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Please be aware of government guidelines before setting off.
Government Guidelines
Dating back to 1937, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has been displaying naval art and nautical artefacts to the public for decades. It is part of the Royal Museums Greenwich programme which is devoted to enriching Greenwich with museums. The interesting permanent exhibitions, gorgeous temporary displays and delicious cafe make this location one of the best free museums in London to visit with the family. The museum caters to people of all needs, with extensive facilities to make sure all kinds of visitors are comfortable and have a good experience during their visit.
The permanent exhibitions in the National Maritime Museum are a must-see for children and adults alike. Opening in 2018, one of the main attractions to this museum are the four innovative galleries that have unique and exciting displays, all free of charge.
Discover the wayfaring wonders of old British pirates in the Tudor and Stuart Seafarers exhibition. View over 120 items from the museum’s extensive nautical collection including model ships, maps and more. Learn about the true stories of conquerors like Christopher Columbus and Blackbeard and get to know the impact of their voyages that still affect the indigenous people today. If your children are going through a pirate phase, this is the perfect day out for them.
Feast your eyes in the Sea Things exhibition that explores humankind’s relationship with the mysterious ocean. There are over 600 objects on view in this display, each with their own history and story to uncover. With an interactive quiz and some hands-on activities, this is a brilliant place to bring kids for some educational entertainment.
Explore the tundra in the Polar Worlds exhibition. Follow the men who pushed themselves to the limit to find out what lies at the top of the earth. Accompanied with genuine artefacts that have been salvaged from the deep Arctic snow, this is a truly wonderful display that you will not find anywhere else.
The Pacific Encounters exhibition is widely recognised for its incredible artefacts and detailed history of the exploration of this wide ocean by British wayfarer, Captain Cook and all the island inhabitants he meets along his journey. From discovering the history of sailing and navigation with a genuine Fijian canoe to viewing artwork that depicts the first time these two cultures collide with each other, there is just so much to see and learn about. This particular display comes highly recommended by Sir David Attenborough, so it’s bound to be intriguing and educational for the whole family.
If you have younger kids, they'll love spending time in the fabulous soft play area called the Great Map. There are also trails and treasure hunts available to really immerse your child in the experience of the museum and to get them looking closer at all the artefacts.
Please follow the latest government guidelines if travelling by public transport.
Government GuidelinesRoyal Museums Greenwich has been named one of the top ten UK visitor attractions, consisting of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House art gallery and the iconic Cutty Sark ship, which you can climb aboard and then discover its museum space. As the location point of Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT - the mean solar time that sets our time zones, Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and all of the Royal Museums Greenwich sites sit within this easily-walkable area.
The Maritime Museum Greenwich is one of the top London museums for families, with tonnes of interactive activities, and the historic Cutty Sark has been rebuilt by RMG following its devastating fire to become a better venue than ever. All set around the delightful Royal Greenwich Park and sitting right along the River Thames, Royal Museums Greenwich offers some of the most educational attractions and most impressive architecture (that you’ll recognise from a number of global films) just southeast of Central London.