The Tank Museum Museum

Address: The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, United Kingdom (BH20 6JG)

Website: https://www.tankmuseum.org

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays (seasonal variations possible)

Admission: Adults ~£16-£20 (varies by exhibition and time); concessions available

The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset, England, is a specialist museum focused on the history and technology of armoured warfare, with a collection that covers the First World War to modern armoured vehicles. It is one of the largest such collections worldwide and is based adjacent to the Bovington military camp.

Exhibits are arranged in thematic and chronological galleries that include restored vehicles, explanatory displays, weapons and uniforms. The museum also runs a restoration workshop and stores a reserve collection of additional vehicles.

The collection grew from early 20th-century military holdings at Bovington Camp and expanded through donations, acquisitions and conservation work in the postwar period. The museum now functions as both a public exhibition and an active conservation centre.

The museum is situated near Bovington and Wool in Dorset, England, on the military estate that established the site’s long association with armoured vehicle training and development.

• Size of the collection: Houses one of the world’s largest collections of armoured fighting vehicles with around 300 vehicles spanning the First World War to the present day.
• Live demonstrations: Special running days and live demonstrations operate on selected dates, allowing visitors to see some tanks move under controlled conditions.

What to See#

• Major exhibition halls: WWI Hall, WWII Hall and Cold War & Modern galleries present the collection chronologically with restored and static displays covering roughly 300 armoured vehicles.
• Reserve and restoration: A reserve collection and restoration workshops store additional vehicles and carry out conservation and running restorations for public demonstration days.

The Tank Museum is in Bovington, Dorset. By car it’s signposted off the A352 between Wareham and Wool. Nearest rail: Wareham or Wool stations with onward bus/taxi connections; check local bus timetables for services to Bovington.

• Check the museum's website for special exhibition days and tank-running displays - demonstrations are scheduled and popular.
• Allow at least two hours - there are nearly 300 vehicles and many immersive exhibits.
• Bring weatherproof shoes if planning to see outdoor tanks; the ground can be muddy outside in poor weather.