National Maritime Museum, Cornwall

The multi-award winning National Maritime Museum Cornwall has 15 galleries, over five floors beautifully illustrating the past, present and future of this island nation. Silver winner of UK Heritage Attraction of the Year at the 2013 British Travel Awards, the Museum features a number of stunning exhibitions dedicated to the sea, boats and Cornwall. 

Immerse yourself in the world of smuggling in a new multi-sensory exhibition opening on 3 February 2014. Go back in time to smuggling's heyday in the 18th to early 19th century and view rare and exquisite smuggling artefacts, many that have never been on display before.

Other new exhibitions include works by internationally recognised photographer Vince Bevan in the Spring and in the Autumn a special exhibition by one of Britain€™s leading contemporary artists, Kurt Jackson. Works commemorating D-Day and installations celebrating the Tall Ships Regatta add a broad mix of interests to engage all in this very real and live Museum.

The epic Search & Rescue exhibition invites you to enter the world of the maritime rescue services where ordinary people lead extraordinary lives, risking their lives to save yours. Experience the drama of a rescue, climb aboard a Sea King helicopter, meet the crews, explore a lifeboat, hit the €˜beach€™ on a quad bike, revisit rescues from the past and discover what it takes to bring you home safely when the worst happens at sea and around our coast.

So much more than just a Museum about boats, explore the stories of the people who used these vessels and the adventures they had in them. Ascend the 100ft Look Out tower and see Falmouth€™s famous harbour from the skies, then descend into the Tidal Zone to appreciate one of only three natural underwater galleries in the world - and the cormorants, seals, shrimp, bass and mullet swimming by its epic 22ft tall tidal windows. Be spellbound by a sky filled with a flotilla of flying boats and lose yourself in a world of maritime history.

With hands-on activities, talks, lectures, workshops, rotating events and exhibitions, there€™s so much happening, don€™t miss your chance for a visit. The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is the Museum to have fun in whatever the weather!