London’s Classic Boat Festival Welcomes Viking Longship This Weekend
This weekend, St Katharine Docks transforms into a living maritime museum as over 50 historic vessels gather for the free Classic Boat Festival.
Taking place on 6 and 7 September, the event offers visitors the rare chance to explore everything from Viking longships to Dunkirk Little Ships, all moored in London’s largest marina.
It’s not every day you find a Viking longship moored in east London. The Saga Farmann, a faithful reconstruction of a 1,000-year-old Norse trading vessel, arrives this weekend at St Katharine Docks, anchoring the Classic Boat Festival — London’s annual celebration of maritime heritage.
Built using traditional clinker techniques and hand-crafted from oak and pine, the 20-metre-long ship has just completed a two-year journey from Norway. Sailing ancient Viking trade routes, the Saga Farmann’s arrival on the Thames marks the end of a remarkable voyage.
The festival itself brings together more than 50 historic boats across the central and west basins of London’s only central marina. Visitors can explore everything from Dunkirk Little Ships, which played a crucial role in the 1940 evacuation of Allied troops, to Thames sailing barges like Adieu and Edith May.
Alongside these are motorboats from the Bates Star Craft range, historic tugs, and a Navy P2000 patrol vessel. Many boats are open to the public, giving visitors the rare chance to step aboard and speak with the owners — a community passionate about preserving Britain’s rich maritime traditions.
The weekend’s programme includes live music, talks, and activities for children, with food and drink stalls scattered around the docks. Each day begins and ends with a horn salute from the vessels, a tradition that honours the festival’s spirit and Britain’s nautical history.
Entry to the Classic Boat Festival is free, making it an ideal family outing or a chance for maritime enthusiasts to get close to history afloat. Whether you’re drawn by the Viking saga, the wartime stories of the Little Ships, or simply the atmosphere of the docks, this is a rare event that brings London’s waterfront heritage vividly to life.
Classic Boat Festival 2025
St Katharine Docks, London E1
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September, 11am–6pm
Free entry
Nearest stations: Tower Hill, Tower Gateway, Fenchurch Street
https://www.skdocks.co.uk/events/classic-boat-festival-2025
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
