If you are interested in the history of seafaring, exploration and colonial trade voyages, then you should definitely not miss National Maritime Museum (NMM) in the Greenwich area.

Book your central London hotel in advance

National Maritime Museum

The NMM contains plenty of artefacts, interactive displays and rooms with documentary screenings. You can admire authentic ship parts or learn all about navigation in colonial times.

Logically, the museum's general focus is on the seafaring period of the British Empire at its greatest glory. In its category, it is by far the largest museum in Britain and one of the most important in the world.

Admission to the museum is free, however it is advisable to book a place as the number of entries at any one time is limited.

It is open daily from 10am-5pm.

The Cutty Sark

Although the historic, well-preserved Cutty Sark is not part of the National Maritime Museum, most visitors combine a visit to both attractions at the same time.

The clipper-type cargo sailing ship called the Cutty Sark, later known as the Queen of the Oceans, is one of the most famous merchant ships of the British Empire. Built in 1869, she was one of the fastest and most reliable ships of her time.

She set many speed records, for example making the journey from Australia to Britain in a record 67 days.

Admission to the ship is 22 gbp. The ship is open for visits daily from 10:00-17:00.

Official website: rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark