Cutty Sark, London days out review for families

Our Rating

3.8

A star rating of 3.8 out of 5.

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In a nutshell

An interesting, educational experience, learning more about the world’s fastest tea clipper. But not ideal for preschoolers.

What we tested

Overall Rating

3.8

A star rating of 3.8 out of 5.

Pros

Cons

COVID-19 safety update

Some facilities and attractions may be closed or restricted this year, due to COVID-19 – and there may be extra safety rules, pre-booking requirements or one-way systems in place. Please check Cutty Sark's website before travelling or booking.

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When we visited:

In July

What’s the Cutty Sark like since Covid-19?

What age and family is Cutty Sark, London best for:

How much does it cost?

Are there discounts or cheap tickets available for Cutty Sark?

Yes – at the time of publication, Smartsave were offering 20% off Cutty Sark and 24-hour river pass tickets and Picniq had 15% off tickets. National Rail also have 2-4-1 offers for some tickets.

Any extra charges once I’m there?

On board, you enter (and exit) through a small gift-shop so brace yourself for pester power. There is a café but given the length of time you’ll spend here you probably won’t need to stop for food and drink unless you really want to.

How long will we spend at Cutty Sark, London?

We only spent 1-2 hours at Cutty Sark, although older children (aged 6 years and up) might find more to hold their interest

For more London fun, take a look at our roundup of the best family days out in London.

What does Cutty Sark offer for families?

Cutty Sark, a celebrated historic sailing ship and fastest of its time, offers an intriguing insight into life as a seafaring Victorian. Older children and ship enthusiasts will be fascinated, although younger children may find less to hold their attention.

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What shouldn’t be missed?

Highlights for families are:

What’s it like for younger children?

If your children are toddlers, this might not be the attraction for you. There isn’t much to entertain little ones, so if yours is anything like mine, they will run up and down the length of the ship, taking no notice of the exhibition around them. While the staff are very friendly, it means you won't get as much out of the visit as if you attended with an older, more engaged child. My 4 year old did enjoy it, but his attention-span didn’t quite allow me to enjoy it.

The live, actor-led interactive part is brilliant and you can feel what it was like to live and work aboard Cutty Sark. But if you have younger children (preschoolers), this is an attraction you should wait a few years to show them.

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What you need to know before you visit Cutty Sark:

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Was it pushchair friendly?

There are lifts to every level, so you could easily push a buggy around when it isn’t so busy. You wouldn’t want to when it’s crowded, but there is a buggy park.

Food and drink at Cutty Sark, London:

There is a cafe downstairs, selling mainly cakes and tea, with a big and airy seating area. We didn’t try it, but it looked good. You’ll find more choices, from hot meals to a children’s menu, at the nearby National Maritime Museum cafes.

Can you take a picnic?

We packed a picnic and ate it in Greenwich Park, which is just a short walk away from Cutty Sark

What are the toilets like?

The toilets are downstairs, in the same area as the cafe. They were clean, with a separate baby-change facility and disabled access.

How well does it cater for disabled visitors?

Opening dates and times:

Cutty Sark is open daily 10am to 5pm apart from 24-26 December. Last admission 4.15pm

How to get to Cutty Sark, London:

Cutty Sark is in Greenwich, East London, and public transport is your best bet

Do you have to pay for parking?

Yes. There is a secure public car park at the nearby National Maritime Museum with around 90 spaces. Charges are from £3 for up to 1 hour, through to £15 for all day.

Worth a long car journey?

Unless you’re a boat fanatic (and so plan to spend more time here than average) I’d say it isn’t worth the long car journey. However, there are other attractions close by to make it worth a full day out

Which hotels or holiday accommodation are near Cutty Sark?

London has plenty of accommodation options for families, including:

Check out our round up of the best family-friendly hotels in London.

Nearby attractions for a longer day out:

Cutty Sark is in Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll find other attractions including the National Maritime Museum. Also close by is the O2 (which you can climb with children aged 9 and upwards), and the Museum of London Docklands.

MFM verdict:

Cutty Sark is an immersive way to find out what life was like on a clipper ship. But it’s not great for toddlers: running around after one meant I missed a lot of the interesting bits. My 4 year old quite enjoyed it, but this is really a place to visit with older children.

Visit Cutty Sark’s website

Read more reviews of Cutty Sark on TripAdvisor

Intro to you:

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I’m a London mum to a 4 year old and a 20 month old

Authors

Sonali Hindmarch

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