Museum highlights
What's on in October half term
Free craft activities, science games and family-friendly tours: there's something different happening every day at the National Maritime Museum this half term!
See Astronomy Photographer of the Year
See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
Discover the galleries
Travel the world in the National Maritime Museum's free galleries, exploring everywhere from the icy Arctic to the islands of the Pacific
Visit Women of the RNLI
Celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea at the National Maritime Museum
Meet characters from history
Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell
Listen to an audio guide
Follow tours of the National Maritime Museum on your phone. Listen online or download the free Smartify app to begin
Join a guided tour
Uncover the wonders of our collection during these daily events
Find more things to do
Epic tales of exploration, maritime treasures and family friendly galleries
Master of disguise
Discover the story behind this remarkable uniform, now on display in the Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery
Plan your visit
How to book
The National Maritime Museum is free, and you not need to book. However, if you would like to guarantee entry and receive updates before your visit, you are welcome to book free tickets online in advance.
Use the booking calendar to select your visit date and entry time, then select the number of tickets you require and click 'Add to basket'. Your tickets will be sent to you by email once you've completed your booking.
As well as our free galleries, we also host a number of special exhibitions throughout the year. Entry to the Museum is included with your exhibition tickets.
Eat and drink
The Parkside Café is a bright and airy space at the National Maritime Museum with expansive views of Greenwich Royal Park. There is plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Grab a hot or cold drink, and a selection of sandwiches and cakes - perfect for a picnic in the park.
The Great Map Café on the first floor of the National Maritime Museum is currently closed.
Shop
Find the perfect museum gift, from books and prints to models, toys and games. Visit us on site or shop online.
Accessibility
Find useful information about facilities and access at the National Maritime Museum, including guidance for disabled visitors coming to any of our sites.
Maps & audio guides
Download a free map to help guide you round the Museum. Dedicated audio guides are also available in different languages to help you make the most of your visit.
Gallery closures
Essential improvements to the glass roof glazing of the National Maritime Museum are currently taking place, and will continue until Summer 2025.
The central court, Great Map and galleries beneath the glass roof will be closed during roof renovations. A recommended visitor route is in place to help guide you round the Museum's galleries and exhibitions.
Tickets and Opening
Free entry
10am-5pm
- Greenwich Station
- Cutty Sark DLR
- Maze Hill Station
- Greenwich Pier
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Stay connected and receive all the latest news, stories and events from the National Maritime Museum
What’s On
Exhibitions and events at the National Maritime Museum.
Stories
Anatomy of a habitable planet: Earth as you've never seen it before
Sergio Díaz Ruiz uses satellite imagery to explore climate change by creating an image of Earth as it might be analysed by a distant alien civilisation
A stitch in time: the secrets of textile conservation
A 19th century uniform with a dramatic history is on display at the National Maritime Museum. Come behind the scenes to discover the care that went into its conservation
Capturing history: Jack Lowe and the RNLI
How one photographer’s quest to visit every lifeboat station shines a light on our maritime heritage
The nautical origins of everyday phrases
Ever heard that traffic was chock-a-block, been called a son of a gun, or told someone you like the cut of their jib? Learn the maritime origins of phrases you hear every day
The ship that never was
The story of a never-commissioned Second World War vessel
The lost chronometer: the timepiece that sailed with Charles Darwin and Sir John Franklin
Learn more about the marine chronometer that journeyed on board HMS Beagle before being lost at sea during Sir John Franklin's disastrous expedition
Who owns the ocean?
Are the oceans really free for all? Find out what could be done to protect marine environments – and who has the power to make it happen
What can shipwrecks tell us?
Time-capsules of their present and windows of our past, shipwrecks can offer new perspectives into life on board
Putting names to faces in the Challenger Expedition archives
Dr Rebecca Martin investigates the photograph albums from the Challenger Expedition, trying to recover the identities of the people the ship encountered on its global voyage
Our Ocean, Our Planet
Our Ocean, Our Planet is a new online space at Royal Museums Greenwich dedicated to exploring the climate crisis and our relationship with the ocean
The beautiful detail of hand-drawn maps
Plot a journey through four special maps in the National Maritime Museum collection
Search our stories
Search our digital collections, discover epic stories of sea, space and exploration, and get expert insight from our museum curators and specialists
Explore the collection
Royal Museums Greenwich holds over 2.5 million items. Search our digital collections or visit our library, archive and collections studio
Collections Online
Search our online database and explore our objects, paintings, archives and library collections from home
The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio
Caird Library
Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum
Library & Archive blog
The latest news, blogs and discoveries from the Caird Library & Archive team
Research
Find out about our current research projects, opportunities and conferences, and meet the curatorial team at Royal Museums Greenwich
Conservation
The Conservation and Preservation team maintain and look after our collections
Shop nautical gifts
Choose your tickets
The National Maritime Museum is free, and you do not need to book. However, if you would like to guarantee entry and receive updates before your visit, you are welcome to book free tickets online in advance.
National Maritime Museum
- Guaranteed entry time
- Access to all free galleries and activities
- Special exhibitions free in 2024
| Free entry |
|---|
| Book online |
Member tickets
- Unlimited free entry
- Priority booking and exclusive events
- Access using your membership card
| Membership card number required |
|---|
Become a Member
- Unlimited entry all year
- Royal Observatory
- Cutty Sark
- Planetarium Shows
- Special exhibitions
| Direct Debit | One-off |
|---|---|
| Individual: £50 | Individual: £60 |
| Family: from £60 | Family: from £70 |