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From 28 May to 8 June 2025, an iconic 93-foot ship will be moored at St Katharine Docks, right by Tower Bridge – and no, it's not part of a film set. It's the Nao Santa María, a full-scale replica of the ship that carried Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic in 1492.
Built in 2018 by a team of shipwrights, ropemakers and craftspeople under the guidance of historians and engineers, the vessel now sails the world as a floating museum. Sure, its hull is fibreglass coated in wood rather than oak and tar, but it still offers a taste of seafaring life in the 15th century.
Visitors will be able to hop on board, explore the decks, check out the captain's quarters, and get a feel for what life was like for Columbus's crew during one of history's most famous – and controversial – voyages.
The ship is run by the Nao Victoria Foundation, which also brought the Galeón Andalucía to London in 2024. Now it's the Santa María's turn to drop anchor in the capital.
Nao Santa María, St. Katharine Docks, 28 May–8 June 2025.