Aye aye cap’n, it’s time to grab your skipper hat and quickly learn the difference between port and starboard because The Waverley, aka the world’s last ever seagoing paddle steamer, is heading this way.
For anyone not down with the nautical lingo, we should probably explain: launched on Glasgow’s River Clyde in 1946, The Waverley is a steamship which has been chugging across UK waters for the past eight decades. The old girl was built to replace the 1899 Waverley that sank at Dunkirk and she was dubbed a ‘vessel of pre-eminent national importance’ in 2003.
Now, to celebrate her 80th birthday, she’ll be making waves in the Big Smoke. The Waverley will visit the Thames Estuary as part of her anniversary season between September 24 and October 11, with departure points in Essex, Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and, of course, London.
Avid ship spotters and naviphiles in the capital will have to head to London Tower Pier, a 10 minute walk from Tower Hill Underground station, to get a go on the steamship.
On board, you’ll be able to explore the engine room, hear the telegraph ring and watch the paddles turn. The ship, which looks just as she did when she first set sail thanks to a £1.5 million winter refit, also has full catering, period lounges, and a souvenir shop.
Prices vary depending on where you plan to dock, but an evening return cruise from Gravesend which takes you under Tower Bridge (twice!) will set you back £57 for an adult ticket.
If you thought the old steamer would rest once she’d made the trip daan saaf, think again. During her anniversary season, she’ll also be making visits to the Clyde Coast, Inner Hebrides, South Cornwall and South Devon, Bristol Channel and South Wales, South Coast and Isle of Wight, North Wales, and the Mersey.
Looking to plan a seaward journey on The Waverley? You can buy tickets via the website here.
Did you see that this free London museum is officially one of the greatest in the world?
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