Christmas at the Museum

Christmas Lights at National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Friday 27 November 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027

Christmas at the Museum

Visit us in December for a month of maritime magic.

Feast your eyes on magical maritime lighting displays and the willow lobster pot Christmas tree. Join in with a festive family Museum trail and Christmas crafts or book to attend one of the special events during December.

The Museum is open every day throughout the year, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

?

Decorative Christmas lights installed on the hanging boats display at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Festive Flotilla Lights Display

Every day, 10am – 5pm

Admire the flying flotilla of small boats above your head, all lit up for Christmas.

A festive Christmas Tree made of willow lobsters, with glass buoy decorations and twinkling lights.

Lobster Pot Christmas Tree

Every day, 10am – 5pm

Our unique lobster pot Christmas tree was constructed by Cadgwith fisherman Nigel Legge and decorated with plaster starfish made by Museum volunteers.

A young boy points to a model ship in a glass cabinet while a lady standing behind him also looks at the ship.

Museum Trail

Every day, 10am – 5pm.

Explore the Museum on this discovery trail.

A girl lifts her arm out holding a crayon, there are pots of coloured pencils and pens in front of her and a woman using scissors to cut paper.

Make & Take

19 Dec – 3 Jan

12.30pm to 3.30pm (last entry 3.15pm)

Join in with family craft activities and take your creations home.

Special Events

A close-up of hands adjusting a rope bow on a Coastal Christmas wreath of natural foliage.

Coastal Wreath Making

Sunday 6 December

10.30am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4pm

Celebrate the magic of Cornwall this Christmas with a hands-on workshop exploring the connections between maritime heritage, traditional skills and creative making.

Booking opens soon

An image of a sailing boat at sea in front of a large moon with Father Christmas being pulled by reindeer in the sky.

Nadelik

20 – 23 December

11am & 2pm

Nadelik is a delightful, interactive Christmas show for children and their families, with live action, puppetry, and heaps of festive cheer.

Book Tickets

What else is at National Maritime Museum Cornwall?

Explore 15 galleries over five floors, jump aboard boats, climb the 100-foot Lookout Tower, go underwater in the Tidal Zone, uncover ocean adventures and survival stories and sail miniature boats on the Boat Pool. Plus, have fun in Skull Island Play Zone and learn about Cornish maritime history in our Cornwall galleries.