NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM ULTIMATE GUIDE
Open: Everyday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Time Needed: 1,5 hours
Price: Free
When it comes to exploration trade, shipping and navigation, no other country in the world has a more advanced naval history than Britain’s. As a matter of fact, Britain has such a vast and important maritime history, it’s often associated with British culture and identity. That’s why the National Maritime Museum is considered to be a treasure trove for any naval enthusiast, young or old.
The National Maritime Museum first opened in 1937, although the building was originally used as a school for children of seafarers during the 1800s, and has since been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area of Greenwich where the museum stands today was once a critical location for Britain’s maritime history, as it connected to London’s docks via the River Thames, and more recently, to the Canary Wharf.
Today the National Maritime Museum boasts being the largest museum of its kind in the world, and attracts more than 750,000 visitors each year. It’s also part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, which includes the nearby Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and Queen’s House. It's a wonderful area to visit with free walking tours.
National Maritime Museum Highlights
With over 2 million objects ranging from artefacts, maps and maritime memorabilia, to exhibits covering famous battles, shipbuilding and even Napoleon, the sections within the National Maritime Museum are as vast as Britain’s naval history itself.
There are exhibits dedicated to some of the most famous names and events in Britain’s naval history, such as Captain James Cook and his North-West Passage during the 1770s, and Admiral Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar.
On the ground floor, visitors can glance over an introduction to the museum’s archives, before moving up to the first floor to learn more about the East India Company and Asia, as well as Britain’s maritime trade with the east during the 19th century. There are also sections dedicated to slavery and trade between Europe, Africa and America between the 1600s and 1850s. On the second floor, there are sections which focus specifically on Admiral Horatio Nelson, and visitors can even look at the bullet-pierced and blood-stained uniform Admiral Horatio Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar.
There are also several areas scattered all throughout the museum which are tailored specifically for children, such as The Ahoy! Gallery (which contains models of ship decks and cabins for children to play in) and the All Hands Interactive Gallery (where children can fire a cannon and shoot down a pirate ship).
Also, be sure to check out the Great Map (located at the centre of the museum) which contains a massive atlas so children and adults can walk across the map’s surface, and use a tablet with a touch-screen to learn more about pirates, the Scott’s Antarctic expedition and much more.
Special Tips
If you become a Royal Museums Greenwich Member, you can get free entry into all the museum's ticketed areas and the Peter Harrison Planetarium shows, as well as discounts at the shops and cafes.
Because the National Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark sailing ship and the Queen's House art gallery are all within walking distance of each other, you can easily visit all three sites in one day. The Cutty Sark is a six-minute walk from the museum, while the Queen's House is a three-minute walk away.
Also, if you have some extra time, make sure you check out the The Royal Observatory (a seven-minute walk away) and enjoy some amazing views of the London skyline from Greenwich Park (less than a three-minute walk away).
If you're visiting on a sunny afternoon, make sure you spend some time sitting out in the colonnade and enjoy the stunning views!
Getting There
Address: Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF, United Kingdom.
By train: If you are traveling by train, the nearest stations are Greenwich train station (maximum 9 minutes walk from the Museum), or Maze Hill station (also maximum 9 minutes walk from the Museum).
By bus: If you travel by bus, you can reach the National Maritime Museum via routes 129, 177, 180, 188, 286, 386 and N1.
By car: If you are traveling by car, there is secure public parking at the museum, however, please note that parking in Greenwich is extremely limited (especially on weekends). There is also a parking lot located on Park Row as well as on the street in Greenwich Park (for a maximum of 4 hours). There are stalls available for visitors with disabilities in the museum parking lot that must be reserved in advance.
By express: If you are traveling by express, there is an express point located on Stockwell Street, which is a 5 minute walk from the museum.
Visiting National Maritime Museum
There are toilet facilities on site, as well as a restaurant and cafe on the ground floor, baby changing rooms, and a wheelchair accessible public toilet.
Visitors can leave their coats, suitcases, bags and rucksacks in the cloakroom (which is located on the ground floor, to the right of the ticket desk) and it costs £1 per item.
The museum also hosts both free and ticketed events, as well as lectures by experts and even music nights.
It is worth considering visiting the museum with a guide or on a free tour in London.
For more information check out the official website.
Ticket Costs
The National Maritime Museum is open every day (except from December 24th to 26th) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with last admission 30 minutes before closing); but during the summer months, the ground floor galleries stay open until 6 p.m.
The museum is free to enter for anyone, however there may be a fee for special exhibitions; (although children under the age of five can get into these exhibitions for free).
Every Tuesday, the museum hosts its ever-popular “Play Tuesdays” events for children which include art workshops, songs and stories. The events take place every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and cost £3 per child with one accompanying adult. (Siblings under the ages of 6 months can get in for free.)
If you are visiting the National Maritime Museum, you might also be interested in joining some of the many free tours in London running every day.
