London’s National Maritime Museum Opens a New Wing

13 July 2011 (Last Updated July 13th, 2011 18:30)

London's National Maritime Museum has opened a new wing, called the Sammy Ofer Wing, as part of a £35m development at the museum. The new wing provides the museum with a new entrance in Greenwich Park, offering a more direct route to the Royal Observatory. The development i

London’s National Maritime Museum has opened a new wing, called the Sammy Ofer Wing, as part of a £35m development at the museum.

The new wing provides the museum with a new entrance in Greenwich Park, offering a more direct route to the Royal Observatory.

The development includes a special exhibitions gallery, allowing the Museum to stage a full programme of temporary shows; a permanent gallery, Voyagers, introducing the story of the UK and the sea; a restaurant and cafe with views over Greenwich Park; and a library and archive bringing much of the museum’s world-renowned archive on site for the first time.

The new wing is the largest development in the National Maritime Museum’s history.

The project was largely funded by Israeli ship owner Sammy Ofer who provided £20m, while the Heritage Lottery Fund provided £5m towards the extension.