National Maritime Museum
With a National Art Pass you get
The National Maritime Museum – the largest of its kind in the world – sets out to illuminate the history of Britain's encounters with the sea.
The museum opened in 1937 in elegant early 19th-century buildings developed around the Queen's House, which was built for Charles I's queen Henrietta Maria. The Sammy Ofer Wing, unveiled in 2011, opens out onto Greenwich Park, providing a new exhibition space, galleries, a library and places to eat and shop.
In September 2018 the museum opened four new permanent galleries – Tudor and Stuart Seafarers, Pacific Encounters, Polar Worlds and Sea Things – covering British and European exploration from the late-15th century through to the present day and giving visitors unprecedented access to its collections.
Also part of the 'Maritime Greenwich' complex administered by the museum is the Royal Observatory on top of a hill in Greenwich Park. The world's Prime Meridian, it houses London's only planetarium.On 14 July 2011 the museum unveiled its spectacular new .
Look out for The Wild Escape at museums and galleries in the next few months. Many have special events, or you can use our audio introduction to help children get involved at any cultural venue.
Visiting with children?
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.
