Business Details
Discover Maritime History in Falmouth
National Maritime Museum Cornwall stands as a beacon of maritime heritage and cultural exploration, situated on Discovery Quay in Falmouth. Since our inception, we have dedicated ourselves to illuminating the profound influence of the sea on history, culture, and human endeavour. Our 15 galleries across five floors house The National Small Boat Collection and The Cornwall Maritime Collection, showcasing over 10,000 years of maritime innovation and storytelling. As an independent charity, we rely on visitor support to fund award-winning educational programmes, boat conservation projects, and community initiatives.Our team of curators, educators, and volunteers brings decades of collective expertise in maritime history, ensuring every exhibitionfrom ancient artefacts to contemporary survival storiesresonates with academic rigor and public engagement. Recognised for our architectural excellence and commitment to accessibility, we maintain transparent operations through annual reporting and public accountability. By reinvesting 100% of admission fees into preservation efforts and educational outreach, we uphold our mission to inspire future generations while safeguarding Cornwall's unique maritime legacy.
Services
Maritime Exhibitions
Educational Programmes
Venue Hire
Boat Conservation
Research Library
Family Activities
Group Tours
Accessibility Services
Gift Shop
Caf
Highlights and features
- We offer award-winning educational programmes for all ages
- Our team preserves The National Small Boat Collection
- We provide hands-on maritime heritage experiences
- Our exhibitions combine local and international maritime narratives
- We reinvest 100% of admission fees into conservation efforts
What people say
Interactive exhibits
Family-friendly atmosphere
Harbour views
Educational value
Boat conservation
Services
Maritime Exhibitions
Our 15 galleries across five floors explore maritime history through global and local collections. Visitors encounter ancient artefacts, survival stories, and interactive displays that demonstrate the sea's impact on culture and industry. The museum's architectural design enhances these narratives with purpose-built exhibition spaces.
Educational Programmes
Award-winning learning initiatives engage students from Early Years to Key Stage 2 through object handling and curriculum-linked workshops. Overseas groups benefit from tailored maritime heritage experiences, while family activities combine exploration with hands-on learning about Cornwall's coastal traditions.
Venue Hire
The museum offers versatile event spaces accommodating 10-400 guests with harbour views. The Boat Hall and Lecture Theatre host corporate events, conferences, and celebrations, supported by bespoke catering options and full accessibility features in a unique maritime setting.
Boat Conservation
Our Boat Collection team maintains The National Small Boat Collection, including restoration projects like the Ednamair survival dinghy. Visitors can observe conservation work in progress and learn about traditional boat-building techniques from global maritime cultures.
Research Library
The Bartlett Maritime Research Centre provides access to maritime archives, books, and databases. Researchers explore ship histories, navigation records, and cultural studies through specialist resources and volunteer-managed catalogues supporting academic and personal maritime research.
People
Richard Doughty
Director
Richard leads the museum's strategic vision, overseeing exhibitions and conservation projects. With extensive experience in cultural heritage management, he champions maritime education and community engagement while maintaining the museum's charitable mission.
Sarah Riddle
Curator (collections)
Sarah manages the museum's extensive maritime collections, ensuring preservation and accessibility. Her expertise in artefact curation connects historical narratives with contemporary audiences through innovative exhibition design and research initiatives.
Robert White
Boat Collection Manager
Robert oversees the conservation of The National Small Boat Collection. His hands-on approach to restoration projects and public demonstrations brings maritime craftsmanship history to life for visitors of all ages.
Questions
What are the museum's opening hours?
We're open daily 10am-5pm, closed Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
Do tickets include annual access?
Yes, all admission tickets grant unlimited entry for 12 months.
Are there family-friendly facilities?
Yes, with play zones, interactive exhibits, and child ticket discounts.
Can I host events at the museum?
We offer venue hire for corporate events and celebrations with harbour views.
Is the museum accessible?
Yes, with full accessibility features and adapted facilities throughout the building.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Karen Reeks
Jan 17, 2022
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Had a great time at the museum today. All the staff were friendly and stopped to talk to us as we walked around. loved monsters of the deep and the tattoo arms. everything is nicely laid out and easy to look at. can't wait to visit again
Mischa Van Kesteren
Jan 13, 2022
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Nice variety of exhibits, excellent cafe with great views over the town. The entry price is a little steep if you only visit once but as the ticket gets you 12 months access it fast becomes worth it.
Janine Hartnett
Jan 06, 2022
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We really enjoyed visiting the museum. The displays were interesting and well laid out. Lots of fascinating and historical information and artifacts. The tattoo exhibition and monsters of the deep were particularly interesting. Well worth a visit
Tracey Dockree
Nov 12, 2021
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We love the Maritime Museum. Visited the Monsters of the Deep Exhibition and followed the fascinating trail of mythical monsters and how they came to be so popular. Fascinating collection of real monsters of the deep too.
Karen Biddiscombe
Sep 30, 2021
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Loved the imaginative display of deep sea creatures and the whole sea monsters aspect. Enjoyed the lower tiers, high tide/low tide from beneath the water level and the lookout at the very top, despite the horrible weather obscuring the best of the view! I really like how all interests are catered for in this museum - historically, environmentally, geographically, exploratory, the unusual, the occupational. Everything is considered - very relatable things such as cinema and myths and legends.
Shelby Evans
Sep 16, 2021
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First time visiting Maritime and I was blown away. The museum is beautifully presented with many things to see and alot to learn. You will not be disappointed visiting this beauty. The staff were very kind and helpful too. ❤
