The Royal Navy and Babcock International are inviting the public for an extraordinary look behind the scenes of one of the UK’s most strategically important defence sites — HM Naval Base Devonport.
This summer, Devonport Open Days 2025 will offer a unique opportunity to witness a working naval base and dockyard.
The Open Days will take place over two dates:
- Thursday 24 July – for families of personnel working on site
- Friday 25 July – open to the general public by ballot application only
With free tickets available via the Plymouth Pavilions portal, these events are expected to draw significant interest from across the country.
The first day, Thursday 24 July, is dedicated to families of those working on site, and tickets can be booked here using a unique booking code. The second day, Friday 25 July, is open to external visitors, who must enter a ballot for free tickets by midday on Friday 6 June—you can apply here.
The event is designed as a vibrant, family-friendly day out, featuring seven themed zones across the sprawling Devonport complex. Attendees can look forward to:
- Zone 1 – Royal Navy: Meet serving personnel, explore naval exhibits, and learn about life in the Senior Service.
- Zone 2 – Royal Marines: Live demos and meet-and-greets with elite commandos.
- Zone 3 – STEM: Engaging exhibits and challenges for young minds considering future careers in science and engineering.
- Zone 4 – Sports: Try your hand at military fitness challenges and learn about physical training in the forces.
- Zone 5 – Food: Enjoy a wide range of culinary delights and watch live demonstrations at the Kitchen Theatre Demo Stage.
- Zone 6 – Water and Air Displays: Maritime and aerial exhibitions designed to showcase Royal Navy capabilities.
- Zone 7 – Dockyard Bus Tours: (Thursday only) Exclusive guided tours exploring the dockside where warships and submarines undergo refit and support.
Additional highlights include performances by the HM Royal Marines Band, MoD Police dog demonstrations, and the thrilling Wonderstruck Science Show.
Devonport remains the largest naval base in Western Europe and a cornerstone of the Royal Navy’s operations. It supports surface ship and submarine maintenance, as well as providing training facilities for generations of Royal Navy personnel.
While tickets for the 24 July families’ day are handled internally, the 25 July public open day will be filled via ballot. Interested members of the public can register now using this link: 👉 https://tickets.plymouthpavilions.com/shows/show.aspx?sh=OPENDAYS25
Applications close midday on Friday 6 June 2025, with successful entries notified by Monday 30 June 2025.
Due to the nature of the site, attendance is limited to UK nationals only, with valid proof of nationality required upon entry (passport, UK birth certificate with photo ID, Certificate of Naturalisation, or citizenship registration certificate). This follows security protocols under the National Security Act 2023, as HMNB Devonport is classified as a Prohibited Place.
When I was a child in the 80s I went with my dad to several Navy Days at Portsmouth. No faffing about or rules, just turn up and go in.
Yes. I recall I went aboard HMS Gloucester.
And yet, unbelievably, there are hardly any actual assets left based there.
Handful of T23 left, the 8 are split with Portsmouth.
HMS Scott, Protector, Magpie.
SSN gone to Faslane, now the last T boats based there have gone.
LPDs and Ocean gone.
Several RN support organisations, elements of FOST and the RM in the wider Plymouth area, like Stonehouse, and training at Raleigh.
But for refits, it’s a ghost.
So sad.
For years, I’ve half expected them to announce its closure for ships basing as a cost saving measure, yet I understand the 8 T26 are still planned to be based there.
All type 23s are now based there. Think the final Portsmouth based type 23 moved over
“I see no ships”.
I used to enjoy the open day. Being on an SSN in Devonport meant we were pretty much spectators but used to get so many strange looks from people wondering what this black messenger of death was.
Having 3 or 4 armed sentries probably added to the spectacle somewhat.