Museums at Night 2012: The Hovercraft Museum, Lee-on-Solent, May 19 2012

The dedicated volunteers caring for the Hovercraft Museum’s proud fleet can only let the public meet their nautical juggernauts six times a year.

One of those is Museums at Night, when more than 70 vessels will be saturated by light, illuminating specimens ranging from a single-seater example to a pair of giant, 300-ton wave-riders.

With a band playing on one of the decks and two vast aircraft hangars also opening their doors, this is a rare chance to see hovercraft as you’ve never imagined them before.

• Runs 6.30pm-10pm. Admission £4-£5 (includes soup, roll and live music). Visit the museum online.

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