Royal Navy Museums Hartlepool
Quayside museum in Hartlepool built around HMS Trincomalee, one of the oldest warships still afloat, with a recreated Georgian quay and a play ship.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The site opened to the public in July 1994 as Hartlepool Historic Quay, created by the Teesside Development Corporation as part of the regeneration of the old docks. It was called Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience from 2005 to 2016. In 2016 the National Museum of the Royal Navy took over its running from the local council, and in May 2026 the site was renamed Royal Navy Museums Hartlepool.
The centrepiece is HMS Trincomalee, a frigate built in Bombay in 1817 and now moored at the quay. She is described as Britain’s oldest floating warship and never fought in battle; her career included patrols, anti-slavery work and later service as a training ship. Visitors can walk her open decks and see below-deck spaces that show how the crew lived, worked and slept in the early 1800s.
On the quayside, a recreated Georgian harbour gives an immersive picture of life at sea two centuries ago, and galleries in the main building cover warships and naval history. Hartlepool Borough Council collections can be visited free of charge, and families can use an outdoor play ship.
Highlights
- HMS Trincomalee, built in 1817 and one of the oldest warships still afloat
- Recreated Georgian quayside with an immersive experience of life at sea
- Fighting Ships and Diving Deep galleries, including HMS Invincible
- Live cannon and musket firing displays
- Outdoor adventure play ship for children
Permanent exhibitions
- HMS Trincomalee – A frigate launched in 1817 with open decks, below-deck crew spaces, her bell and guns, and a 200 years of history exhibition.
- Recreated Georgian quayside – An immersive quayside scene that shows life at sea and in a naval port in the early 1800s.
- Diving Deep and Fighting Ships – Galleries on naval warfare and underwater exploration, including the story of HMS Invincible, with a self-guided Fighting Ships tour.
- Founded
- 1994
- Operated by
- National Museum of the Royal Navy
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £9.50free up to age 2 · Child tickets are for ages 3 to 15. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A carer ticket is free. |
| Families | £251 adult and up to 3 children. |
| Family Plus (2 adults and up to 3 children) | £35 |
The individual ticket covers one adult, senior or student. Tickets are valid for one year, and the online prices shown include Gift Aid. Some dates in the booking calendar show £13 for the individual ticket. Children under 3 and carers are free. Hartlepool Borough Council collections are free to enter. Discounts apply for veterans, Blue Light card holders, Defence Discount Service members and UK serving personnel, and Art Fund National Art Pass and Museums Association members can enter free depending on membership type.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchairs and pushchairs can reach all outdoor quayside areas on a paved path. The gun deck of HMS Trincomalee is reachable by ramp, but the upper deck, mess deck and hold are not, and the ship’s lifts are currently out of service. The second-floor galleries are accessible by lift, and the free collections area is on one level. A Changing Places toilet in the car park is opened with a personal radar key. Ear defenders are available for the loud cannon and musket displays, and the play ship has some accessible features.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £25 · 1 adult and up to 3 children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
An outdoor adventure play ship, a Horrible Histories pirates experience (weekends only in winter) and half-term events such as story times and ghost-ship evenings are offered. Toilets include baby-changing facilities.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hartlepool railway station · 7-min walk
The museum is about a 7-minute walk from Hartlepool railway station and the transport interchange.
By car
Free parking
A large free car park with disabled bays is on site. It closes at 5pm in summer and 4pm in winter, and cars left after closing may be locked in.
- Accessible parking
Directions from the north use the A19 and A179, and from the south the A1(M), A19 and A689. A bike rack is to the right of the main reception doors.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Georgian-themed Quayside Coffee Shop serves hot and cold drinks and light snacks, including vegan and gluten-free options. There is a picnic area outdoors, a gift shop and toilets with baby changing at several points.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
Weddings and other events can be held on board HMS Trincomalee; venue hire is listed for the museums as a group.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | In winter, guided tours of HMS Trincomalee run at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 and are signed up for at reception, with a self-guided Fighting Ships tour at 12:00 and 14:30. Demonstrations are at 12:30 and 14:00. Groups of 12 or more can book online, and there is a schools programme. |
