Disclaimer: I was invited to this launch event for free, however the words are mine. Header image credit: David Parry.
I haven’t been to The Mary Rose since I was a kid on a school trip, probably in around 1990 – eight or so years since it was raised which most people who were at school in the early 80s will remember well.
I can date it in my head because I’d just started wearing glasses and had forgotten them, so and all I remember is the smell and the noise of the ship being sprayed constantly, while I sat on an uncomfortable bench not being able to see much.
It is fair to say that it is a world away from that now!
We went to the Mary Rose to check out the new immersive experience 1545 – When Their World Ended which has just opened to the public. Forming the new entrance to the museum, you first hear from Dame Judi Dench who introduces The Mary Rose and the exhibit, before she hands over to King Henry VIII (don’t worry, it’s a very high definition TV and not an actor. It is, mercifully, not that kind of immersive experience) who tells you all about his favourite ship.
Then you step into a specially designed room which uses computer animation to allow you to re-live the final moments on board the Mary Rose. It isn’t super realistic enough to scare children, but I did lose my balance (in an entirely stationary room) and fall over, much to the amusement of everyone else.
Watch the video here for a bit more about the new The Mary Rose immersive experience!
What about The Mary Rose Museum?
The museum itself is fascinating. Long gone is the constant spraying (and the smell!) and the ship is now displayed in huge atrium-like area surrounded by the museum, completely accessible to view from different levels. On the top level you can look right down on the ship.
The Mary Rose sank almost 500 years ago, and many of the 19,000 artefacts that they managed to recover when they raised the ship in 1982 are also on display. From the fireplace the crew cooked their meals in to the bones of the ship’s dog there are several floors packed with wonderful displays and information which give you a real feel for Tudor life and what it must have been like aboard The Mary Rose (I’m thinking, not great fun).
There are lots of interactive elements that kids will absolutely love – buttons to press and screens to watch – as well as gory bits like the surgeon’s equipment which will hold the interest of older children, and the almost complete skeleton and of a ship’s archer.
As an aside, the museum was the perfect place to be in the ridiculous heat as it’s all air conditioned inside, so if you’re looking for somewhere to swerve the heatwave then it’s the perfect family attraction.
Visiting The Mary Rose
Entry to The Mary Rose is included in the ticket price of entry to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard where you can also see HMS Warrior and Nelson’s HMS Victory, go on a harbour tour and visit several museums and exhibits. Although you can get day tickets (priced £24 for an adult and £19 for a child) for less than double the price you can get an ‘Ultimate Explorer’ ticket which allows you to return as many times as you’d like over a year. A yearly ticket for a family of five is £120; if you’re local it’s a good idea as there is only so much time in the day and so much to see! Check out the ticket prices on the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard website.
It is worth noting that once a month, The Mary Rose run a ‘Relaxed Opening Morning’ where the lights are turned up, and sounds are turned down to make the museum more accessible to visually impaired or autistic visitors. You can find out more on their website.
Too far to travel? Check out our trip to Chatham Historic Dockyard.