Pirates

Pirates (c) National Maritime Museum

Location

National Maritime Museum
Romney Road
London
SE10 9NF

Description

This exhibition has has not opened yet

This exhibition runs from Saturday 29th March 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026.


Heroic rascals or violent criminals? Discover the truth behind pirate life in a major exhibition at the National Maritime Museum.

Pirates traces the changing depictions of pirates through the ages and reveals the brutal reality behind the fiction.

The exhibition explores the perception of piracy in popular culture – from comical characters like Captain Pugwash and Captain Hook to anti-heroes like Long John Silver and Captain Jack Sparrow – and examines why the idea of a pirate’s life still fascinates us today.

While often portrayed as swashbuckling scoundrels, the real history of pirates is far more complex.

Pirates follows the global history of piracy from the South China Sea to the coast of North Africa and explores the issues of modern piracy facing seafarers today. The exhibition illuminates real-life figures, including Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, William Kidd, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and reflects on how perceptions of pirates, both past and present, are shifting.

Note that although children of all ages are welcome, the Pirates exhibition is recommended for ages 10+ due to the content and subjects raised.

Prices

Standard Ticket: £15
Other price options
Child (4-15): £7.50
Child Under 4: Free
Student With ID: £11.25
Blue Light Key Worker: Free
Universal Credit Tickets: £2

Contact and Booking Details

More information at this website.

Upcoming Dates

This exhibition runs from Saturday 29th March 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026.

Forthcoming dates:

Disclaimer

The information and prices in this listing are presumed to be correct at the time of publishing, but please always check with the venue before making a special trip.

All images are supplied by the exhibition organiser.

National Maritime Museum
Romney Road
London
SE10 9NF

Map

This exhibition runs from Saturday 29th March 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026.

This event runs over several days/weeks. Dates include:

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

August 2025

September 2025

October 2025

November 2025

December 2025

January 2026