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Visit The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth

Visit The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth

In the heart of Falmouth, you’ll see the iconic Maritime Museum building, towering above Events Square with its wooden cladding, walkways and windows, as well as an impressive lookout tower! If you’re staying at one of our holiday cottages in Flushing, you’ll even be able to see it from across the water. Perfect for a winter’s day, or in the case of wet weather, the inside of the museum hides a treasure of both permanent collections and pop-up exhibitions all linked to Falmouth’s history, and maritime culture as a whole.

Current Exhibition: SURF! 100 Years of Waveriding in Cornwall

Since June, the museum’s headline exhibition has been a playful exploration of the waves and wonders around the Cornish coast:

“Curated by surf academic Dr. Sam Bleakley, the object-rich exhibition features a vast array of artefacts with exciting human stories and hidden histories sourced from private collections around the UK. Many of the objects, including some of the world’s most valuable surfboards, original tools, photographs, videos and artwork, have never been on public display before.”

When you visit, keep an eye out for the VW camper, the pop-up surf shop, and the Shaping Bay. Bright and colourful, the whole exhibition is a celebration of beach culture and outdoor living, but is not without some serious messages. The issue of ocean plastics pollution and water pollution are ever-prevalent for us as an island nation, and especially here in Cornwall. The exhibition shows the efforts made by the community to create real, lasting change in the local environment.

Surfing Memories

There is an interactive element to the exhibition where you can add your own photos of surfing memories in Cornwall over the years and up to the present day! Why not share a snapshot from your Creekside Cottages holiday?!

All the photos will be kept as a lasting legacy of the exhibition in a digital archive – perfect for showing future generations what Cornwall looked like up to 2026!

How Painting Changed My Life

Within the SURF! major exhibition are several smaller events, and local artist Jane Southern shares her paintings as a way of exploring the positive role art can play in mental health recovery.

Coastal seascapes are accompanied by video interviews and personal diaries sharing the whole journey of creativity, and not just the finished result that we so often see in museum displays.

The Boat Hall

Return visitors to the museum might remember the iconic Boat Hall which you cannot miss in its central position in the building. Watercraft of all shapes and sizes hang from the ceiling as well as being displayed at ground level for a closer look or even a climb on board (anyone with little ones will know how much they love the inflatable rescue raft and the RNLI jet ski!)

This bit of the museum really is a great example of blending family-friendly interactivity with detailed information that’s interesting for those who like to read and learn about the story behind the objects.

On the ground floor of the museum is another favourite for all ages… the Boat Pool is a chance to drive (and even race) model boats on the water.

The Tidal Zone

At the very bottom of the iconic turret are huge glass windows that give you a spectacular underwater view – like being in an aquarium! Peer through and spot the creatures of Falmouth Harbour in their natural habitat, identifiable using the guides and information all around the circular walls. Also marked on the walls are the different tidal ranges, which are truly striking when you see them on a vertical level (well above head height!) Pop back later in your visit to see how much the water level has changed…

The Lookout

At the top of the tower is an almost 360-degree view of Falmouth town and harbour, as well as Flushing where many of our cottages are! You can’t quite see Mylor because it’s tucked around the corner, but you can get a brilliant perspective of how the geography fits together around Trefusis Point. See if you can spot the sauna on Kiln Quay, and the ferries crossing the Carrick Roads! Binoculars are ready and waiting to extend your views across to the Roseland…

Taking Your Time

If you’re visiting with a large group, or young ones, you might zip around these highlights and then head to the cafe or on with the rest of your day, but for those who prefer to take their time and dive deeper into maritime education, there are plenty of other fascinating displays:

The Bartlett Maritime Research Centre and Library is full of books and archive material.
Cornish Quayside is an interactive display all about the history of the fishing industry here in Cornwall.
Cornwall and the Sea focuses on Falmouth’s role in global communication, trade, and migratory links around the world.
The Falmouth Gallery is a celebration of the Packet Ships and the history of the town up to the present day, including the record breaking achievements of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Tickets and Memberships

You can purchase a ticket once and get into the museum for a year, or if you have a membership, you get free entry in January and November to several other Cornish destinations, including the Eden Project, Trebah Garden (the closest, being just 15 minutes from Falmouth), The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Minack Theatre, Lappa Valley and Geevor Tin Mine.

Many visitors therefore choose to join and save on ticket prices if you are going to be visiting several other attractions during your stay this Winter.

If you visit, do let us know what your highlights of the museum were, as we’d love to share top tips with other guests! For individual events and lectures at the museum, visit their website to keep up to date.