Hull Maritime Museum reopens after £20.4m transformation

The Hull Maritime Museum reopened on Saturday, 8 August, following a six‑year, £20.4 million refurbishment that restored the Grade II‑listed former Dock Offices and doubled the museum’s public space. The revamp added immersive galleries, a new planetarium and interactive displays, showcasing around 1,300 objects including Erik the polar bear, a 40‑foot North Atlantic right‑whale skeleton, Shackleton’s Endurance artefacts and the Sirius steamship figurehead.

More than 8,000 free tickets have been booked for the opening month, with all timed‑entry slots for the first weekend sold out. The project was funded by Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with council leader Mike Ross and Heritage Fund chief executive Eilish McGuinness praising the blend of heritage preservation and modern visitor experience.