Opening Times

Open daily except 24-26 December
April - September 10.00am - 5.30pm *
October - March 10.00am - 5.00pm *

* Last entry to the D-Day Museum is 30 minutes before closing time.
We suggest you allow 1.5 to 2 hours in total for your visit to the museum.

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

The D-Day Museum and schools
The unique feature of the D-Day Museum is the magnificent Overlord Embroidery that tells the story of the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, just as 900 years earlier the story of William the Conqueror's invasion of England was told in the Bayeux Tapestry. It tells the complete story of the D-Day operation, from the planning and preparation of the invasion to victory in the Battle of Normandy in August 1944. A 30 minute Soundguide commentary (in English, French or German) on the Embroidery is available at a small additional charge. An archive film show with commentaries in English, French, German, Dutch and Spanish gives a vivid impression of the wartime atmosphere and emotions.

The style of presentation around the museums is lively with audio-visuals, sound effects and several reconstructed scenes. These include a 1940's dining room, an air-raid shelter, a factory scene, an invasion preparation area and the D-Day control room at Southwick House. Walk through a Dakota aircraft during a parachute drop followed by a scene of a crashed Horsa Glider unloading a Jeep. Then inside a German bunker to see the invasion fleet approaching and onto the landing beaches and board a genuine landing craft.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

As part of the National Curriculum Study Unit: 'Britain since the 1930's' we can offer your group a special handling and role play session on 'The Home Front' when you book your visit to the D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery. These handling sessions are chargeable and available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays only from the October half-term break through to the February half-term break and will last approximately one hour on top of your normal visit time in the museum. Further details on all educational materials and activities are available from staff at the City Museum & Records Office, Tel. +44 (0)23 9282 7261.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

The typical visit time by a group is 1½ -2 hours. The recommended maximum number arriving at any one time is 60. (When school groups are in the museum, the behaviour of the children or students is the responsibility of the teacher in charge

Additional information.

Booking a Group Visit
For all enquiries, resource pack requests, Home Front sessions and group visits please telephone Visitor Services direct line +44 (0)23 9229 6905. (An answering machine is available to leave a message at any time of day when staff are not in the office). Or you can book now on-line.

Payment for your group booking is made on the day of your visit. Cheques payable to 'Portsmouth City Council', Charge cards: Delta or Switch. Credit cards: MasterCard or Visa.