Hovercraft Museum — Attraction in Gosport

Saturday 16th March. I visited the hovercraft museum today. My phone tells me it has low memory so I can't post as many photos as I wish..When Christopher Cockerell experimented with a coffee tin , a tin that once contained cat food and a pump it might have been hard for him to imagine standing inside the largest hovercraft in the world . The museum tells the story of the hovercraft in such a way it explains how such a simple idea can now show what a genius he actually was. A few words of advice. The Princess Anne hovercraft is huge but leave the best until last. Your first stop will be the Restoration Workshops. You will enjoy going on board the BH7 and the Falcon after that. The Main Display Hangar hold's hovercraft that featured in a James Bond film, and two that featured in the TV series Scrap Heap Challenge. In the small room off the hangar you can find the coffee jar, empty cat food tin, and a pump. I spent most of the afternoon here and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend a visit. The museum is currently only open on Saturdays. The volunteers who work here are very chatty and extremely knowledgeable so don't be shy. I chatted with two of them in the BH7 and discovered I went to the same school and lived in the same town over fifty years ago with one of them. We discovered our father's worked in the aircraft history, and two of us had lived on the Isle of Wight. It's a small world. The museum is definitely...

The Hovercraft Museum is a unique and fascinating destination for anyone with an interest in engineering, history, or even just quirky vehicles. Nestled along the coast in Lee-on-the-Solent, it offers a rare glimpse into the world of hovercraft technology, from its early development to modern applications. The museum's collection is impressive, featuring over 60 hovercraft of various types and sizes, including iconic models like the SR.N4, which once carried passengers across the English Channel. Walking through the exhibits, you get a sense of the innovation and experimentation that went into making these futuristic machines a reality. What really makes the experience stand out is the passion of the volunteers. Many are former hovercraft engineers or enthusiasts, and their knowledge brings the exhibits to life with personal anecdotes and insider details. You can even climb inside some of the hovercraft, making it a hands-on experience that’s both fun and educational. While the museum could benefit from more polished signage and modern displays, it has a charming, grassroots feel that adds to its authenticity. It's clear that this is a labor of love, and that dedication shines through in every corner of the museum. If you're a fan of offbeat museums or interested in the history of transportation, the Hovercraft Museum is well...

I visited the Hovercraft Museum for the first time with my girlfriend yesterday and I can't rate it highly enough. Granted it's not glamorous however there is some great exhibits from Scrapheap Challenges, James Bond films, Hovercraft prototypes, Navy hovercraft and the star exhibit of the Princess Anne cross-channel Hovercraft.

Top tip: We arrived around 2pm and they offer a free guided tours through the day. This is highly recommended. Allan is was so interesting, funny and provided great insight into the collection.

I would really recommend doing the tour, where most of the exhibits aren't labelled or explained you might end up wondering around not really knowing what you're looking at.

This is a great place run by passionate volunteers sharing in an eccentric and underrated bit of British design. This is perfect if you have a interest in engineering however my non-technical girlfriend enjoyed it as much as I did.

Not only that but they are actively organising multiple trips and excursions on hovercraft throughout the year - a absolutely great idea. Along with other events such as the recent visit from Princess Anne.

Talking to Hovertravel staff at Southsea today I'm told the cafe there does a lovely homemade cream tea so I will definitely be back soon :)

Thank you for a lovely day yesterday and we'll...