A replica of the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world will be in London for a couple of weeks and will be open to the public for a look around.
The original 16th-century ship, Victoria, was part of a fleet of five Spanish ships that departed in August 1519 to seek a new Westward route to the Spice Islands, the Moluccas (in present-day Indonesia). Over three years, the expedition saw the Victoria cross three oceans, reaching Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina before finally discovering the Strait of Magellan. Finally, in September 1522, 18 men out of the original 220 arrived back in Seville, achieving the greatest feat in early navigation: the First Circumnavigation Around the World.
The full-size authentic replica, the Nao Victoria, was launched in Spain in 1992, and it has since followed in its namesake’s footsteps, circumnavigating the globe.
The 86ft museum ship will arrive in London, weather permitting, on 29th June and will open to the public at St Katherine Docks next to the Tower of London from Tuesday 30th June to Sunday 12th July, before departing on July 13th.
Tickets are available online now via the Nao Victoria Foundation website, and there is a discount for bookings made before 29th June 2026.
- Adults: €9.20
- Children (5-10): €4.60
- Family (2a+3c): €23
Tickets available here.