Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson

THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson

Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson

Fort Nelson is home to the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery and historic cannon – the big guns – and is a great day out for all the family. Admission free. Step back in time and explore a fully restored Victorian fort with its high ramparts, original fortifications, massive parade ground and underground tunnels. Plus, there's the national museum housing over 700 pieces of artillery from across the world and spanning 600 years of history – each with their own story to tell. With an exciting collection of big guns, stunning panoramic views, entertaining children’s activities, a museum shop packed with gifts and souvenirs, and a café serving delicious refreshments – there is something for everyone to enjoy. Parking £3. No animals except assistance (guide/hearing) dogs.
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Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth PO17 6AN England

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  1. 4.0 of 5 stars
    Highest-rated 4-star hotel within 4 miles of Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    Based on availability on Tripadvisor for 2 March - 3 March
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    1 Southampton Road North Harbour, Portsmouth PO6 4SA England
    2.3 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #7 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    6 Malvern Road Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 2NA England
    6.0 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #11 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    2 Osborne Road Clarence Parade, Portsmouth PO5 3LJ England
    5.6 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #12 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    Clarence Road, Portsmouth PO5 2LQ England
    6.0 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #17 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    6 Florence Road Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 2NE England
    6.1 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #20 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    Lakeshore Drive, Portsmouth PO6 3FR England
    3.1 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #25 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
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    Boutique Hotel
    71 Festing Road, Portsmouth PO4 0NQ England
    6.2 miles from Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
    #26 Best Value of 908 Hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson
Showing results 1-30 of 908
See what travellers are saying
  • MarcusHurley
    Calne, United Kingdom10,886 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful afternoon visit
    As three aged adults we found this an amazing place and had a wonderful visit. If you're local and have a young family it must be bliss as there is so much to do here and entry is free so you can visit a different area each time. The fort is one of Palmerston's Follies, built in the mid nineteenth century as a defence against possible French attack. It is largely underground and has various batteries and galleries to cover both sea approaches to Portsmouth and land access to the fort itself. The fort is now run by the Royal Armouries and has displays of artillery from the twelfth century to the Cold War. The biggest exhibit has to be an 18" railgun (excluding the Supergun from the Iraq war that was never actually fired) and there are a variety of pieces both indoors and outdoors. Western ones, certainly after the eighteenth century, tended to be very plain and functional but some of the eastern ones are real works of art. There are also displays on Victorian barrack life as well as the building of the forts around Portsmouth. There are tunnels - surprisingly deep - that you can walk down for visits to the galleries defending the fort as well as rooftop batteries. We spent about 3 hours here and could probably return in a few months and do the same again. The cafe was a nice place to sit and reflect on what we'd seen after our visit.
    Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. We hope to welcome you back soon to Fort Nelson.
    Written 22 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 April 2024
  • foggy66
    Dorset, United Kingdom241 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A worthwhile visit
    Visited here with friends. I had no prior knowledge about this fort and its history so I was surprised to discover just how interesting the site is including centuries of cannons and guns. A real surprise and worth visiting again for a longer time.
    Thanks you for your great review - glad you enjoyed your visit to For Nelson. Please do keep in touch with our upcoming events via our social media channels at #royalarmouriesfortnelson - we hope to welcome you back to the fort again soon.
    Written 20 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 May 2024
  • Paul S
    27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit!
    Been here twice now. Entrance is free, but you are asked to pay just £3 for the close car park. Staff are very friendly and also knowledgeable. It's quite a large site so allow yourself a good 4 hours to get around slowly. Lots of steps and steep slopes to negotiate so may not be suitable for those of us who are less able to get about. An amazing example of Victorian engineering. Plenty on display to see and watch. Very many Guns / Cannons on display. I couldn't help but feel that there are a lot of rooms / areas that are not open to the public, but would be amazing to see if this place had a little more money to spend? Food and drink in the Cafe are also very reasonably priced.
    Thanks for your lovely review - glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. I'll pass your great comments onto our staff. Fort Nelson is part of Royal Armouries and home to the national collection of artillery. The site is Government funded, which is why we are free to enter. Keeping a Victorian fort maintained is costly and our main priority is always keeping our visitors safe whilst on site. We hope to welcome you back to Fort Nelson again soon.
    Written 10 June 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 8 June 2024
  • LimerickguyNH
    Limerick, Ireland136 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent museum and fort
    Well worth visiting for both the fort and the excellent exhibitions. An amazing collection of cannons from across the world and across the ages. A lot to see so it takes a couple of hours to take it all in. The tunnel is an interesting experience and ultimately leads to the courtyard where you’ll see a massive rail cannon along with other displays. Very pleasant staff, convenient parking (£3) with free entry to the fort. Also a short drive to Portchester Castle so possible to visit two excellent locations in one day.
    Thanks for your wonderful review - glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. Do pop back and visit again soon!
    Written 1 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 June 2024
  • Djl2k9
    Ebbw Vale, United Kingdom31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great place on a hot day
    Fort Nelson is a must visit if staying Hampshire. It’s free to enter but you have to pay £3 to park. It’s really worth it as there’s so much to see for all ages and for military and non military nerds. A spacious cafe with great prices, a lot cheaper than other attractions cafes in the area. A well stocked giftshop, plenty of toilet facilities and disabled access. I highly recommend paying five pound to take a guided tour around the site. It compliments your self guided experience. We were lucky to be taken around by Gemma who was so knowledgeable and you could tell she had a real enthusiasm for her job.Myself and my friend were the only ones on the tour so it was more like a private tour. All the staff I spoke too from the cafe to the gift shop were so friendly and chatty. It’s great to see such enthusiastic staff as it totally makes the experience. I hope this review gets passed onto the staff to say thankyou for a enjoyable day
    Thank you for your fantastic review - we're glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. We'll pass your lovely words onto our staff - including our brilliant Gemma. We hope to welcome you back to Fort Nelson again soon!
    Written 1 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 June 2024
  • Anne C
    Llandrindod Wells, United Kingdom138 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beary good visit to Fort Nelson
    It’s Neville the Bear here reporting in after my superb visit to Fort Nelson today. I had a lot of fun exploring the tunnels and looking at all the big guns on display. The staff were very welcoming to us bears. It’s a very informative museum and excellent for a family day out as it’s free entry (just £3 to park the car). The only thing I would say that could be improved is the selection of cakes in the cafe. Us bears do tend to get a bit peckish and there wasn’t much choice. Other than that I would thoroughly recommend.
    Glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson - please do pop back and visit the fort again soon!
    Written 22 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 July 2024
  • elmhurst37
    Southampton, United Kingdom75 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    East Tunnels Visit
    Had the pleasure of a guided tour of the East Tunnels at Fort Nelson. Bought tickets via Eventbrite and went on the hour long tour of the tunnels. Two very informative guides showed us this area of the fort that’s normally closed to the public The tunnels are unrestored and are an interesting view of what most of the hidden areas of the fort must look like. Some of the areas are uneven underfoot and only part of the tunnel would be accessible to wheelchair users. Definitely recommended.
    Thank you for your lovely review - glad you enjoyed the East Tunnel tours. I'll pass on your lovely comments to the guides. Please do keep in touch with our social media channels for news of upcoming events at #royalarmouriesfortnelson - we hope to welcome you back to the fort again soon.
    Written 22 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 13 July 2024
  • maxineharris67
    Waterlooville, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lovely day at Fort Nelson
    What a lovely place! Such friendly and informative staff. We took 3 of our grandchildren aged 1, 3 and 5. There was a trail for the children to follow and they were able to have hands on most things! The older grandson (age 5) said, "Wow! This place is the best!" I would highly recommend Fort Nelson for a great experience.
    Glad you and your grandchildren enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson - I'll pass on your lovely comments about our staff and the trail to them. Please do pop back and visit the fort again soon!
    Written 22 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 July 2024
  • Celia
    Apeldoorn, The Netherlands3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice place to visit
    Very beautiful fort. Entrance is fir free .you only pay £3 for parkibg your car. Even the guided tours are for free. We had the short tour of 20 minutes which was very great to hear about the history. Very friendly staff. In the cafe you can gave something to eat and drink and there us a souvenirshop.. Highly recommended !
    Thank you for your lovely review - glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. I'll pass on your comments to our wonderful staff. We look forward to welcoming you back to the fort again soon.
    Written 22 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 July 2024
  • Chocky59
    West Midlands, United Kingdom649 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cheap children’s outing, adults great outing too.
    Have gone past this Fort few times on visits to Portsmouth… found time to visit and so glad we did. £3 parking then free entrance but can also donate with a suggested £3 each at till. 20minute talk about Fort Nelson and its original purpose. Still free and very informative. Plenty of other things to look at and read good info on around some under cover if weather not great. Children’s activities also, small cafe and shop.
    Thanks for your lovely review - we're glad you enjoyed your visit to Fort Nelson. Please keep in touch with news of our upcoming events on our social media channels at #royalarmouriesfortnelson We hope to welcome you back to the fort again soon!
    Written 22 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Frequently Asked Questions about hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson

Popular hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth that have a pool include:
New Place Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Royal Maritime Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5

Some of the best hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth are:
Lysses House Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Red Lion Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
The Roundabout Hotel - Traveller rating: 3.5/5

A gym is available to guests at the following hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth:
New Place Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Village Hotel Portsmouth - Traveller rating: 4/5

A private balcony can be enjoyed by guests at the following hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth:
The Queens Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Villa Rothsay Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
Hilton Southampton - Utilita Bowl - Traveller rating: 4/5

These hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth have great views and are well-liked by travellers:
Best Western New Holmwood Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
Foresters Hall - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
Seaview Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5

These hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth have been described as romantic by other travellers:
Best Western New Holmwood Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
The Clarence Boutique Rooms - Traveller rating: 5/5

Families travelling in Portsmouth enjoyed their stay at the following hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson:
The George Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
Premier Inn Gosport hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Premier Inn Portsmouth North Harbour - Traveller rating: 4/5

These hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth generally allow pets:
Travelodge Gosport - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
Travelodge Portsmouth Hilsea - Traveller rating: 4/5
It is always best to call ahead and confirm specific pet policies before your stay.

Free breakfast can be enjoyed at the following hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth:
Red Lion Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
The Ship Leopard Boutique Hotel - Traveller rating: 4.5/5

These hotels near Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson in Portsmouth have free parking:
Lysses House Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
Red Lion Hotel - Traveller rating: 4/5
The Roundabout Hotel - Traveller rating: 3.5/5

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