Golden Hind Museum Ship
Full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake's Tudor galleon moored in Brixham harbour, with five decks to explore, an audio tour and a skeleton hunt for children.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The original Golden Hind was laid down in Plymouth in 1575 and commissioned by Sir Francis Drake for his voyage of 1577 to 1580, in which he became the first Englishman to sail around the world. She was a fast and manoeuvrable ship of about 120 tons, typical of a mid-16th-century warship in the move from carrack to galleon. After the voyage she was taken to Deptford in London for public display, which made her the first museum ship in the world, and in 1581 Drake was knighted on board. She stayed there for nearly 70 years before she fell apart and was broken up.
The Golden Hind Museum Ship in Brixham harbour is a full-size replica of that Tudor galleon, in the area where Drake lived and worked. Visitors can explore five decks above and below the waterline, see how the crew lived and worked, and learn about Drake's voyage and about Tudor sea life.
An audio tour can be played on a visitor's own smartphone, and children can join a skeleton hunt for a prize. The ship also runs a programme for schools that holds the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, and it offers exclusive tours for groups.
Highlights
- Full-size replica of Drake's Tudor galleon with five decks to explore
- Enlarged and refitted Drake's cabin
- Audio tour on a visitor's own smartphone
- Skeleton hunt for children, with a prize
- Education programme for Key Stages 1 and 2
Permanent exhibitions
- Full-size replica of the Golden Hind – Five decks of a life-size Tudor galleon, from the entrance deck down to the hold, with displays on the crew and life on board.
- Drake's cabin – An enlarged and refitted cabin for Sir Francis Drake on board the ship.
- Founded
- 1988
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8.95 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £6.95Children aged 3 and over, and seniors aged 65 and over |
| Children & teens | £6.95The child ticket applies from age 3. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | £6.95Aged 65 and over |
| Families | £24.952 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children |
2026 prices, paid by cash or card at the kiosk; pre-booking is not necessary for individual visitors. Schools and groups have separate prices and booking.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The ship is a life-size replica with some steeper than normal staircases, no lifts, uneven wooden floors and restricted headroom, and it is reached by a wooden gangplank, so access is very limited for wheelchair users and people with severely restricted mobility. If told in advance, the team can arrange a personal guide to share information from the entrance deck or from the harbour side, and can offer fast-track boarding. There are public benches next to the ship but no designated seating on board. Assistance dogs and other small, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Lighting is low but adequate, with no strobe lighting and no areas of total darkness. There are no toilets on board; the nearest public toilets are 100 metres from the entrance, and the Old Market House next to the ship has ramp access and wheelchair-accessible toilets on the ground floor.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £24.95 · 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children |
|---|
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly: not available
- Baby changing facilities: not available
Children can join the skeleton hunt and look for skeletons hidden on the ship to win a prize. The ship is not suitable for pushchairs, which can be left with a team member at the kiosk, and there are no baby-changing facilities on board. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Brixham bus station · 3-min walk
The No 12 bus runs frequently between Torquay, Paignton, Newton Abbot and Kingskerswell, and local ferries run to Brixham from Torquay, Paignton and Dartmouth. The nearest railway station is Paignton, followed by Torquay, with onward travel by bus, ferry or taxi.
By car
Paid parking
Several car parks are within a short walk: Central Park (short stay), Oxen Cove (long stay) and Marina Multi Storey (long stay, postcode TQ5 9BW), plus a park and ride car park at postcode TQ5 0JT.
Follow signs for Brixham Harbour or the car parks. The ship's postcode is TQ5 8AW.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
There is a souvenir shop in the kiosk. A number of cafes and restaurants are close to the ship, the nearest being the Old Market House.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The ship can be hired for private functions; the museum asks enquirers to get in touch to discuss special needs.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The audio tour can be listened to or read on a visitor's own smartphone. Group visits include exclusive group tours, and school visits can be booked online; both must be booked in advance. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. |
