Last updated: 17 July 2023
There’s no missing the Cutty Sark in Greenwich London, it captures your imagination when you first spot it. Discover the real story of the Cutty Sark, one of the world’s fastest clippers! The Cutty Sark may have celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018 but any time you’re in Greenwich London is the perfect time for visiting the Cutty Sark. Discover its fascinating history and learn why it’s considered to be one of London’s most important maritime attractions.
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What is the Cutty Sark?
The Cutty Sark is a 19th century sailing ship, the world’s sole surviving tea clipper, located in a dry dock in Greenwich London and is now a museum dedicated to its vast and fascinating nautical career.
Visitors can delve into the fascinating history of the Cutty Sark by exploring the ship itself. Step back in time and walk through the inner cargo bays which were once filled with tonnes of tea, stand on the wooden decks surrounded by huge masts and imagine the roar of the ocean waves, and step into the shoes of the crew who kept the Cutty Sark in ship-shape condition during the long voyages around the world.
One question you might be asking yourself; what does Cutty Sark actually mean?
The name Cutty Sark is an 18th century Scottish term for a ladies undergarment (shift, chemise) AND was the nickname of a witch – Nannie Dee – in the Robert Burns poem Tam o’ Shanter. In the poem, the character of Tam is chased by Nannie Dee and narrowly escapes her clutches but not before she pulls the tail off his horse!
No one really knows why the fastest tea clipper of her time was named after a witch in a Robert Burns poem but it is fun to ponder why…
A Brief History
If you’re a regular reader of Roaming Required then you shouldn’t be surprised to see the inclusion of a history section on this post, it’s one of my favourite things to write about. However, I think you’re going to be pretty happy I included some historical context for the Cutty Sark because it’s truly fascinating!
Today the Cutty Sark might be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Greenwich but just over 150 years ago its adventure was only just beginning…
Built in Scotland on the order of John “White Hat” Willis (of John Willis & Son) and officially launched on 22 November 1869, the Cutty Sark was designed as a tea clipper for the sole purpose of transporting tea from China to Britain. Yes, the great British love affair with cups of tea may have started in the 17th century but it resulted in the increased need for the importation of tea to satisfy demand in the 19th century. Not ALL the tea in China, I hear you say. Well, not all of it but a lot of it.
The term clipper comes from an old American term which means to go at a clip or to go quickly. And speed was synonymous with the Cutty Sark. The Cutty Sark made a total of eight tea voyages from China to London and each voyage would see the transport of some 600,000 kgs of tea! Her reputation as the fastest tea clipper was well deserved as she reached speeds of 17 knots (20mph/31kph) and travelled to Shanghai in 89 days, an impressive feat for the time! A journey from London to Shanghai back to London could take up to 10 months, including a month in China loading the cargo.
The design of the clipper seemed perfect for the purpose of carrying tea. The iron frame took up less space, a narrow and shallow hull meant faster sailing times, and metal alloy plating meant no barnacles or molluscs could attach to the hull.
Like with all good things in life, they must come an end and when faced with declining profits in 1895, Willis sold the Cutty Sark to a Portuguese company, Ferreira & Co. Renamed the Ferreira, she sailed under a Portuguese flag for another 27 years.
In the third fascinating chapter of her illustrious career, the Cutty Sark became a sailing training ship, teaching cadets of the Incorporated Thames Nautical College essential skills required to serve in the Royal and Merchant Navy. During the outbreak of the World War II, the cadets would still travel to the Cutty Sark to continue their training.
It was in 1953 that the Cutty Sark entered the final phase of her golden career as a permanent memorial to the Merchant Navy and to commemorate the lives of the 44,000 men who gave their lives in both world wars. It was the Cutty Sark Preservation Society who raised the substantial funds (£250,000) required for her preservation.
Officially opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and again in 2012 after extensive restorations. Today, the Cutty Sark holds pride of place in the middle of Greenwich and is one of the most popular tourist attraction for both local and international visitors alike.
How Do I Get to Greenwich?
The good thing about Greenwich is that it’s connected to many different transport options, including Tube, DLR, Bus, and Ferry, which makes it easy to travel to.
If you’re planning a visit to the Cutty Sark then one of our favourite ways of travelling there is via the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich station. There’s no chance you’re going to get off at the wrong station when the name of the destination is in it. Simple.
What to Expect During Visit?
Admire the Exterior
From the moment you arrive at the Cutty Sark, you’re probably going to be impressed by the sheer size of the former tea clipper, it’s massive! Before heading inside, take a walk around the ship and admiring the craftsmanship from all angles because it really is something to behold.
One great vantage point is directly in front of the Cutty Sark, because it’s here that you can get a real sense of scale and just how impressive she really is. Plus, I do love seeing a piece of 19th century history surrounded by the modern world.
You will notice all the glass panels located directly beneath the Cutty Sark, this is where the museum is located but the panels actually serve a very interesting purpose – this is designed to highlight the water line, where the ocean would be. Pretty cool, right?
Visit The Museum
The museum spans over four different levels, all of which focus on a different area of the ship. You can purchase your tickets at the ticket counter, although we recommend buying tickets online before your visit.
Ground Level: The Lower Hold
Start your exploration of the Cutty Sark on the Lower Hold. This was once the temporary home to various types of cargo transported across the world. As mentioned earlier, the Cutty Sark was designed as a tea clipper to transport tea from China to an eagerly awaiting public in London. The lower hold was the place where tightly packed containers of tea were stored.
There’s a great 3 min short film that’s worth taking a seat for because it gives you a lot of information in a very easy to understand format. I’m pretty sure it’s designed for kids but I loved it anyway and found it really helpful.
How much do you know about tea? I mean, how much do you really know about tea? The good news is that if you’re answer was slim to none then you’re pretty much at the same level I was before taking a walk through the Cutty Sark cargo hold. However, by the time you reach the end of the lower hold you will be completely amazed by what you learned. Let me give you an example….
Did you know that every year the latest season of tea from China was in such high demand that incentives were put in place to accelerate the transport? This was intensified during 1861 and 1866 when an extra 10 shillings per tonne of tea was to be paid to the owner of the ship which arrived in London first. This led to such a fierce competition between clippers that it continued even after the incentive stopped being offered.
As you make your way through the lower hold you will learn all about John Willis (1817-1899), owner of the Cutty Sark, who was known as White Hat Willis owing to the distinctive white top hat he wore around the city.
Level 1: ‘Tween Deck
This area of the ship was one of our favourites because this is where we discovered that the Cutty Sark had an Aussie connection! It was between 1883 and 1895 the Cutty Sark joined the booming Australian wool trade transporting bales of Merino wool from Australia to England. It was during this phase in her career as a Wool Clipper, that she proved (yet again) that her speed was unmatched when she achieved a record voyage time of 70 days!
If you’re visiting the Cutty Sark with your family then this is the deck which has some interactive exhibits which are fun for the whole family including a giant globe to track the route taken by the Cutty Sark.
The ‘Tween Deck also covers the history of what happened after tea clippers were superseded by the steam ships. Steam ships could navigate faster routes through the newly opened Suez Canal, which shortened the journey to China by some 3000 miles!
Level 2: The Main Deck
After spending time on the two levels inside the Cutty Sark, some fresh air and daylight was welcomed on the main deck. Standing on the wooden deck with the sun in the sky (hopefully) and surrounded by heavy rope rigging, you really begin to feel like you’re standing on the high seas, well except for the lovely elevated views of Greenwich which surround you.
Attention, Captain. If you’ve ever wanted to stand at the helm of a ship with your hands on the main wheel and call out nautical terms, including but not limited to; Thar she blows, Avast ye landlubber, Iceberg right ahead, and I’m flying Jack then head the bow of the Cutty Sark and get ready for your photo opportunity.
Have you ever dreamt of leaving day job far behind and climbing aboard a ship and go sail the world? Us too. However, after spending a bit of time learning about the crew quarters on the main deck, perhaps you may want to give it a second thought. The Cutty Sark has the Captain and crew quarters on display so that you can understand what life aboard the ship was really like. Absolutely fascinating but perhaps life as a sailor is not for me.
Lower Ground: The Dock
Did you know that one of the reasons why the Cutty Sark was the fastest ship of its time was because of her hull, it was much narrower and more shallow which made it a breeze to cut through the waves and cover more ground (well, ocean). This combined with the fact her hull was covered in a unique special alloy (70% copper and 30% zinc) which prevented barnacles from attaching themselves which meant less resistance in the water.
Once you’ve finished on the main deck then follow the signs to the lower ground area where you can see the Cutty Sark’s hull for yourself!
In what could be one of the best photo spots of the entire visit, the lower ground floor allows you to see the unique hull, complete with copper coating, from directly underneath it. The Cutty Sark was raised 3 metres (10 feet) above ground as part of the 6 year conversation project between 2006-2012 to prevent the weight of the ship from damaging the keel. This now allows visitors to stand directly beneath this 963 tonne ship and touch the bottom of the boat which really makes for a really unique photo opportunity.
The lower ground area also offers some great insight into the tremendous amount of conservation work which went into preserving the Cutty Sark for future generations to enjoy. This is also one of the best places for photos because you can take the stairs up to a viewing platform where you can view the entire length and depth of the Cutty Sark, something which you cannot do from outside the museum. It’s very cool and worth doing.
And if you’re feeling in need of a little rest following your day’s exploration then we recommend stopping by the Cutty Sark Cafe for a break. Now I don’t know about you but there’s something really appealing about sitting down for a quintessential and traditional English afternoon tea underneath the most famous tea clipper of all time!
The afternoon tea consisting of finger sandwiches, cakes and, Roma’s all-time-favourite, scones with jam and clotted cream served on a centrepiece 3-tier stand, perfect for giving any occasion a sophisticated feel.
Cutty Sark – Prices & Opening Hours
The Cutty Sark is open daily from 10am to 5pm – last entry is at 4:15pm.
We suggest purchasing your tickets online before heading to the Cutty Sark however if you’re planning to just pick up tickets on arrival then here’s what you can expect to pay;
- Adult – £18.00
- Under 25/Student – £12.00
- Child (4-15) – £9.00
A good value options is the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass which provides access to the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory.
- Adult – £27.00
- Child – £13.50
Final Thoughts
The best time for visiting the Cutty Sark is whenever you’re in Greenwich, so make sure to set some time aside to come aboard and discover her remarkable career as the fastest tea clipper of her time, her woolly connection with Australia, her important role in World War II, and as one of the most beloved attractions in London. You’ll love it, we did! Happy Travels
Disclaimer: This post was a paid collaboration which was written to share some of the unique and celebrated aspects of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich London. We retained full artistic and creative licence over the content in this post. All opinions, photos, and attempts at humour remain the sole property of the Roaming Required
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This looks really cool. I never imagined it would look so awesome inside
What a great place to visit with kids!
Absolutely Katalin there are certainly some aspects targeting children
I love your photos Roma! (& the attempts at humour!!! I think I might need to head to Greenwich and actually go inside the museum this time…. do you think it would be interesting for a 5 year old too?
There are hands on activities and tactile exhibits targeting children and put low down for their height, I do think there are aspects of Cutty Sark that make a visit worthwhile. I think the history aspect, Cutty Sark’s size and record-breaking achievements will go over their heads.