Golden Hinde

Ahoy there. Climbing aboard the Golden Hinde, a full-size reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s sixteenth-century flagship, is about as close as you’ll get to life at sea without leaving central London. You can explore the ship on a self-guided tour, ducking below deck to discover what life was really like for Tudor sailors.

For families, though, the real fun comes from the ship’s immersive ‘living history’ experiences. Here, costumed crew members regale visitors with tales of gruelling voyages, uncomfortable nights spent sleeping on bare wooden decks and the harsh punishments handed out to anyone caught stealing precious rations. Kids can dress in period costume, tuck into Tudor fare and learn the ropes as an Elizabethan seafarer, though you’ll want to book ahead.

Come the weekend, the decks are often swarming with young pirates celebrating birthdays, making this one of London’s most entertaining history lessons.