Today marks a major milestone in Hull's cultural story as Hull Maritime Museum officially reopens its doors following a remarkable transformation. After six years of restoration and redevelopment, visitors can once again step inside one of the city's most iconic buildings and explore the stories that shaped Hull's relationship with the sea.

Located in the heart of Queen Victoria Square, the museum has undergone a £20.4 million redevelopment that has restored the historic Grade II* listed building while creating a modern visitor experience designed for generations to come. 

Reimagined. Retold. Reopened.

Hull Maritime Museum has long been one of the city's most treasured attractions. Originally housed within Hull's former Town Dock Offices, the building first opened in 1871 when ships sailed directly past its windows. Today, visitors can experience a museum that honours that heritage while embracing the future. 

The reopening introduces significantly expanded galleries, improved accessibility and around 1,300 objects from Hull's internationally important maritime collections. Many of these artefacts are on public display for the first time, helping to tell the story of a city whose identity has been shaped by centuries of trade, fishing, whaling, migration and exploration. 

Visitors can journey through more than 800 years of maritime history and discover how Hull grew into one of Britain's great maritime cities, while learning why the Humber remains the UK's busiest port complex today. 

What Can Visitors Expect?

The newly reopened museum is packed with fascinating exhibits and interactive experiences for all ages.

Highlights include:

  • The iconic 40-foot North Atlantic right whale skeleton.
  • Erik the polar bear, one of the museum's most beloved exhibits.
  • A world-renowned collection of scrimshaw, displayed in a dedicated gallery for the first time. 
  • Historic artefacts linked to Arctic exploration and Hull's fishing and whaling industries.
  • Interactive exhibits where visitors can navigate using a compass, explore maritime technology and get hands-on with Hull's seafaring history. 
  • A brand-new planetarium experience exploring how sailors navigated oceans using the night sky. 

The redevelopment has also restored some of the building's most spectacular historic spaces, allowing visitors to admire architectural details that have been hidden for decades.

A Must-Visit Attraction for Hull

The reopening of Hull Maritime Museum is about more than a building. It's a celebration of Hull's history, its communities and its enduring connection to the sea.

The museum forms a key part of Hull's wider maritime regeneration programme, helping to strengthen the city's visitor offer and showcase stories that have shaped not only Hull but the wider world. From merchant shipping and global trade to Arctic exploration and migration, these stories remain as relevant today as ever. 

Importantly, entry to the museum remains free, making it one of the region's most accessible cultural attractions. Early excitement has already been significant, with thousands of visitors booking tickets ahead of reopening. 

Plan Your Visit

Hull Maritime Museum is located in Queen Victoria Square in Hull city centre, opposite Ferens Art Gallery and within easy walking distance of Hull Paragon Interchange. The museum is open to visitors from today and offers a fantastic opportunity to discover Hull's extraordinary maritime heritage in a completely new way.

Book your tickets now, walk-ups are also available.

For residents, day-trippers and visitors from across the UK, today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for one of Hull's most important cultural landmarks.

The doors are open once more, and Hull's story is ready to be rediscovered. ⚓️🌊🏛️