Museums & Galleries · Hampshire
Fort Nelson
📍 PO17 6AN
Photo: Julian Colander (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- 15th-century Turkish bombard cannon on display
- Gigantic 200-tonne railway howitzer
- The infamous 'Big Babylon' Iraqi supergun
- 19 acres of tunnels and ramparts to explore
- Free family activities and onsite café
Fort Nelson, in the civil parish of Boarhunt in the English county of Hampshire, is one of five defensive forts built on the summit of Portsdown Hill in the 1860s, overlooking the important naval base of Portsmouth and is a Grade I Listed Building. The current tenant is the Royal Armouries, housing the artillery of the national collection of arms and armour. — Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Practical details
- Open
- Term-time Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm
- Booking
- Advance online booking recommended, especially at weekends and holidays
- Parking
- Members park free; non-members pay for parking on arrival
- Dogs
- No animals except assistance dogs
- Best for
- All ages, with free family activities included
From the attraction's own website on 14 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ Guided Tours
- ✓ Parking
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.7 mi
1.3 mi
1.6 mi
2.3 mi
2.4 mi
3.1 mi
🎪 What's on near Fort Nelson
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Portsmouth Audio Tour: Legends, Landmarks, and Legacy
HMS M33, Portsmouth · 4.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
![Late Night Brunch [BOOK VIA WEBSITE]](https://d31fr2pwly4c4s.cloudfront.net/e/3/f/2249839_8ce54031_late-night-brunch-book-via-website-.jpg)
Fri 13 Nov · 18:00
Late Night Brunch [BOOK VIA WEBSITE]
Medbar Southampton, Southampton · 11.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
The Vintage Explosion
EngineRooms, Southampton · 12.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
The Big Indie Fest | Portsmouth
The Gaiety Southsea, Southsea · 6.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Fort Nelson into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Portchester 1 miles
- Fareham 2.4 miles
- Cosham 3.4 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page