building suffered irreversible deterioration.
From Victoria Crosses to physical challenges
Among the hundreds of exhibits are all 10 Victoria Crosses awarded to Royal Marines, historic uniforms, medals, weapons and kit. A green beret worn during the Falklands conflict and the uniform and bugle belonging to Charlie Mallett, the Marines’ first female bugler, are also on display.
The exhibition mixes traditional collections with multimedia storytelling and interactive activities. Visitors can test their strength and stamina with press-ups, pull-ups, rope climbs and rucksack lifts, guided by digital instructors. A dedicated Remembrance room offers space for families and visitors to reflect on those who died in service.
The previous museum attracted around 35,000 visitors a year. Its new home sits within a dockyard complex that welcomes about 600,000 people annually and already includes HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and The Mary Rose.
The project’s estimated cost rose from £10m to around £15m. It received £4.4m in lottery funding in May 2025, following an earlier unsuccessful £13m bid.
Why it matters for Britain
Bringing the museum into Portsmouth Historic Dockyard should make Royal Marines history accessible to a much larger audience. It also strengthens the city’s established heritage visitor offer, with potential benefits for local tourism.
