London: Tea Time in Wonderland

We all love Southbank. Large alleys, ideal with a buggy, the kids can run free and safe as the main roads are quite a distance away.

Most of us focus on the part going from Westminster Bridge to the Tate – so very lively! There’s the London Eye, the aquarium, street music, street artists… At low tide you might even be lucjy and have a nice sandy beach along the Thames.

But there’s more to it if you care to go a little further. A couple minute walks from Borough market, you’ll find a splendid ship, the Golden Hinde.

So what’s the story? Picture this – 1577, Sir Francis Drake leaves, appointed by Queen Elisabeth, leaves aboard the Pelican.

Officially? He is to discover new territories and claim them for England. He will navigate all around the world – circumnavigate, I learn, is the correct term. Good to impress the audience. When passing the strait of Magellan, he renamed the ship the Golden Hind – see the figurehead – in honour of his main patron whose family coat of arms shows a hind.

But behind the scenes? On royal request, he is to do as much damages to the Sapniards as possible – which Drake will transform in a little piracy… In 1759, he will steal an extraodinary treasure form one of their ships: 360 000 pesos. It will take 6 days to transfer it from one boat to another! The sum will reimburse the whole national debt. Once back to England, ignoring the Spanish anger, Queen Elisabeth will step on the Golden Hind and will knight Drake.

The boat you now see along the Thames is an exact replica.

Disappointed? Don’t be. This copy has navigated 5 times more! She followed of course, Drake’s own navigations but also went to the Carabeans, Canada, US…before finally resting here.

You can of course, visit the boat. The ticket shop is just a street away and you will be given a code to open the gate. It’s a quick tour for an adult – there’s no historical explanation on board at all. But still, it is very atmospheric. You will have to restrain yourself from shouting Up lads and at them!

Fot a child, even a young as 3, this is pure happiness. Watch them run back and forth (2 levels inside the boards with canons, cods, ladders…), sit in the captain’s chair, give orders to an imaginary team, fight invisible ennemies, pretend to run the ship… Do pack a few accessories – hat, sword, a few golden coins and you’ll be the best parent in the universe.

Even girls will love it. Mine, 3 years old, checked every part of it and even after 20mn was still fascinated with it. We also met a very proud pink pirate!

Do have a look at the website: you might be lucky and join one of the them days (Tudor, pirates…). It’s sometimes possible, for older kids to sleep on the boat…! It can also be rented for birthday parties.

A small detail though: it’s difficult to get your buggy on board. We left ours, as most parents, at the front gate. It was still there when we came back and you can check on it easily from the ship.

The Borough Market is 2 minutes away (open until 16.00 but closed on Sundays. Not very practical too with a buggy -  so crowded -  so I would advise delegating a parent to get some lovely food and picniking in the sun along the Thames) and there are plenty of cafes nearby too. And if you still have a little energy, why don’t you take the kids to the Clink, a medieval prison, just a few steps from there…?

The Golden Hinde
St Marie Overie Dock
Cathedral Street
London SE1 9DE

Adult: £6 – child £4.5

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