Local MP Caroline Dinenage enjoyed a taste of life under the ocean in a visit to Gosport's award-winning Royal Navy Submarine Museum, in support of English Tourism Week.
The Submarine Museum is home to HMS Alliance, Britain's only remaining World War II submarine, and stands as a memorial to the 5,300 British submariners who have lost their lives serving this country. With over 100,000 visitors a year, the Submarine Museums joins tourism powerhouses Stonehenge and Bath's Roman Baths in the top five most-visited English sites outside of London.
A joint ticket is now offered for both the Submarine Museum and nearby Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower. This will strengthen the Gosport offer and ensure more visitors see both museums, spending more time in Gosport.
Caroline toured the Museum and the HMS Alliance followed by a tour of the Royal Navy's first submarine HMS Holland. Caroline then learnt more about their exciting plans over the next few months which includes the opening of a new permanent exhibition at the Museum, 'Silent and Secret' marking the 50th anniversary of HMS Resolution, the Royal Navy's first Polaris SSBN (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear), commencing her first operational patrol. This new exhibition will focus on personal accounts and key objects at the Submarine Museum, which will explore the history of the British nuclear at sea deterrent.
Speaking after her visit, Caroline said:
"I really enjoyed my visit to the Submarine Museum, the chance to get a taste of what life must have been like on-board a real sub, HMS Alliance and learn more about the lives of those who served, is not only educational but also thought-provoking and would appeal to people of all ages, it's easy to see why it remains such a popular attraction!
We are so lucky to have a number of fantastic tourist attractions on our doorstep. The Gosport Constituency is home to the only Hovercraft and Diving museums in the country as well as a number of award-winning attractions such as the Explosion! Museum and 17th Century Village. Some of these locations have been used recently in TV programmes, such as Doctor Who and the new Transformers film, helping put Gosport firmly on the map!"
Tourism is one of England's largest and most successful industries, contributing £106 billion to the economy and supporting 2.6 million jobs. English Tourism Week is a week-long celebration of events showcasing the quality and vibrancy of the visitor experiences and the value our industry brings to our nation.