National Maritime Museum
The national museum of maritime history in Greenwich, with free galleries on exploration, trade, the Royal Navy and the Pacific.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The National Maritime Museum opened in 1937 in Greenwich and tells the story of Britain's relationship with the sea. It was created around the Queen's House and two flanking wings, in a setting that is now part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site beside Greenwich Park and the River Thames.
The collections include ship models, paintings, navigational and scientific instruments, maps, uniforms and personal objects connected with sailors, explorers and naval life. Later extensions added further gallery space, including the Sammy Ofer Wing, which houses a large special exhibition gallery, a cafe and the main Parkside entrance.
The museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, together with the Queen's House, Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory. Entry to its permanent galleries is free. They cover topics such as polar exploration, trade across the Atlantic, the Pacific, Nelson and the Royal Navy, and there are play areas for children, including the Ahoy! Children's Gallery and The Cove playground outside.
Highlights
- Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery on the Royal Navy
- Pacific Encounters and Polar Worlds
- Atlantic Worlds and Traders galleries
- Ahoy! Children's Gallery
- The Ocean Map and the Ship Simulator
- The Cove playground
Permanent exhibitions
- Nelson, Navy, Nation – A gallery on the Royal Navy and Britain's maritime power in the age of Nelson.
- Polar Worlds – A gallery on exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Ahoy! Children's Gallery – A play gallery for children aged 0–7 with a ship-themed setting.
- Founded
- 1937
- Operated by
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- Visitors per year
- approx. 2,367,904
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission also covers a carer accompanying a disabled visitor, including entry to special exhibitions. |
|---|
Entry to the free galleries does not need booking, although free timed tickets can be booked online to guarantee entry. Special exhibitions are charged separately; Royal Museums Greenwich members enter them free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Lifts serve every floor, including the special exhibition gallery and the Shake Bar, with a platform lift to the colonnades. A Changing Places toilet in the Sammy Ofer Wing is kept locked; ask a member of staff. Accessible toilets and baby changing are near the Romney Road entrance and in the Sammy Ofer Wing. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge if booked in advance, and cannot leave the museum. A fixed induction loop is at both ticket desks, captions are shown on audio-visual displays, and a free audio guide and a BSL tour are available in the Smartify app. Tactile exhibits, large print guides, sensory backpacks, ear defenders and sensory maps are offered. Five accessible parking bays in the Park Row car park can be pre-booked. Assistance dogs are welcome. The museum is a registered dementia-friendly site.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
The Ahoy! Children's Gallery is a play space for ages 0–7, and The Cove is a sea-themed playground outside. Regular family activities include character encounters on Saturdays, Discover Sundays and Play Tuesdays for under-5s, with extra activities in school holidays. SENsory Sailors is a monthly sensory play session. Free buggy parking is in the Sammy Ofer Wing and East Court.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Cutty Sark DLR station · 7-min walk
The nearest National Rail stations are Maze Hill and Greenwich; Maze Hill is closer to the museum. Cutty Sark DLR station is a seven-minute walk. The Jubilee line stops at North Greenwich, from where local buses run to the museum. Buses 129, 177, 180, 188, 286, 386 and N1 stop near the museum and Queen's House. Greenwich Pier is a five-minute walk.
By car
Paid parking
Secure car park on Park Row (SE10 9NG) open to visitors at weekends, bank holidays and school holidays from 10:00 to 17:00, with limited weekday spaces; from £14 for the day, bookable online until 09:00 on the day. Only cars are allowed. Five accessible bays can be pre-booked.
- Accessible parking
Camera-controlled traffic restrictions apply on some Greenwich roads on weekdays during peak hours; Blue Badge holders are exempt. Cycle racks are in the Park Row car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
Parkside Café (Sammy Ofer Wing, indoor and terrace seating), Ocean Court Café on level 1 and the Parkside Shake Bar. Lockers in the special exhibition foyer cost £1; the cloakroom in the Sammy Ofer Wing costs £2 per item.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Spaces in the museum can be hired for dinners, receptions, product launches, conferences and weddings through Royal Museums Greenwich.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The free audio guide on the Smartify app has 42 chapters and a BSL option. Daily tours and gallery talks are offered, and private out-of-hours tours can be requested. A museum map and sensory map are available at the information desks. |
