Before the advent of airplanes by such celebrated figures as the Wright brothers, the seas and oceans were the mediums of travel and exploration; and, of course, military contests. Major battles were lost or won—at sea. For instance, it was at the Battle of Actium that Augustus, previously known as Octavius, would win a decisive victory against his rival Mark Anthony—resulting in the rise of the first Roman Emperor. Interesting stories of ships, such as the “unsinkable” Titanic, continue to enthrall and fascinate us.

It’s the reason a place with much naval history, a wide collection of ship exhibits, and other related items connected with man’s exploits on the choppy waters that sustain our planet—would be exciting. It turns out that the National Maritime Museum in the UK is the biggest Maritime Museum on the planet. In this article, we show what makes this impressive facility the biggest museum in the world.

Here’s What Makes The National Maritime Museum—The Biggest Maritime Museum In The World

Here’s a quick one. No other museum in the world has holdings on British naval history—that are as varied and important—as the ones in the National Maritime Museum, UK. And that’s crucial. While Portugal and the Dutch had a headstart over Britain in naval power and supremacy, Britain would soon catch up and dramatically eclipse her European rivals. This museum has more than two million items on display. This includes thousands of artifacts, about 100,000 historical sea charts, and an impressive number of maps, including the earliest 13th-century Portolan charts that were prepared on vellum. For those who may be wondering, Vellum was a parchment made originally from the skin of a calf.

The National Maritime Museum also boasts a large collection of interesting exhibits which capture such phenomenal historical personalities and events as Admiral Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. In addition to these, this museum houses many other maritime memorabilia, including some fascinating maritime art, ship models (about 2,500), and several plans, as well as navigational equipment that have been used in the course of global maritime history. There are also instruments that were used for timekeeping and for studying the skies, especially at the observatory, which is a short walk away.

Then there’s the geographical setting. The National Maritime Museum is based in Greenwich, a little town in southeast London whose past is closely intertwined with European naval history and astronomy. Navigators and explorers across the world used to set their clocks according to Greenwich’s time of day.

Related: America's Most Interesting And Historic Naval Museum Ships, And How To Visit Them.

Here’s What To See At The National Maritime Museum, UK

The exhibit about Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar is a star attraction at the National Maritime Museum that no one will want to miss. Visitors will even get the chance to see Nelson’s own uniform that he wore at the famous battle—and some of his hand-written letters. The Battle of Trafalgar is pivotal because it put a halt to Napoleon's scheme to invade England. But the Polar exploration will just be as captivating. Here’s where visitors will get to learn fascinating tidbits regarding the race to the South Pole, what it was and who reached there first. In addition, this is also where visitors will enjoy unbelievable details about the North-west Passage—the trade route between the Atlantic and Pacific, which many explorers risked their lives in searching for.

The exhibits about British international trade are both detailed and unbiased. This is true because they don’t omit certain negative aspects such as colonialism and slavery—and the unconscionable exploitation they spawned. For those with children, the AHOY! The Children's Gallery is an absolute must. It’s here that kids will get to stoke the boiler of a steamship, buy and sell fish in the marketplace, and make new friends in an interactive boatyard. Kids can also fire a cannon and shoot down a pirate ship at this designated section of the museum. And at the center of the museum is the Great Map. This is where visitors will use a touch-screen tablet to uncover stories of female pirates and Scott’s Antarctic expedition—and understand from live data the currents and winds that drive ships across major oceans of our world.

Related: The Maine Maritime Museum Is A Ship Lover's Dream.

Here’s What To Know When Planning A Trip To The Maritime National Museum

This museum is located in the town of Greenwich near the River Thames in Greenwich Park. Other interesting attractions that could form part of one’s visit to this museum include the Queen’s House, the Royal Observatory, and Cutty Sark.

• How Much Is The Entry Ticket To The National Maritime Museum? Admission to the museum is free.

Visitors will be pleased to know that the museum is open daily from 10: AM to 5:00 PM. To facilitate better crowd management and visitor tours, the museum recommends pre-booking tickets. A visit to any maritime museum would be interesting. But a visit to the biggest maritime museum in the world will leave one in complete awe. It is like a revelation.