Hull Maritime Museum
Reimagining of Hull's Seafaring Legacy

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Posted on 15th July 2026

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Set within the grand, Grade II* listed former Town Dock Offices in Queen Victoria Square, the spectacularly transformed Hull Maritime Museum is preparing to reopen its doors on Saturday 8 August 2026. Following a landmark £20.4 million regeneration funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this premier attraction has been fully reimagined for the twenty-first century.

Visitors will be able to explore over 800 years of seafaring history through double the previous public space and 25 beautifully designed galleries displaying 50% more objects than ever before.

Highlights / What to See 🐳

The revamped museum hosts around 1,300 fascinating objects that tell the global stories of Hull’s relationship with the sea, focusing on trade, migration, fishing, and whaling. Here are the key highlights to look out for during your visit:

• The Legend of the Truelove: Discover the incredible 130-year journey of Hull's legendary whaling ship, built in Philadelphia in 1764. On display together for the first time are a rare engraved scrimshaw sperm whale tooth depicting the ship and the massive 15-foot American commemorative flag presented to her captain in 1873.
• World-Class Scrimshaw Gallery: Explore a dedicated gallery showcasing stunning whalers' folk art. Highlights include intricately carved sperm whale teeth, hand-painted whale earbones depicting surreal human faces, and a dramatic whale jawbone plaque showing a bowhead whale hunt.
• Giants of the Deep: Stand in awe beneath the massive, fully restored skeleton of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, a species with fewer than 400 remaining worldwide.
• The Guildhall Canoe: See an ancient wooden canoe discovered beneath Hull during Guildhall construction excavations in 1908, believed to date from between 1636 and 1799.
• Historic Expeditions: View rare objects carried on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous Endurance expedition to Antarctica, and look out for the historic wooden dog figurehead from the Sirius—the first steamship to cross the Atlantic under steam power.
• Touring & Community Galleries: Enjoy a brand-new community exhibition celebrating local contributions to Hull's maritime story alongside a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled gallery hosting major national touring exhibitions.

Photo Gallery

Plan Your Visit 📅

To help you map out your day, the museum features standard facilities including a brand-new shop and café space, accessible lifts, and family amenities.

• Admission Cost: Entry is FREE.
• 2026 Reopening Date: Saturday 8th August 2026.
• Daily Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Ticketing & Pre-Booking: While walk-ups are welcome, booking free entry tickets in advance is strongly recommended to reduce queuing and ensure entry. Book at hullmaritimemuseum.co.uk.
• Accessibility: The historic building has undergone significant structural transformations to ensure full step-free wheelchair and stroller access across all 25 galleries.

Getting There 🗺️

Location Hub: Hull Maritime Museum, Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3DX.

By Car & Parking 🚗

Located directly in the pedestrianised city centre of Hull, there is no on-site parking at Queen Victoria Square. However, there are several multi-storey and pay-and-display car parks within a short 5-minute walk, including the Princes Quay Shopping Centre car park, Saville Street, and Lowgate Car Park.

By Public Transport 🚌

The museum is highly accessible via public transport. Hull Paragon Interchange is a convenient 6-to-8-minute walk from the museum, providing direct rail connections to major cities like Leeds, York, Sheffield, and London, alongside the city's main bus station footprint.