Portsmouth Museum Sees Victory at Industry Awards
Portsmouth Liberal Democrats have congratulated the Portsmouth Museums retail team after The D-Day Story was awarded ‘Shop of the Year’ at the 2025 Museums + Heritage Awards, the sector's annual recognition event.
The prestigious awards celebrate the very best in the world of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions.
The Portsmouth Museums retail team won the award for their refit in May 2024 ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in a tough category which included The National Gallery and National Football Museum.
This small but mighty team combined creativity, smart merchandising, and huge enthusiasm to deliver impressive profits and a sustained return on investment!
Museums + Heritage Awards Judges
The D-Day Story is the only museum in the UK dedicated to telling the story of 6 June 1944, the preparations, D-Day, the Battle of Normandy and its legacy. The museum is part of Portsmouth Museums, which runs six museums and historic buildings in the city as part of the Lib Dem-led council's cultural offering.
It is also home to LCT 7074, the last surviving preserved Landing Craft Tank that took part in D-Day and the Overlord Embroidery, which depicts D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in 34 hand-stitched panels.
The changes to the shop took place against the backdrop of one of the busiest years ever of the museums history as the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The project was completed at a minimal cost and against a tight deadline. Congratulations to all involved.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council
Other winners on the night were the Wellcome Collection (visitor accessibility award), Heritage Open Days (sector impact award), and the Royal Armouries (marketing and communications campaign of the year), proving that Portsmouth's culture and heritage teams are well respected across the industry, sitting alongside some of the largest museums in the country.
Tickets for The D-Day Story start at just £15.95 for adults and £8.00 for children with a discount for disabled visitors and a 40% discount for Portsmouth Leisure Card holders.