What is it?
For hundreds of years, Greenwich was at the heart of maritime Britain – for commerce, travel and naval interests. So it makes sense that the National Maritime Museum is situated on the edge of picturesque Greenwich Park.
Part of Royal Museums Greenwich (which also includes the Queen’s House next door, Cutty Sark about five minutes away, and the Royal Observatory up the hill), it’s an unparalleled treasure trove of artefacts, models, maps, art and memorabilia. Not surprisingly, there is an extensive gallery called ‘Nelson, Navy, Nation’, which tells the story of Admiral Lord Nelson stretching from the Glorious Revolution to the defeat of Napoleon, with added historic pieces that reveal what life would have been like for a sailor over 200 years ago.
Another section recounts James Cook’s North-West Passage expedition in the late 1770s, there are displays on the East India Company, and a Forgotten Fighters gallery, which tells the stories of those who served at sea during World War I.
Families should head straight for the Ahoy! Gallery: a play area specially designed for babies and children aged up to seven. Its themed zones include a vast model of the deck and cabins of a ship, a beach scene, a fresh fish shop, and games which allow you to fire cannons and play iceberg ‘ice hockey’. While, the All Hands interactive gallery is for ages six to 12 where older children can test their skills defending against a pirate attack, use maritime technology and load a cargo ship before it sets sail.
Why go?
The UK’s maritime history is more spicy than you might first expect, and the National Maritime Museum proves it with brilliant exhibits covering everything from Nelson’s heroics to ocean-liner glamour to pirate escapades.
Don’t miss:
Look out for the actual uniform Nelson was wearing during the Battle of Trafalgar when he was fatally wounded. (Big hero, but, judging by the uniform, a surprisingly little guy.)
When to visit:
Daily 10am–5pm. Peak times at weekends and over school holidays.
Ticketing info:
Free entry, some exhibitions may be ticketed.
Time Out tip:
The National Maritime Museum is one of a cluster of intuitions and landmarks in and around Greenwich Park, including the Cutty Sark, Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory. Start at the museum for a good grounding in Britain’s naval history and then spend the day working your way through the other sites.
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