National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings form part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and 17th-century Queen's House.

The Museum was created by the National Maritime Act of 1934 Chapter 43, under a Board of Trustees, appointed by H.M. Treasury. It is based on the generous donations of Sir James Caird (1864–1954). King George VI formally opened the Museum in April 27, 1937.

Since earliest times Greenwich has had associations with the sea and navigation. It was a landing place for the Romans; Henry VIII lived here; the navy has roots on the waterfront; and Charles II founded the Royal Observatory in 1675 for "finding the longitude of places".

The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian since 1884, making it the official starting point for each new day, year and millennium.  Greenwich has long been a centre for astronomical study, while navigators across the world have set their clocks according to its time of day. It is also home to London's only planetarium, the Harrison timekeepers and the 28-inch telescope, the largest of its kind in the UK.

The Queen’s House represents a turning point in English architecture. It now showcases the Museum's fine-art collection and provides a unique venue for weddings, corporate and private events.

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Contact details for the National Maritime Museum tel: +44 (0)20 8858 4422, recorded information line: +44 (0)20 8312 6565, bookings: [email protected].

The museum is open daily Monday–Sunday 10.00–17.00. The site is closed 24–26 December and closes early on 31 December and opens late (13.00) on 1 January and on the occasion of the London Marathon each year (12.00).

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