Your Visit

The Museum is open Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm. We are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Whilst we do encourage everyone to book in advance where possible, it is not necessary.

We offer free admission to under 5s, a child’s price, free admission to Carers and discounts for NHS workers and Blue Light Card holders.

The admission ticket to the Museum is also an annual pass that allows you unlimited entry for a whole year. Many people only visit us once in a year but, through Gift Aid, offering annual passes in this way allows us to treat your ticket fee as a donation and therefore increases funding for our charitable work.

If you are a UK taxpayer and have purchased admission or chosen to make a donation to us, we may be able to claim 25p for each £1 of your donation, which will be additional funding for our charitable work. Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer and there’s no extra cost to you.

For groups of 10+ we offer a 10% discount with free entry and Waterside Café vouchers for a tour guide and driver. Find out more about groups at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

We do not allow dogs into the Museum unless they are trained assistance dogs. Dogs are welcome in the Gift Shop.

We aim to make our exhibitions as family friendly as possible. There is lots for families to enjoy together and children to explore. Don’t miss our top picks:

• The Boat Pool where you can sail a remote-controlled yacht
• Climb aboard the RNLI vehicles in the RNLI Rescue Zone
• The Treasure Island Play Zone with climbing frame and slide
• Go under the sea in the Tidal Zone and spot passing sea life
• Regular changing Museum trails – find the clues to win your prize
• The view from the very top of the 100ft Tower
• Minnows Tales each Monday outside of the school holidays – storytelling and singing perfect for under 5s.
• The school holiday activities, including specially commissioned theatre shows and crafting activities.

We do not have a left luggage facility and would therefore recommend visitors travel light and do not bring suitcases, large bags or backpacks to the Museum.

We do not have a cloakroom but provide coat rails instead. These are not supervised. Visitors are advised not to leave anything of value.

The Waterside Café serves drinks, snacks and light lunches such as jacket potatoes and sandwiches. We offer children’s options too, including a child’s lunchbox.

If you bought your tickets online, or gave us your details when you bought your tickets at the Admissions Desk, and we can find the record of your purchase, we are able to issue you with new tickets when you next visit us. Give us a ring before you arrive on 01326 313388.

Carers who are required to assist disabled visitors are admitted free of charge with the person they are assisting. Proof may be asked for.

Our address is: National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Discovery Quay, Falmouth, TR11 3QY. You can reach the Museum by car, ferry, bus or train, and we have nearby bike racks too. Find out more about getting here, including directions and maps.

We suggest allowing a minimum of three hours to fully explore the Museum. Some visitors can enjoy the Museum in an hour whilst others spend the whole day here.