Wrap up warm and take a journey to the icy ends of the earth. From attempts to find the North-West Passage in the Arctic Circle to the race to reach the South Pole, discover the history, triumph, tragedy and legacies of polar exploration. Visit the Polar Worlds gallery See relics and artefacts from historic expeditions up close at the National Maritime Museum Explore now Antarctica and the race to the South Pole History of Antarctic explorers From first sighting to reaching the South Pole, discover the history of exploring Antarctica The race to the South Pole: Scott and Amundsen What was the race to the South Pole and who reached it first? Sir Ernest Shackleton In 1907, Ernest Shackleton embarked on an expedition to the South Pole aboard his ship Nimrod. He was almost successful, falling just 97 miles short. Roald Amundsen Roald Amundsen is one of history's most celebrated explorers, famous for navigating the North-West Passage and being the first to reach the South Pole. Robert Falcon Scott In the early 20th century the race was on to reach the South Pole. Robert Falcon Scott led the first British expedition. The North-West Passage The North-West Passage is the route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Many explorers have risked and lost their lives in searching for this passage, which would be a trade route between Europe and Asia HMS Terror and Erebus - the story of Franklin's lost expedition Find out more about the history of Franklin's fatal voyage, and the continuing work to explore the Erebus and Terror shipwrecks What happened to the crew of Erebus and Terror? Sir John Franklin's final voyage in 1845 in HMS Erebus and HMS Terror became the worst disaster in the history of British polar exploration New discoveries from the wrecks Archaeologists exploring the shipwrecks of HMS Erebus and Terror have recovered over 350 objects from the lost Franklin expedition. Delve deeper Shop South: The Race to the Pole £18.99 This book tells the story of three men who were to embody the spirit of the time to be the first to discover the South Pole – Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton... Buy Now Prints HMS 'Erebus' and 'Terror' in the Antarctic from £22.95 The artist has portrayed the two ships, 'Erebus' and 'Terror' in the Antarctic. They represent the only human presence in an environment of rough peaks, glaciers, mountains and jagged rocks... Buy Now Shop Franklin: Tragic Hero Of Polar Navigation £9.99 The gripping story of the worst ever catastrophe in British exploration, and the captain at the heart of it. In 1845 Captain Sir John Franklin led a large, well equipped expedition to complete the conquest of the Canadian Arctic, to find the fabled North West Passage connecting the North Atlantic to the North Pacific... Buy Now