About The D-Day Story
Explore Britain's largest collection dedicated to the 1944 Normandy landings at this fully accessible Portsmouth museum, where families with pushchairs and wheelchair users can easily navigate all exhibits.
What's nearby
- Live at the Bandstand next door
- Southsea Tennis Club next door
- Castle Field 200m away
- Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth 200m away
- Southsea Castle 200m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Paid car park
- ✓Free street
- ✓Paid street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible toilet
- ✓Accessible seating
Payment
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Facilities
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
A well-done museum that brings together personal stories, historical context, and artefacts to explain the events of 6 June 1944. The main exhibition uses mixed media, objects, and clear signage to cover topics like the beach landings and their objectives, German defenses, naval operations, caring for the wounded, and the experiences of French civilians. There’s an audio guide available, though the written displays are already very informative. We spent about 1-1.5 hours though could spend longer if wanting to absorb all details. Outside you can see the last surviving landing craft used on D-Day, which was much larger than expected and capable of carrying around 10 tanks. After the war it even served as a nightclub before being restored and brought here. The Overlord Embroidery is also interesting at 83 metres long, which tells the story of the invasion in impressive stitched detail. It’s a unique way to present the history and includes a lot of information within the scenes. Cafe: Excellent. Good selection of sandwiches, paninis, jacket potatoes, plougmans luncher, cakes, snacks, and hot drinks (including several vegetarian options). Parking: ample paid parking nearby behind
· via Google
An absolutely amazing place. We visited as my wife’s father was a skipper on a landing craft on D-Day – on the same class ship as LCT 7074 - his was LCT 7097. We took with us a model of his boat and showed both the staff on site and in the museum, they loved it. One chap was almost in tears as he looked around the model. We stayed for hours, absolutely enthralled by everything that was there. We can’t speak highly enough of the whole experience. You have to see this!
· via Google
It's only a small museum, dedicated to the Normandy landings, but well worth a visit. The landing craft outside is interesting, and has great views from the top. There's a large car park, and Southsea Fort is close by. On the day I visited there were free vintage bus rides from outside the museum, a 30 minute round trip around the old town.
· via Google
Interesting place to learn about D Day and the planning and details that went into it. Paid parking in its own car park or on the road outside. You can also board & explore the landing craft outside when you pay to enter the museum
· via Google
People say this museum offers a moving exhibition with a look around a landing craft, a detailed tapestry, and numerous artifacts and stories related to D-Day. They highlight the informative and interactive exhibits, and the knowledgeable and friendly staff. They also like the free audio guide and the on-site cafe.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Clarence Esplanade, Portsmouth, PO5 3NT Get directions
- Category
- Museums & Galleries
- Guest rating
- 4.7 / 5 (2,712 reviews)
- Suitable for
- Ages 4+
- Suggested visit
- 2-3 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Toilets on site
- Yes
- Destination
- Southsea