Essential Information
| Location |
National Maritime Museum
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| Price | Free |
The polar regions have been a focus for scientific enquiry and exploration for centuries. As we confront the consequences of climate change, understanding that history is more important than ever.
The Polar Worlds gallery looks at the history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, and examines how humans have adapted to life in the most challenging environments on Earth.
Visit the Polar Worlds gallery at the National Maritime Museum, and explore the past, present and future of polar exploration.
Inside the gallery
The polar regions have long held a fascination for those wanting to learn more about our world or test the limits of human endurance.
Early European expeditions to the Arctic involved searching for the North-West Passage, a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The most infamous of these was led by Sir John Franklin in HMS Erebus and Terror in the mid-1840s.
At the turn of the 20th century the challenge of reaching the South Pole gripped the public imagination. Figures like Captain Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton became national heroes.
The polar regions are not as isolated as you might imagine however. The Arctic has been home to Indigenous communities for thousands of years, and today several thousand scientists work in Antarctica each year.
As the world’s climate changes, the polar regions are once again in the spotlight. It is here that the most dramatic shifts are being experienced, and the lessons of polar science may prove vital to the future of the planet.
Visiting Polar Worlds
Where is the gallery?
Polar Worlds is a permanent gallery at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, located on the second floor. Entry to the Museum is free: book tickets online in advance to guarantee entry and receive updates before you visit.
Tours and audio guides
Polar Worlds features as part of the range of audio guides available at the National Maritime Museum. Listen to a free introduction to the gallery here, or find out more about objects on display by ordering a special Treasures Tour.
Accessibility
BSL is included as part of the National Maritime Museum audio guide. Large print guides are also available inside the gallery. For more information about accessibility at the National Maritime Museum, click here.
Ideas for families
Calling all budding polar scientists! Download a free family activity sheet for the Polar Worlds gallery or pick up a copy at the entrance to the Museum when you arrive.
Keep an eye out too for the special 'Play' boxes dotted around the gallery. Try on explorers' clothing, play with Arctic animals and watch the videos with real polar scientists to see what it's like to live in the Arctic and Antarctica today.
Gallery closures
Occasionally some gallery closures may affect your visit to the National Maritime Museum. Find details of upcoming closures here.
Make the most of your visit
Find more free galleries and attractions at the National Maritime Museum.
Tickets and Opening
Free entry
10am-5pm daily
- Greenwich Station
- Cutty Sark DLR
- Maze Hill Station
- Greenwich Pier
Delve deeper
Visit the National Maritime Museum
Discover epic stories of exploration and endeavour that have shaped our world today
This gallery is supported by:
- UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
- Government of the British Antarctic Territory
- Transglobe Expedition Trust
Choose your tickets
National Maritime Museum
- Guaranteed entry time
- Access to all free galleries and activities
- Special exhibitions free in 2024
| Free entry |
|---|
| Book online |
Member tickets
- Unlimited free entry
- Priority booking and exclusive events
- Access using your membership card
| Membership card number required |
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 |