Conjoined with the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum is part of a nationwide network of seafaring collections. There are a total 2.4 million naval artifacts in its achives, making it one of the most impressive collections in the country. The majority of the collection is held in Cornwall but the Greenwich site has the most attractive building, and is well worth a visit.

Set up by King George VI and opened in 1937, the museum tells the story of Britain’s navy and the global history of trade and exploration on the ocean wave. The permanent collection is very coherently put together and well annotated. The range of material is impressive, and with a variety ranging from ornate antiques to grisly recreations, there's enough to keep the whole family happy.