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

Plan your visit

Covid-19: information for visitors

Book an appointment

Access our online request system

Order a scan of an Item - our remote copying service

Prepare for your visit

Tickets and Opening

Free entry

Tuesday – Wednesday

10.30am-3.45pm

Greenwich Station
Cutty Sark DLR
Maze Hill Station

Greenwich Pier

View on map

Directions via Public Transport Directions from your location

Using our collections for research

Find out how our archives and catalogues can support your research

Research guides

Advice on beginning your research at Royal Museums Greenwich

Accessing our collections for research

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

Electronic resources in the Caird Library and Archive

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

Family history research

Find out about your family history at sea using resources available in the National Maritime Museum's Library and Archive

Independent researchers

If you are unable to visit the Museum, please see our list of independent researchers who can carry out the research for you

Read the Caird Library blog

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

Read the blog

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.