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    Cutty Sark
    Cutty Sark Open daily 10am-6pm Last entry 5.15pm Adult: £18 | Child: £9 Members go free
    Free National Maritime Museum
    National Maritime Museum Open daily 10am-5pm Last entry 4.15pm Free entry Booking recommended
    Free Queen's House
    Queen's House Open daily 10am-5pm Last entry 4.15pm Free entry Booking recommended
    Royal Observatory
    Royal Observatory Open daily 10am-7pm Last entry 6pm Adult: £18 | Child: £9 Members go free
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    Caribbean Takeover Join the Caribbean Social Forum as they take over the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House for another spectacular year of celebration
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    Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience life at sea and climb the rigging of one of London's true icons
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    Astronomers Take Over This brand-new interactive gallery gives curious minds aged 4 to 104 the space to play, learn and explore!
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    How to see the 12 August 2026 partial solar eclipse Learn more about the best solar eclipse visible from the UK and Ireland so far this century, when around 90% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon
    ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 shortlist Discover a selection of the breathtaking images shortlisted in the global astrophotography competition
    Making Waves: Dr Dawn Wright Oceanographer and chief scientist Dr Dawn Wright on diving to the deepest part of the ocean – and why we need to stand up for our blue planet
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    Caird Library Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum
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Shipping and industry

Shipping and industry

The global links that shape our modern world

From sailing ships to steam power: how the Industrial Revolution changed life at sea forever

The shift from wind to fossil fuels was far from smooth. As shipping tries to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, can we learn from fuel transitions of the past?

The unexpected history of the shipping container

They carry everything from apples to iPhones – but how did a simple metal box have such a profound impact on the way we live, work and shop?

The ice trade: a cold business

In this blog we explore how our ancestors obtained ice in an age before widespread domestic refrigeration.

How does the UK respond to a maritime emergency?

If a ship runs into trouble in UK territorial waters, an individual known as ‘SOSREP’ is often one of the first to be notified. Who are they, and how do they help prevent disaster at sea?

Sea Empress oil spill – 30 years on

Explore the legacy of the Sea Empress oil spill, and meet the people working to prevent disaster at sea today

Remembering the Sea Empress oil spill

Cliff Benson reflects on how efforts to save oiled sea birds inspired a lifetime's dedication to wildlife protection

Life on board a container ship – in pictures

Artist Zoe Childerley is embarking on a project with the National Maritime Museum to bring experiences of modern seafarers to light. How did she find her first voyage on board a container ship?

Thames barges and London docks – an oral history

Gordon 'Willie' Williamson worked aboard Thames barges throughout the 1960s, and witnessed the final years of central London as a busy cargo hub

7 facts about fish fingers

Happy 70th birthday to the fish finger, first introduced to Britain in 1955
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Royal Museums Greenwich
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