Explore our Collection

Collections highlights

Timekeeping

Find out more about our historic collection of clocks, watches and precision timekeepers

Polar relics

This is a collection of international significance, particularly those items relating to early Arctic exploration

Fine art

One of the most significant art collections in Britain

Historic photographs

A unique collection including one million prints, around 270,000 negatives and 1463 albums

Sea charts and maps

The National Maritime Museum holds a unique collection of around 100,000 historical sea charts and maps

Ship models

One of the world's finest collections of ship models including around 3500 items dating back to Ancient Egypt

Ship plans

One of the largest collections of original ship plans dating back to the early 18th century

Astronomical and navigational instruments

A large and varied collection of astronomical and navigational instruments

Flags

More than 1,000 items dating from the 18th century

Naval uniforms

A collection of over 7000 items, including items owned by Admiral Nelson, Edward VII and Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher

The Waterline Collection

Our collection consists of 16,500 photographs that tell the story of the leisure-cruising industry

Decorative arts

A collection featuring silver, ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, textiles and sailors' craftwork

How to search the collections

The online collections search is split into 'Objects', 'Library' and 'Archive'. You can search all the categories together , or use the filters buttons to refine your results.

Filtering by objects allows you to explore the items in the Museum's collections, from fine art and photography to timepieces, figureheads and historic relics.
The Library collection includes over 100,000 books, 20,000 pamphlets, 20,000 bound periodicals including and 8000 rare books.
The Archive catalogue features the Museum's collections of manuscripts, the largest and most important dedicated archive for the study of maritime history in the world. Find out more about requesting archive and library material.