Ticketed

Essential Information

Type Talks and tours
Location
Date and Times Thursday 13 November 2025 | 7-8.30pm
Prices Adult: £20, Student: £15, Members: £10

Discount for Members. Not a member? Join now

Delve deeper into our collection of more than 2.5 million objects on our specialist tours and talks series, led by one of our expert curators, researchers or conservators.

The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is home to Royal Museums Greenwich's stored collections and state-of-the-art conservation studios. Since the development of our new collections centre in 2018, we are able to share our hidden treasures with the public, and showcase the skills and expertise of our conservation and storage teams.

Our specialist tours and talks will be centred around a different theme or topic each time – find out more about the talks on offer below. 

Event programme

The Life of Robert FitzRoy - Father of the Shipping Forecast

Thursday 13 November 2025, 7pm-8.30pm

It depicts the 'Beagle' in the background anchored in the Beagle Channel of the Tierra del Fiego archipelago. In the foreground are five Fuegians in a canoe, in the shallows of the channel shoreline.

Join us at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre for an evening tour with Tim May, Curator of Maps and Mobilities, to explore the life and legacy of captain, governor and weatherman Robert FitzRoy, through some fascinating collection objects.

The Shipping Forecast is a beloved and enduring British institution which has greatly improved maritime safety. In celebration of its 100-year anniversary, we look to its 19th century brainchild, Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy.

Beyond this meteorological legacy, FitzRoy was captain of HMS Beagle, and governor of New Zealand. The tour will unpack this complex figure, from his strained relationship with Charles Darwin to his pioneering of weather forecasting.

Book tickets (select 13 November using the calendar)

Plan your visit

Where will the tours take place?

This tour will be held at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, our state of the art conservation and collection centre in Kidbrooke.

Getting here

The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is a quick, easy journey from central London by rail or via local bus services.

Address: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Nelson Mandela Road, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QS

By train: You can reach us from central London via direct routes by Cannon Street London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria. Our nearest station is Kidbrooke which is only 5 minute walk away.

By bus: The following buses stop near the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre: 178, B16, 286, 132

By car: There is limited parking space in our car park but we will prioritise parking for visitors with disabilities. Please pre-book, otherwise we cannot guarantee a place. E-mail: ppmcc@rmg.co.uk

Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich

What’s On

Find more events at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.

Talks and tours

Behind the scenes tours at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Explore the inner workings of Royal Museums Greenwich and see conservation in action on one of our guided tours
Second and fourth Thursday of every month (see page for details) | 1.30pm
Adults: £16 | Members: £12
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours

Saturday Super Store Tours

Come behind the scenes and explore the stores at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
First Saturday of every month at 1.30pm
£12
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Workshops | Art and culture

From Object to Art

Join our community of makers at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
First Saturday of every month | 10.30am-12.30pm
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Workshops

Coder Dojo

Be inspired by the collection and create computer programmes, animation, art and electronic experiments in response
First or second Saturday of the month (see page for dates)
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours | BSL tours

BSL Tour: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Join guide John Wilson for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of our state-of-the-art conservation and storage facility
Thursday 23 October 2025 | 2pm-3pm
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours | Museum Lates

Delve Deeper: Specialist tours

Delve deeper into Royal Museums Greenwich's collection on our specialist tours of the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre for over 18s.
Thursday 13 November 2025 | 7-8.30pm
Adult: £20, Student: £15, Members: £10
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours | Member events

Delve Deeper tours: free tickets for Members

We're lucky to have secured a small number of tickets for our Delve Deeper tours at the Prince Philip Maritime Collection Centre, just for Members
Thursday 13 November | 7pm-8.30pm
Free for Members
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Visit the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

The state-of-the-art conservation studio and storage centre