The Golden Hinde
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Golden Hinde is a full-size reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s Elizabethan galleon, offering visitors an immersive experience into 16th-century maritime history.
Planning your visit
Francis Drake sailed the Golden Hinde around the world between 1577 and 1580, the second circumnavigation ever completed and the first by a commander who survived it, returning with plundered Spanish treasure that repaid his investors more than forty times over and made him a knight and Spain's most wanted man.
The ship moored at St Mary Overie Dock in Southwark is a full-size reconstruction launched in 1973, built by traditional methods, which then sailed over 140,000 miles including its own circumnavigation — so it is a working vessel rather than a static model.
Below decks the point becomes physical: the headroom, the gun deck, the space in which around 80 men lived for three years.
Costumed tours and overnight programmes for children run alongside self-guided visits.
Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral are adjacent. Allow an hour. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is The Golden Hinde?
The Golden Hinde is in London, United Kingdom. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for The Golden Hinde?
Allow an hour. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Is The Golden Hinde free to enter?
Yes, general admission to The Golden Hinde is free. Guided tours and special exhibitions may still be charged separately.
What are the opening hours of The Golden Hinde?
Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00. Hours change on public holidays, so check the official site before travelling.
Do I need to book The Golden Hinde in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
