In Pictures: Cutty Sark Prepares For Reopening

By Zoe Craig Last edited 143 months ago
In Pictures: Cutty Sark Prepares For Reopening

The Cutty Sark reopens next week, after a £50m restoration project. Here are a few sneaky pictures to whet your appetite ahead of the big opening.

In the lower hold, which was heady with the scent of tea last night, you can learn how tea was loaded on board the Cutty Sark
In the lower hold, which was heady with the scent of tea last night, you can learn how tea was loaded on board the Cutty Sark
Unfinished: note the flooring and the hard-hat, presumably not part of an 1870 sailor's kit
Unfinished: note the flooring and the hard-hat, presumably not part of an 1870 sailor's kit
On the 'Tween Deck, there'll be interactive exhibits and more about Cutty Sark's other cargoes: like wool and whiskey
On the 'Tween Deck, there'll be interactive exhibits and more about Cutty Sark's other cargoes: like wool and whiskey
Is this the smartest steering column in the world?
Is this the smartest steering column in the world?
The ship's bell
The ship's bell
The lifeboars also bear the tea clipper's famous moniker
The lifeboars also bear the tea clipper's famous moniker
That's 11 miles of rigging. We counted
That's 11 miles of rigging. We counted
There's a gallery of various ship's figureheads in the Sammy Ofer Gallery below the boat, including Nannie, the Cutty Sark's original.
There's a gallery of various ship's figureheads in the Sammy Ofer Gallery below the boat, including Nannie, the Cutty Sark's original.
The striking gold hull from the entrance hall
The striking gold hull from the entrance hall
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The view from below the ship
The view from below the ship

The boat has been lifted 11ft onto new steel supports to help relieve the stress that was threatening to tear apart the ageing frame. This means you can now wander under the vessel and get quite a breathtaking view of the now gold-painted hull. We visited before all the bells and whistles of the museum inside were installed, but still really enjoyed the chance to look around this impressive monument to London's seafaring history. Despite the heavy rain last night, the ship was looking stunning, and the views across London from the foc's'le (get us and our new-learnt naval lingo) were great. Walking the sleek, polished main deck, you can really imagine this once being the fastest ship in the world.

After a visit from Her Maj on Wednesday, the ship opens to the public on Thursday. Read more about it here: www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark

Here's a teaser video ahead of the launch: get your excited faces ready!

Last Updated 20 April 2012