Imagine setting sail as a pirate, braving the open sea and chasing adventure across unknown waters… That’s exactly the feeling we got when I recently took my family to The Golden Hinde in Bankside, London, to step aboard Sir Francis Drake’s legendary galleon and explore his thrilling life at sea.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to embark on this marvellous journey through history!
The story of The Golden Hinde
The full-size reconstruction of The Golden Hinde (the first English ship to sail around the world) has been moored in Bankside, London since 1996, and is now open for visitors to explore.
Originally, The Golden Hinde was an English galleon, famous for its privateering voyage around the world from 1577 to 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake.
She was originally called Pelican, but Drake renamed her mid-voyage in 1578 to Golden Hinde, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose emblem was a golden hind, a female red deer.
Sir Francis Drake: England’s legendary explorer
Known as an illustrious privateer, Sir Francis Drake was partly sponsored by Queen Elizabeth I “as the leader of an expedition intended to pass around South America through the Strait of Magellan and to explore the coast that lay beyond”.
On 26 September 1580, Francis Drake sailed into Plymouth Harbour with 56 of the original 80 crew members still on board.
The ship was unloaded at Saltash Castle, just nearby, with the Queen’s guards overseeing the offloading of treasure.
The whole treasure included six tons of cloves from the Spice Islands, at the time worth their weight in gold.
Over half of the loot went to Queen Elizabeth I and the country, helping to pay off the annual debt. The Queen even boarded the Golden Hinde herself, which was then permanently moored at Deptford on the Thames, intended to be displayed as the very first “museum ship.”
The ship stayed at Deptford from 1580 until around 1650 (45 years after Queen Elizabeth had passed) before it eventually rotted and was broken up.
In 1668, the keeper of the stores at Deptford had the best surviving timber crafted into a chair, which was presented to the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, where it can still be seen today.
The London replica of The Golden Hinde was built using traditional methods in Appledore, Devon, and launched in 1973. Over the years (up until 1996) she sailed more than 140,000 miles (225,000 km).
Today, she’s a lively and fascinating museum that’s perfect for exploring and imagining life on board a 16th-century galleon.
Step Aboard: The Golden Hinde tours
There are tours running throughout the day, and you don’t need to book in advance to join one.
The staff are enthusiastic, smartly dressed, and full of knowledge about The Golden Hinde’s history. No matter what questions you throw at them, they’ll have fascinating answers ready!
You’ll get to explore every part of the ship and discover what life was really like on board for Drake and his crew.
Especially the rough side of life on board, like having to rely on a surgeon to deal with rotten teeth or even amputations using very basic, rudimentary tools!
Our visit to The Golden Hinde was fantastic, especially with three generations all exploring together!
With affordable tickets and a super convenient location near London Bridge tube station, there’s really no excuse not to check it out. Kids and adults alike will have a blast!
Another highlight of this visit is its proximity to other iconic London attractions such as Tower Bridge and Borough Market, ensuring a fulfilling experience for both locals and tourists alike!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit The Golden Hinde, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON!
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Everything you need to know about The Golden Hinde:
The Golden Hinde: St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, London, SE1 9DE
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