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Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill Road, Fareham, Hampshire PO17 6AN
T: 01329 233734 E:
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www.royalarmouries.org The stage is set for a legendary day out with explosive gun firings, action-packed drama and exciting tunnel tours every single day. Enjoy weekend and holiday special events featuring a cast of hundreds, plus tanks, horses and special effects galore! Also enjoy our programme of children's activity days every single Tuesday and Thursday in all school holidays. It's dangerously entertaining! What you can see - Fort Nelson is a vast Victorian fortification (and one of the famous Palmerston Follies) built in the 1860s to defend Portsdown Hill and the landward approaches to Portsmouth Dockyard. Beautifully restored and commanding spectacular views over Portsmouth harbour to the south and the lovely Meon Valley to the north, Fort Nelson makes an idyllic picnic spot, and with 19 acres of ramparts, parade ground and outer fortifications, plus secret tunnels, a huge Artillery Hall and restored barracks and museum galleries, the Fort is an exciting day out whatever the weather! The Great Guns - Fort Nelson is home to the great gun collection of the Royal Armouries, with over 350 historic weapons to see, from replica Roman and Greek catapults and the Boxted Bombard (one of Britain’s oldest cannon) to Saddam Hussein’s infamous Supergun. A gun from the collection is fired every single day, and on event days whole batteries of guns through the ages can be seen in action including the original garrison guns of Fort Nelson’s defences, up on the ramparts. The collection is also home to various Guinness Record holders, including the world’s largest cannonball (1 tonne) and largest mortar – both on view outside the Fort. Daily Events - Feel the noise and power of the great guns fired in slaute every day - Apr-Oct at noon & 3pm, Nov-Mar at 1pm daily. Also see costumed actors bring the past to life - meet a WWII commando on a daring raid, get to the heart of bloody medieval combat or relive the smoke and fire of the gun deck aboard a man-o'-war at Trafalgar - these or other stories are told throughout the day. Plus you can find out the secrets of Fort Nelson on a guided tour (£1 per person) and find out about the tunnels, ramparts and defences of this 150 year-old fortification. Birthday Parties - Make it a day to remember with a commando party at the Fort. Our children's parties will be a big hit with youngsters from 5 to 12, with loads of fun for them and fantastic photo opportunities for you. Prices start from £5 per child with optional goody bags and lunch boxes extra. For further details or to book call 01329 848524. Dangerously Entertaining - Special Events Programme: Friday 14th May - A Night at the Museum - To celebrate this nationwide event Fort Nelson is hosting its own after-dark spectacular! From 6 - 9pm, see searing displays as the explosive flashes of thunderous gunfirings light up the evening sky, also watch dramatic flaming torchlit performances of gunfights and duels and enjoy personal guided tours of museum galleries and areas not normally open to the public. Free admission. Sunday 30th & Mon 31st May - Invaders! See a day of re-enactments culminating in a spectacular Napoleonic battle as redcoats and greenjackets try to stop the French from running the tricolour up the Fort's flagpole! Plus catapult shooting from the time of the Roman invasion and see how the Fort's Victorian defenders would have seen off an attacking force by firing heavy artillery into the ditch defences. Adults £5, Children £2.50. Family (2 adults + 2 children) £12 Sunday 6th June - D-Day Salute - gunfirings and presentations to mark the 66th anniversary of the momentous operation to liberate Europe in WWII. Free admission. Sunday 20th June - Big Guns for Father's Day - Today's the day we bring out our biggest boy's toys! Including driving and firing displays from our mighty 26 tonne Sexton self-propelled gun and explosive firings from the huge 110 pounder garrison gun on the Western ramparts. Plus classic Morris Minor car rally. Free admission.
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