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National Volunteers Week 2021

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National Volunteers Week is where we get to say an absolutely massive THANK YOU to our incredible team who work very hard year-round to ensure that our…
– shop is stocked
– tickets are sold
– grass is mowed
– accounts are kept
– staff are trained
– craft are painted
– engines are repaired
– toilets are cleaned
– archives are sorted
– visitors are guided
– collection is managed
Like so many organisations in the UK, we cannot exist without our volunteers. The Hovercraft Museum, which is a registered charity, has no paid staff and is entirely independent, purely funded by donations and ticket sales.
Would you like to get involved with the Team as a volunteer?
Drop us a message via the website, call us 0n 02392 552090, or enquire at the Ticket Office any Saturday between 10am and 4pm when we are open to the public. We would love to speak to you!

#volunteersweek2021

Hovercraft Rides Are Back!

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On Sunday 20th June not only are we open for an extra day that weekend but Hovertravel Ltd are back providing unique flights around the Solent from the Hovercraft Museum!

These flights are very popular so booking is strongly advised. Tickets can be purchased from Ryde or Southsea terminals, the Museums ticket office at Lee-on-the-Solent or by clicking on the “Excursions” tab at www.hovertravel.co.uk

Museum to Re-Open Saturday 22nd May

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After the Government announcement on Monday that all museums can now re-open as of May 17th, we are delighted to announce we will be opening on Saturday 22nd May (and all subsequent Saturday’s thereafter)

We aim to have a summer season full of events and activities including the return of Hovertravel Ltd to provide pleasure flights around the Solent from our slipway on selected dates. Our volunteers will continue to get the collection ready for you to visit and we can’t wait to be able to welcome you through the gates once again!

The Trustees & Volunteers

Filming Event at the Museum

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The Hovercraft Museum were delighted to host TV production company TwoFour Broadcast Ltd for a segment of a program on hovercraft in their new series of ‘Impossible Engineering’, due to broadcast later this year on UKTV network channels.

Despite being closed to the public for several months our volunteers have worked hard to prepare the site to look tidy for filming so we would like to say a big Thank You to all who helped with the preparation. We would also like to thank Griffon Hoverwork Ltd who supplied a 380TD for the ‘on-water’ part of the filming. We’ll keep you all updated on the broadcast date!

Museum welcomes new craft to the Collection – AP1-88 ‘Falcon’

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She has been gifted to us by her former Swedish owners Hoverline Ltd and will be available for you to view as of Wednesday this week when we are next Open!
Many thanks goes to all of our volunteers and other supporting organisations during the move from Southampton including Itchen Marine Towage Ltd, Boarhunt Garage, Southern Recovery Service Transport Ltd, Griffon Hoverwork, MRB Transport, Cushman & Wakefield and Wates Group (not forgetting all of the very patient residents of Lee-on-the-Solent!)
You can find out more about ‘Falcon’ in the Collection page of the website.

HRH The Princess Royal visits her namesake at the Hovercraft Museum

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 Today we were honoured to welcome HRH The Princess Royal, amongst other distinguished guests, to The Hovercraft Museum and back to the Hovercraft she named 50 years ago.
Princess Anne was very interested in the collection and stayed longer than planned, taking time to speak to all the people presented to her from Museum and the Hovercraft Industry both past and present. After the speeches, unveiling of the plaque and presenting of a painting by founding trustee Warwick Jacobs, the 190 guests on site we able to partake of a cream tea on the car deck of the SRN4.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers who worked hard to make the event happen successfully. Our thanks also go to Cpt Robin Paine for helping to orchestrate the whole event, Griffon Hoverwork and Hovertravel Ltd for laying on a fantastic demonstration and the other representative organisations that attended.
The Trustees

Special Offer: Hovercraft Ride & Museum Entry Combo Ticket

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On the 26th and 27th of May 2019 you can visit The Hovercraft Museum and take a trip in a Hovercraft at a discounted rate!  For the price of only £20 for adults, and £10 for children you can take a 15 Minute Spin Around Lee-on-The-Solent Waters AND experience a Historic Hovercraft adventure exploring The Hovercraft Museum.

Rides will be occurring at 11:00, 11:30 & 14:00 on the 26th & 27th May.  Call Hovertravel on 01983 717700 to book these tickets in advance, or buy your tickets on the day*.

*Tickets are bought on the day on a first-come-first-serve basis so please plan ahead!

Great news!

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A BH7 Hovercraft exiting the sea onto a stone beach
In addition to being a unique museum in our own right, we are now unique for a different reason as we have just had our BH7 Hovercraft added to the national ships register alongside such famous vessels such as HMS Victory and The Mary Rose.

Did you know that we now have FOUR craft listed on the National Historic Ships’ Register – a feat we don’t believe has been achieved by any other museum in the UK!

The craft listed are:

  • SRN4 “The Princess Anne”
  • BH7
  • SRN5 “006”
  • SRN6 “Sea Hawk”

To make it even more special in 2019 both BH7 and The Princess Anne will be 50 years old. Why not celebrate by paying a visit and seeing once again these magnificent craft.

Santa is on his way!

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Santa is adding to his already busy schedule this Christmas by making a very special visit to the Hovercraft Museum on Saturday 15th December.  Santa will be giving out gifts (and coal) free of charge between 10:00 and 12:00.

Normal entry prices apply and include a Santa visit and gift at no extra cost.  Santa’s time is limited and is on a “first come, first serve” basis so don’t miss out.  We hope to see you soon!