HMS Alliance is an A-class submarine commissioned in 1947, designed for long-range patrols in the Pacific.
The Holland I was lost for 70 years before being raised and preserved specifically for this museum collection.
The museum grounds include the X24, the only remaining British midget submarine that saw operational service during WWII.
Submariners operate under strict psychological and physical standards, often highlighted in the museum's display on the 'periscope watch'.
The collection features the actual bridge and conning tower salvaged from various historical vessels.
The museum serves as a memorial site for the thousands of submariners lost in service, particularly those from the World Wars.
The museum's location at Haslar was strategically chosen for its proximity to deep-water berths in Portsmouth Harbour.
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is the only place in the United Kingdom where visitors can board a Second World War-era submarine, the HMS Alliance. Located on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, the museum chronicles the history of the Royal Navy's submarine service from the turn of the 20th century to the present. The site includes the Holland I, the first Royal Navy submarine, which was recovered from the seabed in 1982 after sinking while being towed to the scrapyard. Guests explore the immersive 'Cold War Cupboard' and interactive exhibits detailing life, survival, and technology beneath the waves. The museum sits on the historic site of the HMS Dolphin base, a former submarine training establishment. Preservation efforts focus on the technical evolution of stealth and underwater navigation.
The view of the HMS Alliance deck from the pier, capturing the full length of the submarine against the Portsmouth skyline.
Wear flat, rubber-soled shoes to comfortably navigate the tight, steep ladders and narrow hatchways inside the submarines.
Check the museum's official website for 'submarine maintenance' days, as interior access can be restricted during restorative work.
Allow time to watch the short archival films, which provide essential context for the vessel tours.
Attempting to visit without allowing enough time to thoroughly explore the exterior exhibits and the main indoor galleries.
Open daily, though specific galleries or vessel access may be limited during winter maintenance periods.
Visitors must follow instructions from guides inside the submarines due to the confined and hazardous nature of the historic vessels.
