Cutty Sark
Description
Step aboard Cutty Sark and discover what life was like aboard the famous 19th century clipper ship! Built in 1869, Cutty Sark was one of the fastest tea clippers to be built and is now the last surviving in the world. Following an ambitious six year project, Cutty Sark reopened in April 2012 and you are invited to explore this historic attraction in London.Cutty Sark has been raised over three metres, allowing visitors the unique experience of walking underneath the helm! You will also be able to explore the interior of the sailing ship with innovative exhibits and interactive displays evoking the sights, smells and sounds of life at sea and telling Cutty Sark’s fascinating 144 year history. Learn about the romance, danger and adventure that came with life at sea! The ship’s original wooden planks and iron frames that crossed the world's seas have been conserved so that you can go ahead and touch a piece of history!
Meet the crew every weekend and during the school holidays
Venture beneath the towering masts which carry over 11 miles of rigging
Walk underneath the ship and look up at the elegant lines of the ship’s streamlined hull
Touch the original structure of the ship dating back from when she was built
Explore the lower hold where precious cargo was stored
Steer a course from Sydney to London against Captain Woodget
Look up your family name in the crew list
Take the helm at the captain’s wheel
Meet the world’s largest collection of figureheads
Have a cup of Cutty Sark-inspired tea under the hull of the ship in The Even Keen Café
Take in the spectacular views over the River Thames from the main deck
Afternoon Tea
Cutty Sark – the world’s sole-surviving tea clipper – was built in 1869 to bring the finest and freshest teas back to London. Now you too can savour Cutty Sark's rich history while enjoying a truly unique London afternoon tea experience. Leave behind the traditional hotels and bus tours: at Cutty Sark, you can dine beneath the ship itself!
Indulge in a special afternoon tea sitting directly beneath Cutty Sark's iconic copper-clad hull. Choose from a selection of teas, sandwiches and sweet treats as you marvel at the historic engineering of the fastest ship of its day. All table bookings include entry to the ship, so you can explore Cutty Sark at your leisure before or after your meal.
The Climb Experience
For the first time since the ship's arrival in Greenwich in 1954, visitors can climb the rigging of Cutty Sark and get a taste of what it would have been like to sail the historic ship.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled rig climb (as indicated on your ticket). You'll be given a short safety briefing, and learn more about what it was actually like to live and work on board Cutty Sark. Remember, your ticket also includes general admission to Cutty Sark on the same day, so give yourself enough time to enjoy the ship before or after your climb!
The climb itself will depend on the speed of each individual. We recommend allowing up to an hour to enjoy the whole experience.
Going up:
Starting with a briefing underneath the ship’s beautiful hull, those brave enough to take on the challenge step up from the Main Deck on to the ship’s 'ratlines' (rope ladders). From here you can make your way up into the rigging, just as hundreds of sailors did during Cutty Sark’s long and fabled career at sea. When you reach the platform, take a breath and drink in the view while looking down on a true London icon. Then it's time for one final challenge: the Lower Topsail Yard! Grip the horizontal bar and hold on tight as your shuffle along the footrope. Be brave, look up and feel the rush of a life at sea.
Going down:
A controlled descent will take you from the lofty heights of the rigging straight back down to the Main Deck. You can then join up with friends and family and continue your Cutty Sark adventure: your Rig Climb ticket includes free access to all areas of the ship. Explore the crew's cabins, come face to face with the world's largest Merchant Navy figurehead collection, take the helm and enjoy a cuppa in the café beneath the ship's gleaming hull. Check out the top things to see and do here.
Location Map
Highlights
- Admission to the Cutty Sark
- Audio guide available in English, Italian, Spanish, German, Korean, French, Portuguese, Cantonese and Mandarin
Exclusions
- Transport
Terms & Conditions for This Tour
These are the key terms that apply to tour bookings. They form part of your contract with 1860 Travels — see the full Terms & Conditions for the complete text.
Pricing, Inclusions & Exclusions
- Prices are per person unless stated otherwise, and may change at any time until your booking confirmation is issued.
- The Inclusions and Exclusions listed on this page are specific to this tour — anything not listed under Inclusions is excluded from the price.
- Prices exclude local taxes, charges, gratuities, food and beverages, and transfers unless expressly stated otherwise. Gratuities are entirely at your discretion.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Student and senior (60+) pricing requires valid ID at the time of booking and on the day of travel.
- Group tariffs may be available for parties of 10 or more — contact us for a quote.
Amendments & Cancellations
- Amendments to this booking can be made by contacting us at least 96 hours before the departure date.
- Cancellation notice must be received at least 1 week before departure, otherwise a 100% cancellation charge applies.
- Theatre tickets, dining products, and overnight tours cannot be amended or cancelled unless otherwise stated at the time of booking.
- For health or pandemic-related cancellations, options may include a travel credit voucher, rebooking on flexible dates, or a full refund, subject to the specific product's conditions.
- If you miss a coach tour through no fault of 1860 Travels, no refund will be issued; a discounted rebooking rate may be offered as a gesture of goodwill.
Refunds & Compensation
- If a venue cannot be visited during the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund of the admission value may be issued at our discretion.
- No refund is given for non-operational air conditioning or washroom facilities on an assigned vehicle.
- Refund requests cannot be accepted more than 30 days after the tour's completion.
- Approved refunds are processed within 15–20 working days via the original payment method.
- Third-party tours where 1860 Travels acts as an agent are non-refundable and subject to the supplier's own terms.
Payment
- Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise specified.
- We accept Visa and MasterCard and charge no service fee, though your card issuer may apply its own charges.
- Customer payments are held in a dedicated client money trust account until your booking is completed or cancelled.
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