Little Hover World arrives at The Hovercraft MuseumCome and see the little characters hiding around the museum.
Can you find them all?
A special event as part of the normal museum open days. Saturdays 10am – 4pm throughout the summer holidays.
Author: Nick Van de Weyer
Gosport Half Marathon -Spectator Area
The museum and adjoining slipway is on the race route for the Gosport Half Marathon. The museum is opening especially for the race. Your perfect base to bring the entire family.
- Live Music
- Free entry to the Museum
- Cafe, Gift Shop & Toilets
- Dog and Family Friendly
Come cheer on the runners who will pass 4 times at the 2.5 4.25 8.75 10.75 mile marks (approx.)
Gosport Heritage Open Days (11th and 18th September)
Gosport Heritage Open Days is a collection of FREE events held in September each year. In 2022 the timetable will runs from Friday 9th to Sunday 18th September.
The Hovercraft Museum will be open with free entry on Sunday 11th September and Sunday 18th September 2022 from 10am to 4pm.
This is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences.
Gosport has no shortage of places that reflect the town’s unique heritage and culture – forts, churches, private buildings, ancient woodland, gardens and much more.
Check out the full timetable of events and find out what your highlight will be. No booking required for us but please make sure to book for other events that have limited space….
Gosport Heritage Open Days: Free to explore
First Aid Training at the Hovercraft Museum
Recently some of the volunteers at the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire completed a one-day First Aid training course. We try to have a first aider on site at the museum at all times to help visitors, volunteers and passing members of the public when required.
For some of the course participants it was a refresher on current best practice whilst for some it was a complete introduction. Topics covered included what is expected of a first aider, how to assess the situation and then practical treatment options including the Recovery Position, CPR and bandage application.
A big thank you to Ken Wheeler for taking on the role of course instructor and to the volunteers for giving their time so generously.
Would you like to use our location and resources to provide First Aid training to your organisation? We may be a cost-effective option, learn in our unique seaside environment and support our charitable organisation. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.
New Aerial Photography thanks to Solent Sky Services
At the recent Daedalus Waterfront event held at the museum we were privileged to have the team from Solent Sky Services on site and covering the event on behalf of Montserrat Events. Whilst aerial footage was not originally part of the brief, Mike couldn’t resist getting his drone on. With permission and appropriate authorisation of course.
So here we have to share with you a selection of stills which show the museum from the air. Plus a bonus of Darren and his mini.
Please contact us for licensing details and higher resolution assets if you would like to use them.
Daedalus Waterfront Development – Public Consultation
Friday 15th July (11am – 7pm), Saturday 16th July (10am – 4pm)
Come and see the vision for Daedalus Waterfront development at a public consultation at the Hovercraft Museum on 15th and 16th July.Entry to the consultation is FREE on both days. The side hangars and Hovercraft collection are open on Saturday only (normal entrance fees apply).
You are invited to come and see the first draft proposals for the Daedalus Waterfront development and share your memories and experiences of the historic place.
You will have the chance to meet the team delivering the scheme, ask questions and share your thoughts on the proposals.We are also inviting you to share any memories of HMS Daedalus. If you worked at, lived in or were part of the HMS Daedalus community, please come and share your memories, photos and souvenirs.
The exhibition will be inside the historic SRN4 Hovercraft and is free to access on Friday July 15th, 11am to 7pm, and Saturday July 16th, 10am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome!
The Hovercraft Museum is on the Daedalus Waterfront site. Please enter from Marine Parade West – the entrance is between Drake Rd and Richmond Rd, and will be clearly marked. There is no parking available on site
Bring your group to the museum for a private tour
Did you know that we regularly open especially for School and Kids groups? Last week we were glad to welcome the 31st Itchen North Cubs, 1st Titchfield Beavers and the 1st Swanmore Beavers. Our head volunteer guide Alan loved answering their questions and showing them around the collection and they had a great time!
Highlights of a visit include
- Fun and Informative tour of the collection
- Exploring and sitting in the jewel of our collection the largest commercial hovercraft ever the SR.N4 “Princess Anne”
- The option of doing our quiz as you explore the museum in smaller groups
- Photo opportunity sitting in the pilot seat of James Bond’s hovercraft for each child.
- A goodybag to take home with you.
Our volunteers work hard to make the visits as fun and informative as possible and we are working to create an education centre/classroom.
If you would be interested in bringing your group to the museum for a private tour get in contact!
Grown-ups groups are also allowed to book as long as you promise to behave yourselves.
Dad’s Go Free Sunday – Father’s Day
Sunday 19th June 2022 10am – 4pm
The museum will be open on this day in addition to its usual Saturday opening times. Bring your dad and we won’t charge his entry!
The only Hovercraft Museum in the world.
An extensive collection of Hovercraft, including the Worlds Largest Commercial hovercraft, SRN4 “The Princess Anne”
Open on Saturday’s from 10:00 until 16:00 and other dates as advertised.
Please note when visiting, Parking is on the road (Marine Parade West). Currently no charge as far as Richmond Road.
For SatNav type in PO13 9NS.
This will show up as Drake Road which is after the Museum’s Entrance.
Please do not use the museum’s postal address as that will take you to the rear service gate.
Prices
Adult (18-59): £8
Child (5-17): £5
Family (2 adults, 3 children): £22
Concession (Disabled/Serving Military/Veterans/Students/Senior 60+): £7
Under 5’s: Free
Wheelchair Carer: Free
Mini Model Railway Show
Sunday 26th June 2022 10am – 4pm
Pay to enter the museum and attend the railway show for free. Tickets available online and on the day.
We are really excited to be hosting the first every model railway show on ‘The Princess Anne’s car deck.
Get your tickets and join us on Sunday 26th June. We will have a layout from one of our members alongside many others.
Please note when visiting, Parking is on the road (Marine Parade West) no charges until Richmond Road.For SatNav type in PO13 9NS. This will show up as Drake Road which is after the Museum’s Entrance. Do not use the Museum’s postal address as that will take you to the rear service entrance.
‘The Princess Anne’ SR.N4 Joins Jubilee Salute
On Saturday June 4th 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee our historic hovercraft joined in the midday seventy second salute to Her Majesty the Queen. The jewel of our collection of over 50 hovercraft, this is the first time the klaxon of ‘The Princess Anne’ the only surviving Hovercraft of her type has been heard in years.
The Jubilee Salute
At noon throughout the Solent, Portsmouth Harbour and the country ships sounded their horns in Salute to the the seventy year rein of Queen Elizabeth II. It is thank to the hard work of volunteer restorers at the Hovercraft Museum that the horn of this craft was able to be sounded.
Help us save this historic craft
‘The Princess Anne’ is the last of the Saunder-Roe N4 Mountbatten class hovercraft left in existence, the largest civil hovercraft ever put into service she used to transport cars and passengers across the channel. She arrived in Lee-on-the-Solent along with ‘The Princess Margaret’ which was sadly torn apart in front of our eyes in 2018. She appears on the Historic Ships Register alongside other craft in our collection. It’s only thanks to the dedication of volunteers and their SRN4 Restoration work that she is still with us.
Did you know?
In 2019 HRH Princess Anne visited the museum and her namesake craft?
Read more: HRH The Princess Royal visits her namesake at the Hovercraft Museum
About the Hovercraft Musuem
Support our registered charity and secure our future by visiting Saturdays 10am to 4pm. Visit our Cafe, Ice Cream and Gift shop. We are proud to be family and dog friendly. Free on street parking at the moment and guided tours throughout the day.