Cutty Sark is a historic museum ship located on the River Thames in Greenwich and one of London’s most famous maritime landmarks. Built in 1869, the vessel represents the age of clipper ships, when speed and sailing performance were crucial to international trade.
Today, Cutty Sark is part of the Royal Museums Greenwich and offers insight into the role of sailing ships in global commerce at a time when they were a vital part of international trade networks.
History and commercial use
Cutty Sark was built in Scotland and originally designed to transport tea from China to Britain. Speed was economically critical in the tea trade, and clipper ships competed fiercely to deliver their cargo first. With its lightweight construction, large sail area and copper-clad hull, Cutty Sark became one of the fastest sailing vessels of its era. Although it did not win every famous tea race, it gained a strong reputation for performance and durability on long ocean routes.
The opening of the Suez Canal and the rapid rise of steamships transformed maritime transport in the late 19th century. Tea shipments gradually shifted to steam-powered vessels, and Cutty Sark was reassigned to the wool trade between Australia and Europe. On these routes, the ship remained in active commercial service for many years, retaining its role in trade longer than many other clippers.
Name and cultural background
The name Cutty Sark comes from the poem Tam o’ Shanter by the Scottish national poet Robert Burns. In the poem, the witch Nannie Dee wears a short nightdress known as a “cutty sark”. The reference was widely recognised at the time and gave the ship a distinctive name. The Scottish cultural connection is also reflected in the ship’s figurehead, which depicts the character from the poem.
From sailing ship to museum in Greenwich
Cutty Sark’s sailing career ended in the early decades of the 20th century. In the 1950s, the ship was moved to Greenwich and opened to the public as a museum. A major restoration project in the 2000s resulted in the current display, with the ship raised on a supporting structure. This allows visitors to walk beneath the copper-clad hull and view the ship’s construction from a unique perspective.
Interior spaces, exhibitions and decks
The museum route continues inside the ship, where visitors can explore crew quarters, cargo holds and navigation areas. Exhibitions cover the ship’s trading routes, transported goods, sailing technology and everyday life at sea in the late 19th century. Original objects, texts and visual materials help illustrate maritime life and the ship’s history, with the route clearly organised across different deck levels.
The open decks are an essential part of the visit. On the main deck, visitors can examine the masts, rigging and sails, gaining a practical understanding of how the ship operated. A seasonal highlight (closed during winter) is the opportunity to climb the rigging. From the decks, there are scenic views over the River Thames and the surrounding Greenwich area.
Afternoon tea on board Cutty Sark
It is also possible to enjoy a traditional British afternoon tea on Cutty Sark. This is a separate, pre-bookable experience served beneath the ship’s hull in a historic setting directly linked to its tea-trading past. Afternoon tea is time-specific and designed to complement a museum visit.
Cutty Sark as part of Greenwich
Thanks to its location, Cutty Sark is easy to combine with visits to the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Greenwich Park. The ship adds a maritime perspective to the area’s cultural offering and provides a historical counterpoint to vessels such as HMS Belfast.
