National Maritime Museum Museum

Considering Britain’s seafaring history, it’s fitting that one of the world’s most prominent maritime museums, the National Maritime Museum, has a home in London. Part of the Royal Museums group in Greenwich, the Maritime Museum sits alongside the Royal Observatory the Queen’s House museum, and the Cutty Sark ship, displayed in its own building.

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) opened in 1937 as a celebration of over 500 years of British seafaring history. Visitors can check out maritime art, cartography, ship models, scientific and navigational instruments, and informative explanations about topics ranging from nautical battles to the pirates. In all, the museum has a collection of almost 2.5 million items.

The museum is open daily except for the days surrounding Christmas. Admission to the general National Maritime Museum is free, though special exhibitions may require an entry fee. Visitors to the Maritime Museum often visit the Cutty Sark, which has £12 admission fee. The observatory and Queen’s House museum are also free. A brasserie, café, and bakery are on the museum grounds. Some visitors choose to reach the museum via sightseeing cruises or river buses on the Thames.