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Plan your perfect visit to Cutty Sark

If you’re in London and eager to explore a piece of maritime history, a trip to Cutty Sark is a must. The experience takes you through the era of the fastest tea clipper in the world, spanning the main deck, the captain’s cabin, crew quarters, and interactive exhibits that bring its global voyages vividly to life.

With so much to explore in a relatively compact space, planning your route through the ship helps you prioritise highlights, avoid backtracking, and make the most of your time. Here’s everything you need to plan a smooth and memorable visit.

Navigating your way

Want to see more in one day?

If you want to explore more in a day, opt for the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass. With one ticket, you can visit up to 4 attractions, all with a multilingual audio guide, making it the easiest way to explore without juggling multiple tickets.

Cutty Sark ship at National Maritime Museum, London, with visitors nearby.

How to make the most of your time?

Visit typeDurationRouteWhat you get

Quick visit

1 to 1.5 hours

Main deck → Captain’s Cabin → Crew Quarters → Figurehead Collection

A fast-paced glimpse of Cutty Sark’s engineering, interiors, and figureheads, perfect if you are on a tight schedule

Balanced tour

2 to 3 hours

Main deck → Captain’s Cabin → Crew Quarters → Figurehead Collection → Dry Dock → Interactive Exhibits

A well-rounded visit combining hands-on exhibits with historical insights, giving you a clear sense of life at sea

Immersive experience

3 to 4 hours

Main deck → Captain’s Cabin → Crew Quarters → Figurehead Collection → Dry Dock → Interactive Exhibits → Onboard Café & Gift Shop

A deep dive into Cutty Sark’s history, with soundscapes, immersive exhibits, and multimedia, allowing you to explore the ship at your own pace and discover its unique stories.

Handy tips 

Avoid the queues

  • Reserve tickets early: Book your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance, especially for weekends, peak summer periods, or school holidays when slots fill quickly.
  • Pick calmer windows: Mornings from 10 am to 11:30 am or late afternoons after 4 pm are quieter, letting you explore the main deck and dry dock without crowds.
  • Visit on weekdays: For a more relaxed and crowd-free experience, plan your visit on weekdays rather than weekends.

Navigate smartly

  • Check special events: Look at the schedule for exhibitions or costumed character events during your visit and plan accordingly to enjoy the experience fully.
  • Combine nearby attractions: Pair your visit with a Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass for entry to Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, and the Queen’s House for a complete Greenwich experience in a single day.

Explore Cutty Sark

Before you get there

Know before you book your Cutty Sark tickets.

  • Ticket options: Choose from standard Cutty Sark tickets for full access to the tea clipper and all its exhibitions, the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass for visiting multiple top attractions in one day, or the Cutty Sark Afternoon Tea for a more indulgent experience with classic English tea served beneath the hull.
  • What’s included: Every Cutty Sark ticket lets you explore the ship and its exhibitions, while the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass also includes entry to the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, and the Queen’s House. Choosing the right ticket comes down to how much you want to see in one visit.
  • Cutty Sark Afternoon Tea: If you’re looking for something a little different, afternoon tea beneath the ship’s hull is hard to beat. You’ll explore Cutty Sark at your own pace, then sit down to traditional English tea in a setting you won’t find anywhere else in London.
  • Accessibility: Most of Cutty Sark is accessible for wheelchair users, but as this is a historic ship, some areas can be difficult to reach. You’ll still be able to enjoy most of the highlights, but it’s best to check the official accessibility details in advance if you have specific mobility needs.

Your Cutty Sark tickets explained.

Ticket typeWhat’s includedBest forPrice range

Cutty Sark entrance ticket

Entry to Cutty Sark + downloadable multilingual audio guide

Exploring the ship at your own pace

£22

Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

Cutty Sark + Royal Observatory + National Maritime Museum + Queen’s House + audio guide

Covering more attractions in one day

£34

Cutty Sark Afternoon Tea

Cutty Sark entry + Afternoon Tea beneath the hull

Pairing sightseeing with a special tea experience

£47

Cutty Sark timings

DayTimingsLast entryClosed on

Monday – Sunday

10 am to 5 pm

4.15 pm

24, 25 and 26 December

Best time to visit

Where is Cutty Sark located?

How to get there

Facilities

  • Restrooms: Toilets, including accessible toilets and baby-change facilities, are available on the lower ground floor near the café and in the access tower across the main deck.
  • Audio guides: Free downloadable audio guides are available for mobile devices, including British Sign Language options.
  • Buggy park: Space is provided for parking pushchairs in designated areas on the lower deck.
  • Lockers: Small lockers are available for £1 to store personal items.
  • Gift shop: The on-board shop offers maritime-themed souvenirs, books, ship models, and memorabilia.
  • Café: The café beneath the hull serves light meals, snacks, teas, and drinks to ticket holders.
  • Baby changing: Baby-change facilities are located near the toilets for convenience.

Accessibility

Visiting with family

  • Baby‑change facilities are provided in the accessible toilets on the lower ground floor near the café and access tower, making nappy changes easier during your visit.
  • Accessible toilets throughout the site include a family‑friendly space for changing and quick breaks between exhibits.
  • The on‑site café offers light meals, snacks, teas, and drinks, which can be helpful with children who need a food break.
  • Open spaces on the main deck give kids room to move and explore while you walk through the ship’s historic areas.

Rules and restrictions

  • Entry requires a valid, dated ticket, and all visitors must pass through standard security screening.
  • Large bags, suitcases, and oversized luggage are not permitted on board for security reasons.
  • Outside food and meals are not allowed on board.
  • Pets are not allowed on site, except for certified assistance dogs with valid documentation.
  • Smoking, including e‑cigarettes and vaping, is prohibited anywhere inside Cutty Sark or the surrounding museum grounds.
  • Non‑commercial photography is generally allowed, but tripods, professional equipment, and drones are not permitted without prior approval.
  • Touching or climbing on exhibits or fittings not marked as interactive is prohibited.

Where to eat

Where to shop

Where to stay

Insider tips

  • Plan 60 to 90 minutes for your visit. Late mornings between 11 am and 2 pm are the busiest due to school groups and tour traffic.
  • Start beneath the hull in the dry dock. Most visitors head upstairs first, so this area is often quieter for the first 20 to 30 minutes after opening.
  • Download the free audio guide in advance. Mobile signal can be unreliable inside the ship’s metal structure, and preloading saves time at entry.
  • Expect wind on the main deck all year round. Even in summer, the exposed deck can feel cold, so explore outdoor areas early and move indoors after.
  • Visit Cutty Sark first if pairing it with other Greenwich sights. It opens earlier than nearby museums, which helps pace the day without backtracking.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Cutty Sark

Most visitors spend around 1 to 1.5 hours exploring the ship. If you want to take a break at the café beneath the hull, allow up to 2 hours.