Hovercraft Museum

Museum · Gosport

Hovercraft Museum

Museum · Gosport

The Hovercraft Museum Daedalus Site Seafront Gate, Marine Parade W, Lee-on-the-Solent PO13 9NS, United Kingdom

Highlights

The Hovercraft Museum Daedalus Site Seafront Gate, Marine Parade W, Lee-on-the-Solent PO13 9NS, United Kingdom Get directions

hovercraft-museum.org

@atlasobscura

The Ultimate List of Wonderfully Specific Museums

"Showcasing over 60 hovercraft and boasting a library containing everything anyone would want to know about the novel vessels, the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent, England is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Here, visitors can see famous hovercraft from film and television, climb aboard historic specimens, and see the very first proof-of-concept machines that led the way to the hovercraft revolution. The museum’s collection includes the two hovercraft featured in the hovercraft chase in the James Bond film Die Another Day, as well as the craft built on Channel 4’s Scrapheap Challenge and the one rebuilt on the same channel’s Salvage Squad. Also featured are the world’s first working hovercraft model, the world’s first production-built hovercraft, a military craft that completed a round trip of the arctic circle, and a hovercraft that served as a ferry across the English Channel until 2000, when it was replaced by a catamaran. Despite being replaced, that hovercraft still holds the record for fastest cross-channel voyage, traversing the body of water in an impressive 22 minutes. The hovercraft concept was developed by an Englishman named Dr. Christopher Cockerell, and the first hovercraft was built in England in 1958. They thereafter enjoyed a brief heyday, being found useful in military, civilian, commercial, competitive, and recreational applications, and are still used in many of those capacities today. The Hovercraft Museum is located at a slipway where many new designs in the early hovercraft era were launched for testing." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-ultimate-list-of-wonderfully-specific-museums

View Postcard for Hovercraft Museum

Kevin Durant

Google

This is a rugged museum with aging exhibits. The isn't any sparkle here, but that adds to the charm. All the volunteers there were keen to chat and tell visitors about the various hovercraft on display. The stand-out craft was the enormous Princess Anne. What a sight that was inside and out. The was a nice cafe with a built in gift shop and very clean toilets. A lovely way to spend a few hours.

Anne Clarke

Google

My name is Neville the bear and I was lucky enough to visit this very interesting hovercraft museum today. The volunteers who work here are fantastic and really helpful giving lots of information about the different hovercrafts. Martin, one of the kind volunteers allowed me (remember I am only a bear) to sit inside a number of different types of crafts. I even got to have a go on the moving amusement hovercraft too! At the end of my visit I visited the shop and bought a new friend (Hover) to bring home with me. I would definitely recommend this place to bears and hoomans alike. Thank you 😊🧸

Jana Dunford

Google

We loved this museum. Our children (age 12 and 7) did the picture hunt, which is more difficult than it seems 🙂 The volunteers were all very lovely and friendly. The gentleman, who was in The Princess Anne hovercraft was very knowledgeable and told us some interesting and fascinating facts. The Caffè is very sweet and relaxed. The fact they allow dogs is a huge bonus for us. Do not miss this museum.

Samuel Dedman

Google

This was my first visit to the Hovercraft Museum - a veritable treasure trove on the seafront at Lee-on-Solent. The Princess Anne is very much the centrepiece of the museum, but there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained for a couple of hours. A special shout-out has to go to Martin who came and spent a good 15 minutes chatting to us. His enthusiasm was infectious and his knowledge knew no limit, so thank you. The recent confirmation of museum status as well the planned redevelopment of the local area means that the museum should have an exciting future. Our only feedback is that some more information about how hovercrafts work would be helpful. Some of the explanation boards could also do with being re-printed, but this does not detract from the level of information they deliver. Definitely one to visit if you are in the area.

toby talks about

Google

If you're interested in engineering or sea vessels this is worth a visit..if you're not this is still an interesting place to visit. I only ended up there because my sat nav went haywire but there's a lot to look at, and the staff were very friendly, and really knew their stuff about the exhibits. The biggest exhibit is The Princess Anne - a huge hovercraft who used to do channel crossings more than double the speed of a normal ferry. I think this museum mostly runs on volunteers and it was bit scruffy in places, and there was part of The Princess Anne that are no longer open to visitors as they haven't the funds to maintain her, so if you're in the area it's worth visiting - the funds will go good use! Stairs into some of the hovercraft so maybe get in touch in advance if you have mobility difficulties. Toilets (clean) and cafe with teas, coffees and cakes. No dedicated parking but lots of parking available nearby. Local shops, cafes and other things to do within walking distance.

Hayman Yuen

Google

Birthday day trip for my 9 years old who is obsessed with vehicles and engineering. He had an absolutely amazing day. We spent 3 hours looking at everything. The volunteers are fantastic and can tell you everything about the hovercrafts. To finish the day, son found his dream present at the small gift shop, a decommissioned life jacket. What more can we ask for. 😂

Jenny

Google

My son loved this place. Don't go expecting pristine Hovercrafts it's a massive collection of old hovercrafts. They are very interesting to look around. The staff are really happy to tell you all about them and answer questions. It's great for learning about how they work and how they are made. You can explore and see loads.

Hells Guardian

Google

The only hovercraft museum in the world and it's here at Lee on Solent. On road parking bit of a pain in the behind but once parked a short walk to something very special and very interesting in terms of the history of hovercrafts. You can get on some of them and others not, who remembers Dover to Calais on the old sea link crossings.... you do ! Your as old as us then !!!! One of the hovercrafts is here that ran there The hovercraft from James Bond Die another day is here as well, go watch if you can't remember JB escaping on one On site cafe very nice and tidy, drinks and light snacks and cake. Very highly recommended