Check out the latest digital events, virtual tours and videos from Royal Museums Greenwich, and learn more about the sea, space, history and creativity.

What happened to the crew of Erebus and Terror?

As history thriller The Terror comes to the BBC, unpick the true story of Sir John Franklin's fatal expedition to search for the North West Passage
Start reading Discover more in the Polar Worlds gallery

Highlights

Royal history
Find out about the kings and queens who left their mark in Greenwich and surprising royal connections hidden in our collections
Family activities to do at home
Find great learning ideas for kids, and join our online classes and virtual play sessions
2021 guide to the night sky
Find out what to see in the night sky in 2021 with the Royal Observatory's astronomy calendar
Space Live
Stream the wonders of the solar system live with astronomers from the Royal Observatory
Our Ocean, Our Planet
Our Ocean, Our Planet is a new online space at Royal Museums Greenwich dedicated to exploring the climate crisis and our relationship with the ocean
Ships, Sea & the Stars
Join presenter Helen Czerski and a host of curators and special guests as they pick some of the favourite objects and stories from our collections
History of Cutty Sark
Delve into the fascinating history of Cutty Sark - the record-breaking tea clipper which travelled the globe and visited every major world port
History of the Royal Observatory
Find out more about the founding of the Royal Observatory and how it came to be known as the 'Home of Time'
History of the Queen's House
The centre of Greenwich for hundreds of years, the beautiful Queen's House has also been at the heart of royal life

What’s On

Check out our online events, talks and virtual tours. See everything that is happening
Talks and courses

Rebel Women and Female Pirates

From sixteenth century pirates to offshore radio stations, join us for a season of talks to celebrate Women’s History Month this March
Throughout March | See page for details
Cast of Bridgerton
Evenings & Lates

From Bridgerton to Harlots

Women writing historical fiction for TV
Friday 5 March | 7pm
Talks and courses

Saturday Art and Design Club

Join the weekly creative drop-in for young people aged 13-16
Saturdays | 10am-1pm
Our Solar System
Planetarium shows

KS2 Our Solar System | virtual planetarium show for school students

A live online planetarium show for students aged 7-11
Mondays | 2pm & 3pm and Fridays | 2pm
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Talks and courses

Introduction to Astrophotography

Learn how to take images of the night sky in our online introduction to astrophotography course
Mondays | 7pm-9pm | Check for full course dates
Telescope
Talks and courses

GCSE Astronomy for Adults

Acquire a rigorous scientific understanding of the universe with the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Tuesdays: 6.30pm-9pm
Talks and courses

Introduction to Astrophysics

Explore topics at the cutting edge of scientific research and the limits of human knowledge
Tuesdays: 7–9pm | See details below
Talks and courses

Life in the Universe

An introduction to astrobiology and what astronomers actually look for when searching for life in the Universe
Every Tuesday | 23 Feb - 30 Mar | 7-9pm
Family fun

Toddler Time Online

Bring your little sailors along for songs, stories and playtime as the ever popular toddler time comes to your home
Every Wednesday | 10.30am - 11am
Stack of books
Member events

Members' Book Club: Erebus by Michael Palin

Join us online for our next Members' Book Club session
Wednesday 10 March | 6.30pm-7.30pm
Family fun

Play Fridays

Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories
Fridays during term time | 10am, 11am, 2pm
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Access events

SENsory Social Club

Join the weekly online club for adults and young people with SEND
Fridays during term time | 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Family fun

Astronomy and Islam: Online Family Special

Join an astronomer for a special young persons show featuring stories of the stars and the Moon
Friday 12 March | 5pm - 6pm
Talks and courses

Oral Histories: Challenges and Opportunities

Oral histories offer a unique insight into the past and deserve a place in every major museum collection
16 March 2021 | 5.15pm - 6.30 pm
Member events

Members' Crafting: Play Amongst the Stars

Little ones can learn about the stars in our Members' online crafting session for children aged three to seven
Saturday 20 March | 2.00pm-3.00pm
Member events

Members' event: In conversation with Nikki Henderson

Join yachtswoman Nikki Henderson, in conversation with one of the Museum's curators in this exclusive online event for our Members
Tuesday 23 March | 6.30pm-7.30pm
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Evenings & Lates

Science In Science Fiction

How accurate are science fiction films? Separate fact from fiction with astronomers from the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Friday 26 March at 7pm
Talks and courses

Introduction to Astronomy

Learn the basics of astronomy at the home of time and space
Tuesdays | 7pm-9pm | Check for full course dates

Democracy, Strategy and the Navy on the eve of the First World War

Dr David Morgan-Owen offers a new perspective on the relationship between the people, the government and the Navy in Britain before 1914
22 June 2021 | 5.15pm - 6.30 pm

Stories of the sea

What is a mermaid?
Tales of mermaids date back to the first written accounts of humanity, but how much do we know about the mythical sea creatures?
A history of sea shanties
From sailor songs to TikTok sensations, find out more about the history of the sea shanty, and discover the meanings behind 'The Wellerman' and other famous examples
How can shipping be more environmentally friendly?
The shipping industry produces million tonnes of CO2 every year. Could a new era of wind power help make global trade more sustainable?
Blackbeard - separating pirate myth from fact
Blackbeard is one of the most infamous pirates who ever lived. But can we separate the facts from the myth?
A rum deal: The origins of Nelson’s blood
Rum has long been a part of Britain's maritime heritage - but what is the real history of Nelson's Blood? Find out more about rum and the Navy below.
History of Cutty Sark
Delve into the fascinating history of Cutty Sark - the record-breaking tea clipper which travelled the globe and visited every major world port

Space and astronomy

When is the next full Moon?
Check the dates for every full Moon throughout the year, and learn about lunar phases, 'supermoons' and more
Guide to meteor showers
Want to see shooting stars? Check the key dates for major meteor showers in the UK and how to see them in the night sky
NASA's Perseverance rover: everything you need to know about the new Mars rover
NASA's new rover is ready to begin searching for life on Mars
What causes the Northern Lights?
The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is one of the most spectacular displays in the night sky. What is the science behind these ethereal curtains of light?
History of the Great Equatorial Telescope
The Great Equatorial Telescope at the Royal Observatory kept Britain at the forefront of astrophysics and greatly expanded our knowledge of stars
2021 guide to the night sky
Find out what to see in the night sky in 2021 with the Royal Observatory's astronomy calendar
Space exploration
Find out more about current and future space missions, and take a trip back through the history of the space race.

Royal history

Symbolism in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I
Find out more about the Tudor symbols used in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and discover what they mean
Queens of the Queen’s House
Greenwich has been a key location for the royal family for over 500 years
Greenwich Palace and the Tudors
Situated beside the River Thames, Greenwich had been a popular royal residence for centuries
Masque and music at the Stuart court
Henrietta Maria and Charles I loved to present masques - great spectacles of dance, music, poetry and drama.
Discover more royal history
Find out about the kings and queens who left their mark in Greenwich and surprising royal connections hidden in our collections

Exploration and endeavour

History of Antarctic explorers
From first sighting to reaching the South Pole, discover the history of exploring Antarctica.
HMS Terror and Erebus - the story of Franklin's lost expedition
The wrecks of HMS Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016, shedding new light on the fate of Franklin's lost expedition. But will we ever know the full story?
The shoes that survived: caring for Captain Scott's shoes
Learn how explorer Robert Falcon Scott's ski overshoes were prepared for display in the new Polar Worlds gallery
The race to the South Pole: Scott and Amundsen
What was the race to the South Pole and who reached it first?
Learn more about polar exploration
Read about the thrills, chills and heroic endeavours of polar exploration.

The story of time

What exactly is Greenwich Mean Time?
How did local clock time in Greenwich change the world?
Why do the clocks go back?
Marking the end of British Summer Time, the clocks go back in October, giving us an extra hour in bed. But why do the clocks change?
Longitude found - the story of Harrison's Clocks
Who was John Harrison, and how did his clocks help to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea?
Why 12 months in a year, seven days in a week or 60 minutes in an hour?
While days and years are (fairly) neat astronomical events, what explains months, weeks, hours and minutes?
Learn more about time
From Greenwich Mean Time to groundbreaking instruments, it's time to wind back the clock on the history of timekeeping

Latest blogs

Go behind the scenes with our expert curators, astronomers, conservators and library and archive team
Museum blog