London Drum

Boats & Maritime Museums

Big ships to visit in London include the World War II battle cruiser HMS Belfast, the Cutty Sark clipper ship in Greenwich, and a replica of Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde by Southwark Cathedral

★★Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf - One of the city’s big financial hubs situated in the Isle of Dogs, with New York-style skyscrapers and bank headquarters built in the old docklands

★★Chatham Dockyard

Chatham Dockyard - Take a day-trip to the dockyards and board a cold war submarine, a World War II destroyer, a 19th-century sloop, and see inside a rope factory

★★★City Cruises

City Cruises - These tourist boats run between Westminster Pier (by Big Ben and Parliament) and Greenwich (by the Cutty Sark), going under Tower Bridge

★★Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark - Cutty Sark was one of the fastest clippers of the 1870s, sailing up to 360 miles a day between London and China. Now she’s docked in Greenwich

★★Golden Hinde

Golden Hinde - A perfect replica of the Tudor ship in which the Elizabethan pirate Francis Drake made his circumnavigation of the globe between 1577-80

★★★HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast - This cruiser saw action during World War II and played a part in the sinking of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst. It’s now a floating museum

★★★Jason’s Canal Trip

Jason’s Canal Trip - These gentle barges will take you past the pretty houseboats in Little Venice, the Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo, to the lock in Camden Town

★★Little Venice

Little Venice - This pretty stretch of water at the junction of Regent’s Canal and Grand Union Canal is home to some picturesque houseboats and cafes

London Canal Museum

London Canal Museum - Discover the history of the Regent’s Canal, and how they used to transport cargos up and down the busy waterways by horse and barge

★★Museum of London Docklands

Museum of London Docklands - Discover the history of how the Thames became one of the world’s busiest waterways, and where the docks have gone

National Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum - The history of the Royal Navy from the Spanish Armada to World War II, plus the jacket that Nelson wore at Trafalgar

★★★Old Royal Naval College

Old Royal Naval College - Christopher Wren’s old Seaman’s Hospital was built on the same spot as Greenwich Palace, and has a famous Painted Hall

★★St Katharine Dock

St. Katharine Dock - Not many people have discovered this calm little oasis behind Tower Bridge, full of restaurants and beautiful boats in gleaming marinas

★★★Thames Clippers

Thames Clippers - These boats are like a bus service on water, taking you fifteen miles from Putney in the west all the way through central London to the O2 Arena

Thames Flood Barrier

Thames Barrier - The Thames Barrier at Woolwich was built to protect London from flooding, and has a little museum showing you how the technology works

★★★Thames River Sightseeing

Thames River Sightseeing - These sightseeing boats go from Big Ben past the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, all the way to Greenwich pier

Thames Rockets

Thames Rockets - These boats aren’t for the faint-hearted because they bounce along the choppy Thames at 35mph – but it seems more like 350mph!