Find out how you can explore the collections for free online or in person.

Plan your visit

Tickets and Opening

Tuesday – Friday

10.00am-4.45pm

  • Greenwich Station
  • Cutty Sark DLR
  • Maze Hill Station
  • Greenwich Pier

Read the Caird Library blog

From major collections to personal diaries, discover more about the stories waiting to be discovered in our collections

About the Caird Library and Archive

The Library collection includes over 100,000 books, 20,000 pamphlets, 20,000 bound periodicals including 200 current titles, and over 12,000 rare books spanning every aspect of maritime history, including: emigration, navigation, piracy, astronomy, shipping companies, shipwrecks, biographies, the two World Wars, horology, Merchant and Royal Navy.

Also included are many original documents, manuscripts, atlases, maps, sea charts and periodicals. There are 6,000 books and printed resources available to study on open access shelves.

The collections are available to everyone and can be accessed for free online or in person. All that is required is to register for a Reader's Ticket.

A team of professional librarians and archivists are available to help and advise readers at all times.

If you are not able to visit the Caird Library and Archive, staff are happy to answer enquiries by telephone, email and letter about items in our collection and can offer up to 15 minutes of free research time.

Inside the collections storage facility and conservation studio of Royal Museums Greenwich

Explore our collections online

Search our updated digital database to find out more about our objects and archives

Choose your tickets

Caird Library

  • World's largest maritime archive
  • Over 100,000 books
  • Open to all researchers

Free entry

Register to visit
A father and son look through a porthole on the main deck of historic ship Cutty Sark

Become a Member

  • Unlimited entry all year
  • Royal Observatory
  • Cutty Sark
  • Planetarium Shows
  • Special exhibitions
Direct Debit One-off
Individual: £50 Individual: £60
Family: from £60 Family: from £70
JOIN TODAY

National Maritime Museum

  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Access to all free galleries and activities
  • Paid exhibitions not included
Free entry
Book online
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