Lowestoft Maritime Museum

The Lowestoft Maritime Museum sits within Sparrow's Nest Gardens and displays ship models, marine paintings, naval medals, and materials about the local fishing trade that shaped the town. The collection covers the maritime past that defined this coastal area.

Maritime enthusiasts including Engineer Captain E.G. Malet-Warden established the museum in 1968 to preserve local naval heritage. Further development occurred during the 1970s and early 2000s as the collection grew.

The workshop of Christopher Cockerell, who invented the hovercraft, is displayed with his original tools and machinery still present. This space shows how groundbreaking invention actually took shape and was developed.

The museum is located on Whapload Road and welcomes visitors from late April through late October with interactive displays for children. A self-guided trail helps you navigate through the exhibits at your own pace.

A reconstruction of a ship's wheelhouse with a working VHF radio allows you to experience what it felt like to operate a real vessel. The collection also includes medals from Thomas Crisp, a local hero who received the Victoria Cross.

Location: Lowestoft

Inception: 1968

Address: Whapload Road, Lowestoft NR32 1XG

Phone: 01502561963

Website: http://lowestoftmaritimemuseum.co.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.48775,1.75756

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:42