Essential Information
| Location | |
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| Date and Times | Opening 7 June 2025 |
| Price | Free |
The ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet and connects all life on Earth.
We're learning new things about our watery world every year – but there's still so much to discover.
The National Maritime Museum is home to thousands of years of seafaring history, but until now that story has mainly been about how humans have kept themselves above water. Now we're ready to get our feet wet!
Explore the ocean at the National Maritime Museum
Ocean Court is the central area of the National Maritime Museum, and home to some of the largest objects in the collection. Following a major refurbishment project, it's now also the place to explore the ocean itself.
With a giant 'map of the world according to fish', new objects and displays, plus a wave of colour washing over the walls, we can't wait to welcome you back into the reimagined space.
Ocean Court will reopen on Saturday 7 June 2025. On the day we'll be hosting a fantastic free festival celebrating World Ocean Day, kicking off a summer season of exciting ocean events, family activities and community engagement.
Water you waiting for? Start planning your visit to the National Maritime Museum now.
What's new?
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The Ocean Map
The giant Ocean Map at the centre of the National Maritime Museum turns our view of the world inside out.
While other maps focus on countries and land mass, the Ocean Map is all about water!
Take a ride on five famous ships, look for weird and wonderful sea creatures, and discover why the ocean is vital to all life on Earth.
Learn more about the making of the map
New objects and stories
From a lighthouse light powerful enough to be seen from 17 miles away to the stern of a ship that fought at the Battle of Trafalgar, Ocean Court is the place to experience the scale of our maritime world.
As well as these returning favourites, new objects will help to highlight the impact humans can have on the oceans.
The oil tanker MV (Merchant Vessel) Sea Empress ran aground at Milford Haven on the south-west coast of Wales on 15 February 1996. 195 million litres of light crude oil spilled into the sea over the following week. Thirty years on from the disaster, a buckled piece from the hull of the Sea Empress is now on display.
Alongside the hull fragment will be a ship's binnacle retrieved from the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior.
Rainbow Warrior belonged to the environmental campaign group Greenpeace. In July 1985 the ship and its crew were in New Zealand to campaign against the testing of nuclear bombs in the Pacific by France, when the ship was blown up by two devices that had been planted on board by French secret service agents.
The explosion killed 35-year-old crew member and photographer Fernando Pereira. The sinking of Rainbow Warrior was described by the then New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange as an act of ‘state-backed terrorism’.
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A splash of colour
A wave of brilliant blue is set to greet visitors to the National Maritime Museum this June.
A new hand-painted mural, designed by award-winning illustrator Yehrin Tong, will evoke the movements of deep-sea currents. The swirling wave patterns lead you through the Museum's main entrance before cascading over the walls of Ocean Court.
A new chapter
Ocean Court closed in March 2024 for vital refurbishment of the 25-year-old roof. More than 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing has been installed, designed to prevent overheating during the summer months and provide better acoustics.
The ocean connects all the galleries at the National Maritime Museum. This new central space brings those galleries together. Aimee Mook, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Curator of Contemporary Maritime, said, 'I am so excited for visitors to see our watery planet from a different perspective. The new map, exciting new mural and new objects will allow us to tell more of our ocean stories.'
What’s On
Take part in these special events inside the new Ocean Court.
Explore the galleries around Ocean Court
AHOY! Children's Gallery
Bring the little ones to play at AHOY! - a fun children’s gallery for 0-7s
Poles Apart: Explore the World of RRS Sir David Attenborough
Travel to the icy frontiers of modern polar science at the National Maritime Museum
Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
Maritime London gallery
Discover how life on the River Thames has evolved in the past 300 years at the National Maritime Museum's Maritime London gallery
Plan your visit
When will Ocean Court be open?
The whole of the National Maritime Museum, including Ocean Court and the galleries around the central space, will be open to visitors from Saturday 7 June 2025.
Do I need to book?
The National Maritime Museum including Ocean Court is free to visit, and you do not need to book in advance. If you would like to guarantee entry and receive updates before your visit, you are welcome to book free tickets online in advance.
If you're looking to visit the interactive AHOY! Gallery during your visit we highly recommend booking online in advance, as spaces are limited. The child-friendly gallery is entered via Ocean Court.
Charges may apply for special exhibitions and events.
Eat and drink
The Ocean Court café is located right next to the Ocean Map and is open to all visitors.
The Parkside Café is another café in the National Maritime Museum facing Greenwich Park, which offers main meals and outdoor seating. A brand new shake bar offers a delicious range of maritime-themed ice creams and milkshakes, as well as hot and cold drinks.
Special events
Ocean Court is a fantastic performance space, which is often filled with live music, singing and more during major festival days. You can check upcoming special events at the National Maritime Museum here.
Child or adult ear defenders are available to borrow at the Information Desks if you would like them. Please return these at the end of your visit.
What else can I see at the National Maritime Museum?
Ocean Court is just the start of your journey at the National Maritime Museum!
Find out more about the free galleries you can find in the rest of the Museum, and don't forget to check out Pirates, a special exhibition open every day until 4 January 2026.
Tickets and Opening
Free entry
Reopening Saturday 7 June 2025
- Greenwich Station
- Cutty Sark DLR
- Maze Hill Station
- Greenwich Pier
Delve deeper
Main image courtesy of Kurt Arrigo / Ocean Image Bank
Choose your tickets
National Maritime Museum
- Guaranteed entry time
- Access to all free galleries and activities
- Astronomy Photographer of the Year currently included
| Free entry |
|---|
| Book online |
Member tickets
- Unlimited free entry
- Priority booking and exclusive events
- Access using your membership card
| Membership card number required |
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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 |