National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich holds the world's largest collection of maritime art, maps, manuscripts and navigational instruments. Housed in a grand Palladian building designed by Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, the museum covers Britain's relationship with the sea from Tudor exploration to modern ocean science.

The permanent galleries are free and range from Nelson's Trafalgar coat, still bearing the hole from the musket ball that killed him, to interactive displays on climate and polar exploration. Greenwich's UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounds the museum, with the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and Greenwich Park all within walking distance.

Area Greenwich

Price Free

Duration 2-3 hours

Best Time Weekday mornings

Highlights

Nelson's Trafalgar Uniform

The museum's most famous single object is the coat Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson wore at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The bullet hole in the left shoulder is still visible, preserved exactly as it was when Nelson was carried below decks.

The Great Map

A giant, interactive floor map in the Sammy Ofer Wing where children and adults can walk across the world's oceans, triggering stories about exploration, trade routes and marine wildlife beneath their feet.

Tudor and Stuart Galleries

Paintings, ship models and navigational instruments from the age of Drake and Raleigh. The collection includes the only surviving portrait of Sir Francis Drake painted from life and a detailed scale model of a 17th-century warship.

Polar Worlds Gallery

A dedicated space covering Arctic and Antarctic exploration, with artefacts from the Franklin, Scott and Shackleton expeditions. The gallery examines both the heroism and the harsh realities of polar voyages, including Inuit perspectives on Arctic encounters.

From Royal Hospital to National Museum

The museum occupies a complex of 17th and 18th-century buildings at the heart of Greenwich's Maritime UNESCO World Heritage Site. The central block was originally the Royal Hospital School, founded in 1712 to educate the sons of seafarers. When the school relocated to Suffolk in 1933, the buildings were repurposed, and the National Maritime Museum opened to the public in 1937.

The site was expanded in 2011 with the Sammy Ofer Wing, designed by C.F. Moller Architects, which added a glazed entrance hall, temporary exhibition spaces and a rooftop terrace with views across Greenwich Park. The museum forms part of Royal Museums Greenwich, alongside the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House and the Cutty Sark.

What to See

The permanent galleries are organised thematically rather than chronologically. The Nelson Gallery centres on Trafalgar and the Admiral's personal effects. The Traders Gallery examines the East India Company and the transatlantic slave trade with unflinching detail. Polar Worlds reconstructs the conditions faced by explorers from John Franklin to Ernest Shackleton, with original sledges, clothing and journals.

For families, the Great Map in the Sammy Ofer Wing is an interactive floor projection that responds to movement, triggering animations about ocean currents, trade routes and marine life. The AHOY! children's gallery, aimed at under-7s, offers hands-on play with miniature ships and cargo. Upstairs, the maritime art collection includes Turner's Battle of Trafalgar and Canaletto's views of the Thames.

A Full Day in Greenwich

The museum sits at the centre of a cluster of attractions that can fill an entire day. The Cutty Sark, the world's last surviving tea clipper, is a 5-minute walk north. Greenwich Park rises behind the museum, and at the top of the hill the Royal Observatory marks the Prime Meridian. The Queen's House, a free gallery of maritime art connected to the museum by colonnades, reopened after restoration and houses the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I.

Greenwich Market, open daily with a focus on food and craft stalls, is 5 minutes away in the town centre. Thames Clippers run riverboat services from Greenwich Pier to central London in about 30 minutes, making the return journey part of the experience.

Did You Know?

The museum holds over 2.5 million items, including the world's largest collection of maritime paintings, with works by Turner, Canaletto and the Van de Veldes
The Queen's House, connected to the museum, was the first classical Renaissance building in England, designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 for Anne of Denmark
Nelson's Trafalgar coat was donated to the museum in 1845 by the family of his close friend and chaplain Alexander Scott, who held Nelson as he died
The museum building itself was originally the Royal Hospital School, which trained sons of seafarers, and only became the National Maritime Museum when it opened in 1937

Getting There

Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF

Tube: Cutty Sark DLR station is a 5-minute walk south through Greenwich town centre. North Greenwich on the Jubilee line is a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride via route 188

Bus: Routes 177, 180, 188 and 199 all stop on Romney Road or Greenwich Church Street within a few minutes of the museum entrance

Walking: 5 minutes from the Cutty Sark and Greenwich Pier, 10 minutes uphill to the Royal Observatory, or a 15-minute riverside walk east from the O2 via the Thames Path

Pricing

General admission Free
Temporary exhibitions From £12
Treasures Tour £3.50
Planetarium show (at Royal Observatory) £16

The permanent galleries and the Queen's House are free. Temporary exhibitions and planetarium shows at the nearby Royal Observatory are ticketed separately.

Visitor Tips

Start with the Nelson Gallery

Nelson's Trafalgar coat is the museum's most significant object and draws the biggest crowds later in the day. Visit the Nelson Gallery first thing for a quieter experience and a closer look at the artefacts.

Combine with the Royal Observatory

Greenwich Park connects the museum to the Royal Observatory on the hilltop. The walk takes about 10 minutes and the views from the top across the Thames to Canary Wharf are outstanding.

Take the Thames Clipper for the journey

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs from Greenwich Pier to Westminster, Embankment and other central piers. The 30-minute river journey is scenic and avoids the Tube entirely.

Visit the Queen's House between galleries

The Queen's House is connected to the museum by colonnades and houses a free gallery of maritime art, including the Armada Portrait. It takes about 30 minutes to see and breaks up a longer museum visit.

Use the Sammy Ofer Wing cafe for lunch

The rooftop terrace of the Sammy Ofer Wing has a cafe with views over Greenwich Park and the Observatory. It is less crowded than the restaurants in Greenwich town centre, especially on weekends.

Common Questions About National Maritime Museum

Yes. The permanent galleries and the Queen's House are completely free to enter. Some temporary exhibitions and special events have a separate charge, typically starting from £12 for adults.

Allow 2-3 hours for the main galleries. If you add the Queen's House and a walk up to the Royal Observatory, a full morning or afternoon is realistic.

Very much so. The AHOY! gallery is designed for under-7s, and the Great Map interactive floor engages children of all ages. Families can easily spend 2 hours exploring the child-friendly exhibits.

Both are part of Royal Museums Greenwich. The Royal Observatory is a 10-minute walk uphill through Greenwich Park. It houses the Prime Meridian Line and a planetarium, and requires a separate ticket.

Yes. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs regular services to Greenwich Pier from Westminster, Embankment and other central London piers. The journey takes about 30 minutes and is covered by a Travelcard or Oyster pay-as-you-go with a discount.

Yes. The museum is fully step-free with lift access to all floors. Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge. The Sammy Ofer Wing entrance on the west side offers the most accessible entry point.

Nelson's Trafalgar coat is widely considered the museum's most significant item. The bullet hole from the shot that killed him at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 is still visible in the left shoulder of the uniform.

Yes. The Cutty Sark is a 5-minute walk from the museum towards the river. It requires a separate ticket, currently priced around £18 for adults. A combined ticket covering multiple Royal Museums Greenwich attractions is also available.

James Whitfield

EDITORIAL REVIEW

London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism

Last reviewed: March 5, 2026

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Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
+44 20 8858 4422
Daily 10:00-17:00
www.rmg.co.uk

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