Join us to explore the deep sea, with ancient and modern stories of strange creatures, sort out the fact from the fiction, learn about what really lurks beneath the waves and understand why tales of monsters persist. Historic and modern exploration equipment, and expeditions allow us to see the scientific discoveries that have changed our view of the oceans.

Legend, myth and modern-day science combine in Monsters of the Deep - a journey from the medieval mind to the modern-day mysteries of the ocean. This summer, take a deep breath and plunge down into the dark murky depths as we seek to explore the unexplained.

Discover centuries-old myths and legends represented in medieval maps such as the Carta marina with its vividly-illustrated sea monsters, and the shapeshifting Selkies of Scottish folklore. Find out how stories of strange appearances and unexplained sightings continue to capture imaginations, fuelled by fake news and conspiracy theories, and surviving in science fiction books, comics and movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

From a terrifying Feegee mermaid to the spindly legs of a giant Japanese spider crab, there are lots of strange and wonderful things to see in Monsters of the Deep. Come face to face with the skull of a terrifying killer whale, marvel at the double-tusked skull of a narwhal and the tooth of an extinct megalodon. Examine eerie deep-sea specimens and see some of the technological tools scientists use today to explore the bottom of the ocean – then you decide what lies beneath.