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Exploration into science: Discover the story of planet Earth's coldest, driest, windiest, highest and deadliest places …

The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a unique collection of artefacts, journals, paintings, photographs, clothing equipment, maps and other materials illustrating polar exploration, history and science. Come and find out how past discoveries in the Arctic and Antarctic help today's scientists to investigate our changing environment.

Art Fund Prize 2011

The Polar Museum is in the running for the Art Fund Prize 2011, the UK's largest arts prize. It is among ten museums to be long listed for the prestigious £100,000 award, including The British Museum, the V&A and the Roman Baths Museum.

You can vote for The Polar Museum in the online poll. Just click here.

Read more about the exciting redevelopment of the Polar Museum and our Heritage Lottery Fund award.


HLF logo -Hi

We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages, including school and other groups.

» Exhibitions

Swinging the Prop. Photo: W.L.S. Fleming SPRI P51/8/F481

Return to Antarctica: The British Graham Land Expedition 1934-37

20 January - 30 April 2011

To celebrate 75 years since the major discoveries made during the first 'modern' Antarctic expedition, the Polar Museum has developed a major new special exhibition to be held in the Foyer Gallery, displaying many of the artefacts, images and archives held in its reserve collections.

A new book by Bryan Lintott to accompany the exhibition, priced at £7.95, is available from the Museum Shop.

» Museum catalogue

The museum catalogue is not yet fully published but sections not on the web are SPRI Museum Y: 88/1/2, Caribou skin bag from Mittimatalikavailable to visitors by appointment. Special collections available online include:

Access and contact details

» Directions to the museum are available. » Contact us if you need more information.

Visitors are permitted to take photographs (with flash or a tripod) in the galleries for their personal, educational use only. Photographs taken by visitors must not be reproduced or published in any form, including on the internet, without permission.

The Museum welcomes requests for scholarly access to the Collections. Scholars wishing to access the Museum's reserve collections should make an appointment with the Keeper.

Acquisition of museum material has been principally by gift. Access conditions for collections not on display are similar to those for archival materials. Copies of items in the Institute's collections, including paintings and photographs, can be supplied for publication. The Library and Archives are also accessible to visitors by appointment; please read the notes on access to the Special Collections. Please use our online booking form for appointments to consult material in the Archives or Art Collection.

Our Museum policy documents describe our policies on acquisition, loans and other areas. See also information on conservation.