3 tips for visiting London’s National Maritime Museum with kids

1. Visit the Ahoy! gallery
Young museum-goers will enjoy the Ahoy! gallery for under 7s, which is free to visit on a first come, first served basis. Climb up on the deck of a pretend ship, or move cargo boats around a boatyard. This popular play area offers plenty opportunities for pretend play relating to key themes explored in the National Maritime Museum, and when we visited it filled up quickly after the museum opening. I think families that like the Garden at the Science Museum and the Play Base at National Army Museum will enjoy a visit to Ahoy! gallery too, as this space feels like another museum gem for London families with young children.

2. Play the explorer game on the Great Map
On the first floor at the National Maritime Museum there is a giant floor map of the world, which doubles as a board for an interactive explorer game. To play, children can borrow a tablet from the information desk and embark on a trip around the seven seas. By following instructions on the tablet, moving around the floor and using the tablet to scan ports on the map, players can collect and transport cargo and people around the world. I would recommend this activity to families with children aged 7+. Younger visitors may prefer playing with the large ships that can be moved around the Great Map instead (see picture above).

3. Explore the All-Hands children’s gallery and ship simulator
When continuing up to the second floor, families can find the All-Hands children’s gallery, an interactive gallery with fun activities designed for children aged 6 to 12. There are large cut-outs of famous explorers, colouring tables and opportunities for battling pirates by firing a cannon in an interactive game or loading a ship with cargo and moving it around to stay afloat. Near the All-Hands children’s gallery, children can also try being the captain of a ship in a bridge simulator.

National Maritime Museum is located in London’s Greenwich and the museum is free to visit.

Tags: Family attractions, Family day out, Greenwich, London, Museum, National Maritime Museum, Royal Museum Greenwich