Both attractions are situated beside St Helier harbour in converted warehouses.

Situated on the New North Quay over the road from Liberation Square, the Maritime Museum is the focus for all the maritime inspired art to be seen around the harbour. Inside the unassuming warehouses that hold the museum is an exciting exploration of Jersey’s long relationship with the sea.

A visitor here is welcomed with loads of interactive fun from a whelk that tells stories to a wind machine that shows the influence of the elements on the landscape. There are boats to build and sail, a full-scale ship’s bow to experience the pitch and roll of the waves and a giant globe on which to follow the many trade routes of Jersey’s sailors and explorers.

On exiting the main museum, doors to the left open into the Island’s largest community art project – the Occupation Tapestry. The Tapestry tells the story of the people who lived through the Occupation during the Second World War. It is made up of 7,500,000 stitches and was created in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Jersey. It took approximately 30,000 hours to produce and the work was divided among the 12 parishes.

There is an audio-guide to the tapestry that is free on request.