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Explore our Collection

Looking for something specific? Search directly in our Collection, Library or Archive.

Collections by theme

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
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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
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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

Library and Archive collections

How to search our records and request documents

About the Library

Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum

Register to visit

Sign up for a free Reader’s Ticket to the Caird Library

View our research guides

Advice on beginning your research at Royal Museums Greenwich
Library - computers

Electronic resources

The Caird Library subscribes to a range of electronic resources to assist you in your research
Book spines in Caird Library

Accessing our collections for research

We offer a world-class resource for studying maritime history, astronomy and time

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 filter buttons below the search bar 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 200 current titles 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. To find out more about requesting archive and library material, click here.
Inside the collections storage facility and conservation studio of Royal Museums Greenwich

Visit the collection

Go behind the scenes at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre and explore our state of the art conservation studio and collections store
Find out more Our conservation work