Visit London Maritime Museum is a place not to be missed.
When it comes to exploration, shipping and navigation, no other country in the world has a more advanced naval history than Great Britain.
In this article, let's discover the place.
London Maritime Museum: article summary
Naval Museum London: at a glance
The National Maritime Museum opened its doors in 1937. The building was originally used as a school for sailors' children in the 1800s.
It has since been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area of Greenwich where the museum is located today was once a crucial location for British maritime history.
Indeed, it was linked to London's docks via the River Thames and, more recently, to Canary Wharf.
Today, the National Maritime Museum boasts the largest museum of its kind in the world, attracting over 750,000 visitors every year.
It is also part of the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, which includes :
- The Royal Observatory
- The Cutty Sark
- Queen's House
What can you see in the Musée de la Marine?
With over 2 million objects ranging from artefacts, the sections of the National Maritime Museum are as vast as British naval history itself.
Exhibitions are dedicated to some of the most famous names and events in British naval history, such as Captain James Cook and his Northwest Passage in the 1770s, as well as Admiral Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar.
On the first floor, visitors can consult an introduction to the museum's archives, before heading upstairs to learn more about the East India Company and Asia.
There are also sections devoted to slavery and trade between Europe, Africa and America between 1600 and 1850.
On the second floor, certain sections focus specifically on Admiral Horatio Nelson, and visitors can even admire the bullet-pierced, blood-stained uniform he was wearing when mortally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Other not-to-be-missed galleries
There are also several areas throughout the museum specially designed for children, such as The Ahoy! Gallery and the All Hands interactive gallery.
And don't forget to check out the Great Map, which contains a huge atlas and a wealth of information about the pirates.
London Maritime Museum: how to get there?
You can get to the Marine Museum in London using the city's various means of transport. You can take :
- Visit train getting off at Greenwich or Maze Hill stations
- Visit bus via lines 129, 177, 180, 188, 286, 386 and N1.
How much do museum tickets cost?
Admission to the museum is free for all, but special exhibitions may be subject to a charge. Be sure to check out current exhibitions when you visit the site by visiting the museum website.
What are the opening hours?
The Musée National de la Marine opens :
- Every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During the summer months, the ground-floor galleries remain open until 6 pm.
Every Tuesday, the museum holds its popular "Play Tuesdays" events for children, featuring art workshops, songs and stories.
Events take place :
- At 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
To take part, you must allow £3 per child.
London's Maritime Museum is an exceptional place to discover. If you'd like to find out more about London's great sailors, this is the place to go on vacation, I advise you to visit this exceptional place.
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