Visiting The Cutty Sark – A London Family Day Out (Review)

Gifted experience.

We normally venture into London with the children every other week, since we live in the suburbs. It’s fun to be a tourist in your own town! There are so many places to explore and even to re-visit! Exploring Greenwich for example is a proper holiday, because even though it’s only about an hour and a half from where we live, somehow seems like a whole other face of London. We love there, lots of museums, pretty streets and parks, great pubs and street food. It’s a great part of London, both for tourists and Londoners. We took the DLR, which made my son super excited a week before the visit. We were lucky enough to find a front seat for him so he pretended driving the DLR. 

All the museums in Greenwich are great for children, we have already visited most of them – but we actually never been on the Cutty Sark! (Built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1869, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest.) The Cutty Sark is great family friendly attraction, particularly this year as it celebrates its 150th birthday. So, because it’s half term, this is the best time to visit as there are lots fun things to do for the whole family. Not only that the permanent exhibition is perfectly entertaining for the little visitors too, but in half terms there are other fun things to do as well.

What is the Cutty Sark?

The Cutty Sark is a famous 19th-century British clipper ship, renowned for its speed and graceful design. Launched in 1869, it primarily transported tea from China to Britain. With a sleek hull and impressive sail configuration, the Cutty Sark quickly became one of the fastest ships of its time. After serving as a merchant vessel, it was retired and now resides in dry dock in Greenwich, London, as a museum and a tribute to maritime history. Visitors can explore its decks and learn about the ship’s storied past, making it a popular attraction for those interested in nautical heritage.

Where is the Cutty Sark located?

The Cutty Sark is located in Greenwich, London. Situated on the banks of the River Thames, the Cutty Sark has been meticulously preserved and stands on its original dry dock. Postcode: SE10 9HT

Is the Cutty Stark free?

No, the entry isn’t fee to visit the Cutty Stark, tickets starts at £22 for adults, £11 for children, under 3 years it is free.

Is the Cutty Sark worth visiting?

For kids

There are a lot of educational and fun games to try and play as you make your way through the ship. For small children, like my daughter, who was 3 at time we visited, all the hands on toys were fun. She enjoyed the pretend play bits: pretending to be a shipmate and scrubbing the floor, sitting on the sea waves experience bench, listening to popular piano music of the era. It’s all about the experience of the little ones senses: touching, smelling, listening – so they find their educational trip engaging and exciting. My son who was 5, enjoyed playing with sailing computer games – he did a smashing sailing job there!

For adults

As an parent, I found it great that whilst being on board, we all had time to learn something new and enjoy the games. I did have the few minutes to observe an object of my own interest (I find the way tea was shipped into Europe fascinating and the how the whole tea culture evolved) – because the children were never out of my sight and they were doing their own little exploration at the same time. In that way, I thought the exhibition area was very cleverly set up.

On the lower ground deck of the boat we observed how gigantic the Cutty Sark is, walking underneath the ship is a truly special experience. Here we found the buggy park (essential when you take a buggy), the cafe (great selection of healthy food, but you can even opt for afternoon tea!) and I found the collection of figureheads and their way getting on the Curry Sark very amusing! 

Half Term Fun

In half terms the Cutty Sark offers even more family fun for her visitors: we played The Traders Game, which was set up in the big hall on the bottom floor. It was about becoming a trader, cross the world and collect cargoes from different countries. It’s a little bit like a board game and you are one of the characters! Really good fun. And of course the craft station with some colour-in sheets and the design-a-boardgame-for-yourself sheets were very much appreciated by my crafty little girl.

 

We even met a friendly sheep outside:

What are the nearby attractions?

For nearby museums and attractions, you can also buy combined tickets.

Just a short walk away, you’ll find the National Maritime Museum, which showcases fascinating maritime history. For a breathtaking view of the River Thames, head to the Greenwich Observatory, where you can also stand on the Prime Meridian. If you’re in the mood for green spaces, the Greenwich Park provides a lovely area for a stroll. Additionally, the O2 Arena is nearby, offering entertainment options ranging from concerts to sports events.