National Maritime Museum - Royal Museums Greenwich










The National Maritime Museum is the world’s largest maritime museum with 10 free galleries and a vast collection that spans artworks, maps and charts, memorabilia and thousands of other objects.
Venue Type:
Museum, Ship or maritime heritage site, Heritage site
Additional info
There is limited parking at weekends for cars and motorcycles.
Please call in advance for:
Disabled parking
Guided tours
Library visits
The National Maritime Museum's collections contain over two million items relating to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and time measurement. The collections include Nelson's Trafalgar uniform and the Harrison Chronometers.
The Museum is committed to improving access to its collections and over 10,000 objects are now available online: www.nmm.ac.uk/collections
Collection details
Archaeology, Architecture, Archives, Coins and Medals, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Design, Fine Art, Maritime, Performing Arts, Personalities, Photography, Science and Technology, Social History, Trade and Commerce, Weapons and War, World Cultures
Key artists and exhibits
- The Prime Meridian of the World
- Peter Harrison Planetarium
- The Queen's House Tulip Stairs and Great Hall
- John Harrison's famous chronometers
- Nelson's bullet-pierced coat
- Relics from the tragic Franklin and Scott voyages
- New Visions contemporary art programme
- The Caird Library, including specialist collections for researching family history

Nelson, Navy, Nation: The story of the Royal Navy and the British people, 1688–1815
- 21 October 2013 — 21 October 2020 *on now
From bustling dockyards to ferocious sea battles, the gallery brings to life the tumultuous 18th century, exploring how the Royal Navy shaped everyday lives as it became a central part of society and turned sea-faring heroes into national celebrities.
Journeying from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Nelson, Navy, Nation brings together over 250 star objects from the Museum’s collections, from the sailor’s shoes worn to impress on shore leave and love tokens sent to sweethearts, to a fiendish seven-barrelled volley gun and an amputation knife and bullet forceps. Discover what made men join up, how they lived and what kept them in line; and how the Navy loomed large in all areas of the popular imagination, from caricatures to keepsakes and collectables.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
National Maritime Museum
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/nelson-navy-nation/about

The Atlantic: Slavery, Trade, Empire
- 1 November 2013 — 1 November 2018 *on now
This gallery is about the movement of people, goods and ideas across and around the Atlantic Ocean from the 17th century to the 19th century.
The connections created by these movements changed the lives of people on three continents, profoundly affecting their cultures and societies and shaping the world we live in today.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/atlantic-worlds

Forgotten Fighters: the First World War at Sea
- 1 August 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now
As part of the National Maritime Museum’s commemoration of World War One this new gallery explores the naval and maritime dimensions of that conflict.
The horrors of the Western Front have long dominated our understanding of those years, and yet the war at sea was fought on an epic scale and with terrible human loss.
Forgotten Fighters foregrounds the personal stories of those who participated through a wide range of objects including weaponry, photographs, medals and ship models; in a gallery which takes visitors from the heroism of merchant mariners to the shattering realities of naval battle, and from the Falkland Islands and the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and the North Sea.
Where
National Maritime Museum
Admission
Normal admission charges apply.
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/events/forgotten-fighters

Voyagers: Britons and the Sea
- 1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now
Set in the heart of the new Sammy Ofer Wing, Voyagers tells the story of Britain and the sea, illustrating the contemporary significance of maritime histories and the personal stories of our island nation.
The gallery, designed by Real Studios, contains over 200 objects representing the extraordinary depth and range of the Museum’s collection. Voyagers also features a dynamic audio-visual installation created by The Light Surgeons, using bespoke software developed by Flightphase.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/voyagers

Traders: the East India Company and Asia
- 1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now
Traders: the East India Company and Asia is a permanent gallery exploring Britain’s maritime trade with Asia, focusing on the role played by the East India Company.
For over 250 years, the East India Company uniquely shaped trade between Britain and Asia. The gallery explores the influence of Company trade and power, tracing the changing relationships between Britain and Asia that this brought about.
This trade involved key commodities, different locations and many people. It had consequences that changed Britain and the world and still affect us today.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/traders

Nelson's Ship in a Bottle
- 1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now
We are delighted to announce that thanks to the generosity of many individuals, the fundraising appeal to buy Yinka Shonibare, MBE’s sculpture Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle for the National Maritime Museum and ensure it remains on permanent display has been a success.
The work, which is a scaled down replica of HMS Victory, now has a permanent new home outside the recently opened Sammy Ofer Wing.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/nelsons-ship-in-a-bottle

The Great Map
- 1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now
The Great Map provides a space at the centre of the Museum where people can gather, delve deeper into our collections, and join in with events and celebrations. This multi-sensory experience is especially suitable for families.
Walk across the map’s surface, and use a touch-screen tablet to uncover stories of female pirates, Scott’s Antarctic expedition and many more. Understand from live data the currents and winds that drive vessels and people across the world’s oceans and seas.
Have fun on The Great Map playing games with your friends and family. With five games to choose from there is a game for everyone. Pick a card and explore the world as a submarine or build bridges across continents!
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/the-great-map

Ahoy!
- 1 March 2015 — 1 December 2020 *on now
Our new gallery dedicated to our younger visitors. Board a pirate ship, stoke the fire of a steamship, navigate an ice-breaker, and more, all under one roof.
Suitable for
- Family friendly

Jutland 1916 - WW1's Greatest Sea Battle
- 27 May 2016 — 1 January 2021 *on now
Marking the centenary of the Battle of Jutland, this new display presents the compelling story of the ships, technology, strategy and impact of the battle on both the men who fought and their families. 'Jutland 1916' places the battle within the wider context of the First World War, and examines the action itself through audio-visual content created with the grandson of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet. The gallery also includes material from the Deutsches Marinemuseum and the Bundesarchiv.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/we-recommend/attractions/jutland-1916-ww1s-greatest-sea-battle
The Great British Seaside: Photography from the 1960s to the present
- 23 March — 30 September 2018 *on now
From 23 March the National Maritime Museum will host a major photography exhibition celebrating the nation’s love affair with the seaside, featuring more than 100 photographs by Martin Parr, Tony Ray-Jones, David Hurn and Simon Roberts, as well as newly commissioned work by Martin Parr. The exhibition will explore our changing relationship with the seaside over the last six decades and will hold up a critical and affectionate mirror to a much-loved and quintessentially British experience, captured by photographers who share a mutual love of the seaside. The Great British Seaside will include images from the archival collections of each of the photographers, news film as well as some never before seen images.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Admission
£11.50 Adult | £5 Child | £10.50 Student or Senior
Website
https://www.rmg.co.uk/see-do/great-british-seaside
A Tudor and Stuart Christmas at the Queen's House
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/tudor-and-stuart-christmas/a-tudor-and-stuart-christmas-at-the-queens-house
Great Bear, Little Bear
Leading Lives – Leadership lessons from Elizabeth I and Ernest Shackleton
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.20278
Through their stories, students will examine some of the key themes within the leadership module of their Business Studies course, including: management styles; leading in a crisis; team-building; the promotion of a strong image and corporate 'brand'.
How to obtain
This session is only available to schools and college groups and must be booked in advance:
call +44 (0)20 8312 8575
fax +44 (0)20 8312 6522
e-mail bookings@nmm.ac.uk
My First Visit
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.21055
A very special introduction to the Museum, tailor-made for our youngest visitors. In these hands-on, multi-sensory taught sessions, children explore treasures of the Museum's unique collection through role-play, games, puzzles, riddles, and handling real objects.
How to obtain
This session is only available to schools groups and must be booked in advance:
call +44 (0)20 8312 8575
fax +44 (0)20 8312 6522
e-mail bookings@nmm.ac.uk
Orion the Hunter
Planet Ocean Quiz
PortCities London
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/nav.001
Use this website to explore the history of maritime London from Roman settlements to today's Docklands. Find out about the individuals and events that have contributed to its wealth and importance, and discover the communities who have made this great port city their home.
The Adventures of Tintin at Sea
The Story of Trim the Cat
Tudor Exploration
Vikings Online
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/schools/resources/vikings-support-materials
This set of downloadable PDF documents has been specially written for teachers. They contain teachers' notes, classroom activiites and clear illustrations to support children studying the Vikings as raiders, traders and settlers.
How to obtain
Download from website.
National Maritime Museum - Royal Museums Greenwich
Park Row
Greenwich
Greater London
SE10 9NF
England
Website
www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum
Telephone
Museum switchboard
020 8858 4422
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