Essential Information

Location
Price Treasures Tour: £3.50 adults | All other tours and talks are free

The National Maritime Museum is a treasure trove of objects, stories and memories.

But with so much to see, where to begin? Our daily tours and gallery talks are the perfect way to discover the must-see highlights of the Museum, all led by our friendly and knowledgeable guides. 

Check out the details below to find out what's currently on offer, and get ready to embark on a voyage of discovery.

For bespoke tours, exclusive offers, or group (15+) enquiries, please make a group booking enquiry.

Treasures Tour

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A guide takes a tour group around the Museum

Explore some of the Museum’s most prized – and lesser-known – objects on this guided tour.  

Meet and greet a Fijian canoe; be chilled by tales of polar exploration; marvel at the oldest boat in our collection and learn about life at sea in the age of Nelson.

  • Timings: Tours run daily at 12pm and 2pm.
  • Duration: 50-60 minutes.
  • Meeting point: Information Desk, located by the Parkside Café on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum.
  • Price: £3.50 for adults; £2.50 for students; £1.75 for children; free for Members.
  • Suitability: The tours are suitable for adults and children.
  • Audio headsets: You will be provided with headphones and an audio headset, which allow you to clearly hear the guide and adjust the volume if required. The headphones and headset will be collected at the end of the tour.
  • Tour size: Each tour has a maximum capacity of 25 people.
  • Accessibility: The tour passes through several galleries located on different floors of the Museum. Step-free access is available via lifts.

Book now

Want to take things at your own pace? The Treasures audio tour is a self-guided, audio version of the Treasures Tour. It is a great alternative if you aren't able to join a group or can't visit the Museum. Find out more about audio guides at the National Maritime Museum here.

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Entrance to the Pacific Encounters gallery featuring a crested wave

Gallery Favourites

From the secret lives of women in Nelson's Navy to Ponko the penguin, dive deeper into the stories within our collection during our free gallery talks. Where will your journey of discovery take you? 

  • Timings: Daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm subject to availability – speak to staff at the Information Desk (located by the Parkside Café on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum) if you are interested in joining a talk.
  • Duration: 15-25 minutes.
  • Location: Talks take place in various galleries around the Museum. Listen to the tannoy announcements, check the posters around the site or ask a member of our team for more information.
  • Price: Free. No booking is required.
  • Suitability: Suitable for adults and children.
  • Accessibility: All floors of the Museum are accessible via lifts.
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A model ship in a glass bottle in front of the National Maritime Museum.

Volunteer tours and talks

Uncover some of the wonders of the past with our volunteer guides. 

  • Timings: Subject to availability – speak to staff at the Information Desk (located by the Parkside Café on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum) for more information.
  • Location: Events take place in various galleries across the Museum.
  • Price: Free.
  • Suitability: Suitable for adults and children.
  • Accessibility: All floors of the Museum are accessible via lifts.

What’s On

Find more events at the National Maritime Museum

Family fun

Character Encounters at the National Maritime Museum

Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell
Every Saturday
Free
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions | Maritime history

Pirates

Explore the myth, discover the truth: Pirates at the National Maritime Museum is now open
Open daily until 4 January 2026 | 10am-5pm
Adult: £15 | Student: £11.25 | Child: £7.50
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Safe Harbour

Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families with children under 13 years
Monthly: Next date 29 Nov| 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Play Tuesdays

Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories
Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm
£4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions | Space and astronomy

Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition

See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
Open daily until 3 August 2026 | 10am-5pm
Adult £12 | Child £6 | Student £9
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Young Producers

Find out more about the Young Producers – a paid opportunity for young people aged 16-25
Weekly workshops held on Tuesday evenings | See page for full details
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Discover Sundays

Each Sunday come and explore the Museum's collection through hands on creative activities
Term time Sundays | 11am - 1pm | 2pm - 4pm
Free | Drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Saturday Art Club

Register now for our weekly creative workshops for young people aged 13-16 during term time at the National Maritime Museum
Saturdays from October 2025 - April 2026 | 10am-1pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

SENsory Sailors

Come along and enjoy this brand new sensory play session for children under 13 years with special educational needs
Second Saturday of the month | 11am-12.30pm
Free | Pre-booking required
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

October half term activities at the National Maritime Museum

Come along for fun family craft workshops and storytelling themed around myths and legends!
Sunday 26 October - Sunday 2 November 2025
Free
National Maritime Museum
Experiences

The Prophets Lanthorn: Mirrored in the black water, a triumph of light

A night of storytelling, projections and music responding to Royal Museums Greenwich’s collections, created by Ocean Court artist in residence, Blu Smith
Wednesday 29 October 2025 | 6pm-9pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Youth Collective Network - Work in Progress

Join free drop-in sessions where you can be creative, build connections and hang out
Thursday 30 October 2025 | 1pm-3pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Workshops | Art and culture

Weaving with Ella Doran

Join award-winning designer Ella Doran for a hands-on weaving workshop inspired by Cutty Sark’s history of transporting wool from Britain to Australia
Saturday 1 November 2025 | 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm
£15 Adult | £12 Members and students
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals

Remembrance: A Call to Mind

From films to dance performances, this year's Remembrance Day commemorations at the National Maritime Museum focus on the often unseen struggles faced by returning veterans and their families
Saturday 1 November 2025 | 1pm-4pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | BSL tours

BSL Tour: Pirates

Join John Wilson for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of our Pirates exhibition at the National Maritime Museum
Saturday 1 November 2025 | 2pm-3pm
Adult: £15 | Student: £11.25 | Child: £7.50
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Historical pocket making workshop

Create a timeless tie-on pocket as part of this project providing community workshops accessible for people with memory loss, Alzheimer’s and dementia
Tuesday 4 November and 2 December | 11am-1pm
Free, drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Amateur Astronomy For Beginners

A course for those looking to make astronomy into a hobby
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals | LGBTQ+

Queer Maritimes

From tours about merpeople to creative workshops on personalised maps, discover some of the LGBTQ+ histories connected to Royal Museums Greenwich's collections
Saturday 8 November and Saturday 15 November 2025 | See below for times
Free
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Teacher CPD: Sensitive approaches to teaching Transatlantic Enslavement

An introduction to sensitive approaches and useful tools
Thursday 13 November 2025 | 5pm-7pm
FREE for UK school teachers and educators
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Member events

Members' Lecture: The Battle of the Arctic

Join historian and author Hugh Sebag-Montefiore as he discovers forgotten heroes of the Arctic convoys
Thursday 13 November 2025 | 6.30pm-7.30pm
Free Entry
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Member events

Members' Lecture: Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic

Hear authors Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds' vital account of the state of the Arctic today, the dangers of climate change and geopolitical competition
Wednesday 19 November 2025 l 6.30pm-7.30pm
Free Entry
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Member events

Flamsteed Lecture: The Fermi Paradox - Where are the Aliens?

A Flamsteed Astronomy Society lecture with Professor Ian Crawford
Monday 24 November 2025 | Doors open at 6.30pm, event starts at 7.15pm
Flamsteed Members: FREE | Guests of Flamsteed Members: £15 | Royal Museums Greenwich Members: £12
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Polar Day

Get ready for a brrr-illiant day of polar science for families at the National Maritime Museum
Saturday 29 November 2025 | 11am-4pm
Free | Drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Foundation Astrophysics

A series of ten-week courses on more advanced topics in astrophysics
10-week module held on Tuesday evenings | See page for details
£200 per module
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Intermediate Astronomy

Acquire a rigorous scientific understanding of the Universe with the Royal Observatory Greenwich
10-week module held on Tuesday evenings | See page for details
£205 per module
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astrophysics

Explore topics at the cutting edge of scientific research and the limits of human knowledge
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings beginning 6 January and 21 April 2026
£96
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astronomy

Learn the basics of astronomy with expert tutors from Royal Observatory Greenwich
Six-week courses held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | BSL tours

BSL Tour: Amazing Animals in Maritime History

Join historian and guide John Wilson at the National Maritime Museum, for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour about remarkable animals
Tuesday 3 March 2026 | 2pm-3pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals

STEM careers event: from seas to stars

Free careers event for schools
Wednesday 4 March 2026
Free
National Maritime Museum