Essential information

Type
Exhibitions
Location
Date and times Daily until 30 September 2026
Prices Free entry
Book free Museum tickets

Caribbean food is now part of Britain’s national appetite - from jerk chicken at Notting Hill Carnival, to patties on the high street and sorrel during the holiday season. Behind every bite and memory is a deeper story and meaning.

Windrush Food Culture is an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum exploring how the Windrush Generation brought not only their flavours, but their memory, resilience, creativity and techniques to post-war Britain.

The display traces the journey of food as comfort, survival, celebration, resistance and sustenance.

Windrush Food Culture is produced by the National Windrush Museum in collaboration with Royal Museums Greenwich.

Photo of Windrush Food Culture exhibition

About the National Windrush Museum

The National Windrush Museum is an organisation in Britain dedicated to researching, exhibiting, promoting and preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Windrush pioneers, their antecedents and successors.

What’s on

See more events at the National Maritime Museum.

Family fun

Character Encounters at the National Maritime Museum
Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell
Every Saturday
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Discover Sundays
Each Sunday, come and explore the Museum's collection through hands-on creative activities
Term time Sundays | 11am-1pm | 2pm-4pm
Free | Drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

SENsory Sailors
Come along and enjoy this brand new sensory play session for children under 13 years with special educational needs
Second Saturday of the month | 11am-12.30pm
Free | Pre-booking required
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions

Windrush Food Culture exhibition
This free exhibition explores Windrush food culture and its impact on Britain through the decades: from the margins to the mainstream
Daily until 30 September 2026
Free entry
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions

Kõmij Mour Ijin/Our Life is Here
Reflections on nuclear testing and climate change in the Marshall Islands – a contemporary art exhibition at the National Maritime Museum
Open daily until 4 October 2026 | 10am-5pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours

Treasures Tour of the National Maritime Museum
Explore some of the Museum’s most prized – and lesser-known – objects on a guided tour
Daily at 12pm and 2pm
£7.50 Adult | £5.50 Student | £3.75 Child | Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Experiences

Astronomers Take Over
This brand-new interactive gallery gives curious minds aged 4 to 104 the space to play, learn and explore!
Dates and times vary: check ticketing page for full details | 10am-5pm
Experience + planetarium: Adult: £16 | Child: £14 | Experience only: £8
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Experiences | Space and astronomy

Unboxing the Universe
Blast off on an unforgettable journey through space in this exciting science theatre show, and answer some big questions about the Universe along the way
Sat & Sun 1.30pm and 3.30pm | Fri-Mon (School holidays only) 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
£16 for adult / child / student ticket
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Safe Harbour
Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families with children under 13 years
Last Saturday of the month | 12.30pm-2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Baby yoga
Stretch and unwind with your little one on our Ocean Map during this baby yoga session.
First or second Friday of the month | 10.15am and 11am
£10 per baby and accompanying adult
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Space and astronomy

Astronomy LEGO brick club
Join us for a LEGO brick building club themed around the night sky
Fridays from 1.30pm-4.30pm | No session on 21 August 2026
Free
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Young Carnival Creators
Hear from sound system legends The Mighty Ruler and Saxon Sound System, design your own Carnival costume and perform at the legendary Notting Hill Carnival in these FREE creative workshops at the National Maritime Museum for ages 13–17
Wednesdays from July to August & Sunday 30 August | 5-7pm | Time of Sunday parade to be confirmed
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer holidays at the National Maritime Museum
Dive into free holiday activities at the National Maritime Museum this summer!
19 July – 30 August 2026 | Daily except Mondays
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer Play Tuesdays
Come and play outside at the National Maritime Museum on Tuesdays this summer
Tuesdays, 21 July - 25 August 2026, 11am-1pm | 2pm-4pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer Music Wednesdays
Enjoy special music performances at the National Maritime Museum on Wednesdays this summer
Wednesdays, 22 July - 26 August 2026 | 11am, 12noon, 2pm, 3pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer craft sessions
Enjoy special craft sessions at the National Maritime Museum on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays this summer
Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays | 23 July - 27 August 2026 | 11am-1pm, 2-4pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer Storytelling Fridays
Enjoy magical storytelling at the National Maritime Museum on Fridays this summer
Fridays, 24 July - 28 August 2026 | Various times
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours

LGBTQ+ history talks at the National Maritime Museum
We deliver queer history talks at least once a week at the National Maritime Museum
Thursdays and Sundays | See page for dates | 3.30pm | Drop-in
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Member events

Discover our Ocean Map
Explore our Ocean Map with a curator in this event for children
Tuesday 18 August 2026 | 10.30-11am
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours

Scott, Shackleton and survival in the frozen frontier
Before Scott’s tragic race to the South Pole and Shackleton’s legendary Endurance, there was Discovery, the expedition that began it all. Discover more in this exclusive in conversation event
Tuesday 18 August 2026 | 6.30-7.30pm
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals | Art and culture

International Slavery Remembrance Day
Explore the relationship between remembrance and reparative practice at the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House
Sunday 23 August 2026 | 11am-5pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Space and astronomy

Cosmic Light
Join astronomers Tom Kerss and Dr Ryan French for this specially illustrated talk revealing how ground-breaking observatories have expanded our view of the Universe
Wednesday 2 September 2026 | 6.30-7.30pm
Free for Members | £5 for non-Members
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Space and astronomy

Little Stars
Join us for a storytelling session and social club for under 5s all about space and time
Thursday 3 September 2026 (fully booked)| 10.30am–12.30pm
Free, pre-booking required
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Intermediate Astronomy
Acquire a rigorous scientific understanding of the Universe with the Royal Observatory Greenwich
10-week modules held on Tuesday evenings beginning 8 September and 1 December 2026 and 9 March 2027
£225 per module
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Foundation Astrophysics
A series of ten-week courses on more advanced topics in astrophysics
10-week module held on Tuesday evenings beginning 8 September and 1 December 2026, 9 March 2027
£220 per module
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astronomy
Learn the basics of astronomy with expert tutors from Royal Observatory Greenwich
Six-week courses held on Tuesday evenings - see page for dates
£106
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astrophysics
Explore topics at the cutting edge of scientific research and the limits of human knowledge
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings beginning 8 September 2026, 5 January and 20 April 2027
£106
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Member events

Members' craft workshop
Join us for exclusive craft workshops, just for Members
Saturday 12 September and Saturday 21 November 2026 | 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Member events

Members' lecture: the most important naval officer you’ve never heard of
Join author Alan Harper as he recounts the extraordinary life of Royal Navy warrant officer Greenvile Collins, the subject of his book Master & Cartographer
Tuesday 15 September | 6.30-7.30pm
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions | Space and astronomy

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
New exhibition opens 18 September 2026 | 10am-5pm
Adult £12 | Child £6 | Student £9
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Museum Lates

Evening of Astrophotography
Come along to a panel discussion to learn more about astrophotography, and enjoy a private viewing of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 exhibition
Saturday 19 September 2026 | 6-8pm
Adults: £14 | Students and Under 25s: £10
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Member events

Members' treasures tours
Explore the treasures of the National Maritime Museum with one of our expert guides
Sunday 20 September 2026 | 11am
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Exhibitions | Talks and tours

Members' private view: ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026
View the brand-new exhibition of the world's greatest space photography, and learn more about the amazing winning and shortlisted images
Thursday 24 September 2026 | 6.30-8.30pm
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Saturday Art Club
Join weekly creative workshops for young people aged 13-16 during term time at the National Maritime Museum
Saturdays from October 2026 - March 2027 | 10am-1pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Space and astronomy

Members' lecture: Galaxies with Jake Foster
Royal Observatory astronomer Jake Foster explores the Universe on an expansive scale, showcasing and examining the stars, planets, gas and dark matter that populate our cosmos
Tuesday 13 October | 6.30-7.30pm
Free for Members
National Maritime Museum
Workshops

Young Producers
Find out more about the Young Producers – a paid opportunity for young people aged 16-25
Every other Tuesday from 20 October 2026 to 23 February 2027 & Saturday 13 February 2027 | 5-7pm & Saturday event times to be confirmed
Free
National Maritime Museum
Courses | Astronomy courses

Amateur astronomy for beginners
A course for those looking to make astronomy into a hobby
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings beginning 3 November 2026 and 23 February 2027
£106
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals

Lunar New Year
We celebrated the Year of the Horse with a whole host of Lunar New Year activities and performances
Saturday 13 February 2027 | 10am-4pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals

STEM careers event 2027
Don't miss this free careers event for students interested in discovering careers in STEM
Wednesday 24 February 2027 | 10am-3pm
Free
National Maritime Museum

Visit the National Maritime Museum

Discover epic stories of exploration and endeavour that have shaped our world today.
Find out more

More Windrush stories

Windrush histories: memories of moving to the UK

Shirley Fox shares her memories of moving to the UK, in a special oral history marking 75 years since the Empire Windrush's arrival in Britain

Descendant Talks

Discover the creative talents of Windrush generation descendants in this podcast series hosted by the Gen Z Collective

How to research Jamaican family history

A brief guide to the records, resources and online collections available for people researching Jamaican ancestry.

The ships of the Windrush generation

The Empire Windrush wasn't the only ship to carry Caribbean passengers to the UK. Find out more about the vessels and people that helped to shape modern Britain

Practitioners in Residence: Griffi & Rosie

Artists Griffi & Rosie explored the experiences of the Windrush generation, as part of a residency at Royal Museums Greenwich

Windrush Talking Heads

Memories and melodies – listen to the stories of the Windrush generation

History of the Empire Windrush

Discover the history of the Windrush, the ship that brought some of the first post-war migrants from the Caribbean to Britain

Supporters

This exhibition is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Communities & Collections Fund – delivered by the Museums Association.