Free event

Essential Information

Type Family fun
Location
National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark
Date and Times 28-30 October 2021

The UK's newest polar research ship is coming to Greenwich.

The RRS Sir David Attenborough is making a special visit to London this October, as part of a fantastic festival of polar science and exploration hosted by Royal Museums Greenwich and British Antarctic Survey.

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The UK polar research ship Sir David Attenborough lit up at night at the Cammell Laird shipyard

The free three-day Ice Worlds festival will reveal what it's really like to live and work in the Arctic and Antarctic today. 

Featuring a dazzling showcase of environmental science, engineering and technology, Ice Worlds will enthral families and aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, technicians, engineers and citizens.

Meet real polar scientists and explorers, and discover how robots can help unravel the mysteries of the ocean – including the famous Boaty McBoatface submersible.

Also on display will be the treasures of the National Maritime Museum's polar collection, including relics from HMS Erebus and Terror and items belonging to Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

At the heart of the festival is the RRS Sir David Attenborough itself, sailing into Greenwich ahead of the vitally important UN Climate Change Conference COP26.

Operated by British Antarctic Survey, the polar vessel will enable world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Anyone can see the ship from the riverside while it is docked in Greenwich. Come down and see RRS Sir David Attenborough before it begins its first mission to the Antarctic.

Join a virtual tour on Facebook

Plan your visit

Tickets and Opening

Free entry
Charges apply for Cutty Sark

28-30 October 2021

10am-5pm

  • Greenwich Station
  • Cutty Sark DLR
  • Maze Hill Station
  • Greenwich Pier

Ice Worlds online

Watch a series of talks live from the lecture theatre at the National Maritime Museum, or see the full playlist on YouTube.

Full festival programme coming soon

Sign up to our newsletter to hear more about Ice Worlds and the RRS Sir David Attenborough visit

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Crowd gathers to watch the ceremonial naming of RRS Sir David Attenborough at Cammell Laird Shipyard in 2019

About RRS Sir David Attenborough

Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough is one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world.

It is designed to carry out scientific research in some of Earth's most hostile environments, and provide vital supplies to the UK's research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

The ship was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council and built by Cammell Laird.

The ship is operated by the British Antarctic Survey, and is part of a major government investment in polar infrastructure which will keep Britain at the forefront of world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Polar exploration: past, present and future

The polar regions have been a focus for scientific enquiry and exploration for centuries. As we confront the consequences of climate change, understanding that legacy is more important than ever.

The National Maritime Museum is home to some of the most significant records and artefacts in British polar exploration history.

Explore the Polar Worlds Gallery

The RRS Sir David Attenborough marks a new chapter in that polar story.

Thanks to cutting-edge engineering and technology, scientists can explore where no human has ever been before. In both the Arctic and Antarctic, they can continue searching for answers to our planet's most pressing challenges.

This October, join British Antarctic Survey and Royal Museums Greenwich to celebrate the past, present and future of polar science.

Images courtesy of British Antarctic Survey

In partnership with

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Advance tickets for Ice Worlds are now limited, but you can still visit Greenwich and see the RRS Sir David Attenborough – you don't need a ticket to see the ship. Tickets for all our sites and exhibitions are still available.

National Maritime Museum

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Cutty Sark

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  • Walk beneath the ship
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  • Audio guide included
Adult £18
Child £9
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Royal Observatory

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Child £9
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Queen's House

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  • The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea
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Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

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Adult £27
Child £13.50
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Special exhibition

Astronomy Photographer of the Year

  • The world's greatest space photography
  • Over 100 images on display
  • Entry to National Maritime Museum included
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Child £5
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