Fort Nelson (Royal Armouries)
Fort Nelson
A Victorian fort on Portsdown Hill housing the Royal Armouries' collection of hundreds of guns, with free entry.
Fort Nelson is a fort built on Portsdown Hill in the 1860s to defend Portsmouth, and its underground passages and magazines are well preserved. Today it is an annex of the Royal Armouries, housing more than 700 guns, from medieval mortars and Ottoman giant cannons to parts of Iraq's 'Supergun'. Ceremonial gun salutes often take place at weekends. Admission is free (parking is charged), and the hilltop offers panoramic views of Portsmouth Harbour. It is best reached by car or taxi.
Opening hours
10:00–17:00 (may close Monday–Tuesday in winter)
Nearby sights
- Hayling Island Beach
- Hinton Ampner
- Marwell Zoo
- Queen Elizabeth Country Park
- Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway)
- New Alresford
- Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
- St Catherine's Hill