HMNB Devonport, Royal Navy Dockyard in Devonport, England.
HMNB Devonport is an active Royal Navy base on the River Tamar, housing docks, workshops, and berths for submarines and surface vessels. The site runs along the waterfront, connecting historic stone buildings with modern sheds and cranes.
The base was founded in the late 17th century when the Royal Navy sought a sheltered harbor west of Plymouth. During both world conflicts it served as a repair center for damaged ships, later expanding its facilities to handle nuclear-powered submarines.
The dockyard takes its name from the district that grew up around its gates, where generations of families have lived and worked in service of the fleet. The entrances still bear crests and inscriptions that mark the bond between the navy and the local community.
The site is a restricted military area and not open to the public except during special open days announced in advance. The adjacent Heritage Centre can be visited by prior arrangement and offers guided tours through selected historic sections.
The dockyard manages the only dry docks in the country large enough to accommodate the Royal Navy's largest submarines simultaneously. The deeper docks regularly handle reactor maintenance work that can be done nowhere else in Britain.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
