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  3. Sail Through Tower Bridge

Sail Through Tower Bridge

Dates and Times

Sun 1st Jan 2017

Sat 23 & Sun 24 Sep (2017)

London Tower Pier, Lower Thames Street, London EC3N 4DT

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The Waverley is one of the world’s greatest historic ships – the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world – magnificently restored with towering funnels, timber decks and gleaming varnish and brass. You can see and hear the mighty steam engines as they propel the paddles that take Waverley majestically through the sea.

Either chose to sail down the River Thames to spend the day in Southend, the seaside at Clacton or enjoy an afternoon cruise of the River Medway or take the kids on one-way trip packed with excitement to steam through Tower Bridge and see the highlights of the River Thames as you sail to Gravesend in Kent.

This year marks the 70th year since Waverley’s maiden voyage. Named after Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, the ship was built for the London & North Eastern Railway to replace the paddle steamer, HMS Waverley, which was sunk on 29th May 1940 whilst evacuating troops from Dunkirk. Launched on 2nd October 1946 from the former A&J Inglis yard in Glasgow, she was later towed to Greenock where her triple expansion engines were fitted by Rankin & Blackmore. These have now become one of the ship’s major attractions.

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Thu - 1 Jan 1970
1:00 AM
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