The Tall Ships are returning to Royal Greenwich for five days this August Bank Holiday, as up to 15 Tall Ships drop anchor for a maritime family festival at Woolwich Arsenal Riverside.
Admire the ships cruising majestically along the River Thames, be wowed by fireworks every evening after dark, and wave off the fleet from Greenwich on Monday 31 August from 2pm as the ships leave in an elegant parade.
During the festival, two impressive Tall Ships will be moored on Tall Ship Island in the river at Maritime Greenwich, open to visitors via MBNA Thames Clipper shuttles (see below for how to buy tickets):
- Dar Mlodziezy
- Santa Maria Manuela
The following 13 Tall Ships will be based at Royal Arsenal Woolwich between running daily cruises along the river to Greenwich and Tower Bridge. See below for how to buy tickets for a Sail Royal Greenwich river cruise.
- Thalassa
- Wylde Swan
- Mercedes
- Oosterschelde
- Morgenster
- Loth Lorien
- JR Tolkien
- Eldorado
- Zephyr
- Gallant
- Iris
- Tecla
- Jantje
Please note that all ships are subject to change.
How to get on a Tall Ship
Note: Free ship visit tickets for Royal Greenwich residents are now sold out.
Buy tickets for a Tall Ship river cruise - Thursday 27 to Monday 31 August
Don't miss the chance to book tickets to get on board for Tall Ship cruises along the river, passing East London's landmarks en route to Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and Tower Bridge. The 13 beautiful ships listed above will be making the sails throughout the day and into the evening for special fireworks cruises. Ticket prices vary.
Visit Tall Ships Island - Friday 28 to Monday 31 August
You can visit two of the biggest Class A Tall Ships - the Dar Mlodziezy and Santa Maria Manuela - which are moored on Tall Ships Island in the river off Greenwich.
Tickets are provided by MBNA Thames Clippers for a river trip from either London Bridge City Pier or Greenwich Pier on a MBNA Thames Clipper boat and an hour-long tour of the two stationary Tall Ships. You will get a chance to speak to cadets and hear from guides telling stories about life at sea and the rigging, history and navigation of the ships.
Festival Day - Saturday 29 August
Bring the family down to Woolwich, SE18, to enjoy a taste of life on the high seas at our Tall Ships Festival Day on Saturday 29 August – featuring family entertainment from 10am to 10pm.
Festival events will be in full swing in Woolwich Town Centre, on Powis Street and General Gordon Square, and at Royal Arsenal Riverside, including No 1 Street.
The line-up for the day includes:
- Live music stage with special guests
- Bandstands and sea shanties
- Roving entertainers
- Berkeley Summer Festival
- Traditional funfair rides and nautical-themed children's activities
- Vintage vehicles
- Food and licensed bars
- A fireboat from the Fire Brigade
- Information stalls from local and national nautical organisations
- Nautical history re-enactors (musket-ball making, dockside rope and cordwaining, plus a Naval encampment and Georgian Naval crews)
- Sunset picnic area
- Food, bar and activities at the Firepower Museum
- Local history and children's activities at the Heritage Centre
- Fireworks grand finale at 10pm on the river
Enjoy a day out
Make a day of it in Woolwich with a visit to the Army's Firepower Museum and Greenwich Heritage Centre, immersing yourself in the rich maritime and military history of the area, before enjoying lunch or dinner at a local cafe or pub.
Maritime Greenwich offers a unique World Heritage Site, fabulous musuems and many options to eat and drink.
Fireworks on the river
Watch stunning fireworks displays on the river at Maritime Greenwich each night (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) around 9.15pm.
On Saturday 29 August, the Tall Ships Festival event at Woolwich Arsenal Riverside will end with a fireworks display on the river at 10pm.
Getting here
Greenwich and Woolwich Arsenal are easy to get to by river, train or Docklands Light Railway.
Maritime Greenwich,Cutty Sark Gardens SE10 9DT
Woolwich Town Centre and Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich SE18
MBNA Thames Clippers runs regular boats to Greenwich Pier and Woolwich Pier, or arrive by Docklands Light Railway (DLR) at Greenwich, Cutty Sark or Woolwich Arsenal.
Alternatively, take Southeastern Rail to Greenwich or Woolwich mainline stations. Please note, engineering works are due to take place over this weekend, so services will be running to and from London Victoria rather than Cannon Street or Charing Cross. Check times and departures with Southeastern before travel.
There are bus stops around General Gordon Square and on Beresford Street near to the Woolwich Tall Ship Festival areas.
