The National Maritime Museum is part of a larger Greenwich based complex that also includes The Queens House and the Royal Observatory, we will deal with these three venues separately as they are all steeped in history and deserve their own page!

King George VI formally opened the National maritime Museum in 1934 but it had been a place of public interest long before then. In the early 18th century visitors began flocking to Greenwich to view James Thornhill's Painted Hall in what was then the Royal Hospital for Seamen (now the Old Royal Naval College). Then when a National Gallery of Naval Art was created in the Hall a separate Naval museum was established in the hospital buildings.

In 1934 the Royal Hospital School at Greenwich was relocated to Suffolk freeing up the Queen's House and its surrounding buildings. Since the official opening of the museum all the buildings have been redeveloped and were reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999.

Today the Maritime Greenwich is recognised as a World Heritage Site and welcomes thousands of visitors to its parklands and beautiful buildings every year. It has the most important holdings in the world on the history of Britain at sea. The collection comprises of 2.48 million items, although many are on loan to other museums around the UK.

This huge collection of artefacts is made up of charts and maps, coins and medals, flags, ship models, naval portraits, weapons and uniforms. The museum also holds the largest collection of Nelson artefacts including rare documents and personal items. The museum also houses the world's largest maritime historical reference library that features thousands and thousands of texts including ancient 15th century books.

There are also a number of special and temporary exhibitions some of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. There are also family events taking place throughout the year, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The National Maritime Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The museum also closes early on New Year's Eve and opens late on New Year's Day, and London Marathon Day.

Find out more about the National maritime Museum.

How to get there

The closest station is at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line. If travelling by bus the 129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386, D3 and D7 all serve Greenwich.

This breath-taking building is part of the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich world heritage site and stands alongside the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.

The Queen's House was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I, rumour has it that he granted Anna a manor at Greenwich as an apology for swearing at her in public, he himself was often at the Tudor Palace of Greenwich as it was an important residence for the Stuart dynasty.

In 1616 Anne employed Inigo Jones, a famous designer to create a new pavilion for her at Greenwich that would her very own private retreat, however in 1618, Anne fell ill and work on the project stopped, she died the following year and the building was left incomplete, it was rescued by Charles I who gave the site as a gift to his queen Henrietta Maria of France, it was finally completed in 1635 and was hailed a revolutionary design.

In 1805 the house was granted to the Royal Naval Asylum from George II for the caring and education of orphaned children of seamen. The building was added to and dormitories and classrooms were added. When the house became part of the National Maritime Museum in 1934 work took place in an attempt to restore the house to its former glory.

Today The Queen's Houses is refitted and furnished to look as it would have done in the 1670's, it now houses the National Maritime Museum's extensive art collection, the house features the UK's first spiral staircase, a 'grotesque' style painted ceiling in the Queen's Presence Chamber and a marble floor.

There are also a number of special and temporary exhibitions some of which are free but some do charge an admission fee. There are also family events taking place throughout the year, you can find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Queen's House is open daily from 10am to 5pm excepting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The museum also closes early on New Year's Eve and opens late on New Year's Day, and London Marathon Day.

Find out more about the Queens House.

How to get there

The closest station is at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line. If travelling by bus the 129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386, D3 and D7 all serve Greenwich.

Images © National Maritime Museum, London.