Mary Rose Museum

The Mary Rose Museum displays the hull of Henry VIII's flagship, which sank in the Solent in 1545 and was raised from the seabed in 1982. Visitors look down on the ship from galleries and follow a route past displays about the crew and how they lived, worked and fought. The collection runs to thousands of Tudor objects, from large bronze and iron guns to everyday items such as wooden bowls, shoes and nit combs, which give children a close sense of life at sea. Families can follow a multi-sensory trail led by the ship's dog, Hatch, and the museum runs activities during school holidays. The building sits within Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, so it combines well with a wider visit to the naval site. Light levels are kept low to protect the collection, and a monthly relaxed morning raises the lights and lowers the sound.