Waverley Paddle Steamer 2026

 

Waverley Paddle Steamer to Southend

 

1940s Vintage Cruise with live entertainment from the Bel Canto Vintage Sisters

 

Saturday 26th September

 

£80pp*

*This trip is payable in full at time of booking.

 

 

Fast Track

Leighton Buzzard West Street

Tring Brook Street

Hemel Hempstead Gadebridge Park

 

 

A trip aboard the PS Waverley from Tower Bridge to Southend-on-Sea feels less like transport and more like stepping into a moving piece of British history.

The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer leaves the heart of London with the slow, rhythmic beat of her side paddles

and the unmistakable scent and sound of a steamship at work.

 

You board at Tower Pier with the skyline of modern London all around you,

but the highlight comes almost immediately: the great bascules of Tower Bridge lift to let Waverley pass beneath.

 

As the steamer heads east down the Thames, the city gradually unfolds from a completely different perspective.

You glide past the glass towers of Canary Wharf, the curved dome of the O2, and the silver spans of the Thames Barrier before the river widens into the estuary.

 

 There are indoor lounges, outdoor seating, refreshments and a small souvenir shop, but the real attraction is simply watching the river drift by at paddle-steamer pace.

 

Return journey from Southend by coach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requests for particular seats on the coach can be made when booking and we will do our best to accommodate these requests, but allocations are made on a first come first served basis, dependent upon customer mobility. We reserve the right to change your seat and allocate you a different one for operational reasons.

On single bookings, we reserve the right to alter your seating to maximize the seating available. We accept no liability in the event of any such change.

Accessibility

 

For safety purposes the gangways leading onto the ship are ridged and therefore wheelchair passengers, if they can’t walk across, will have to be carried. The Crew are happy to assist less-agile passengers. Waverley is a historic passenger ship and there are relatively steep stairs leading between the different decks. Please ask for any help you may require.

Please note that due to safe manual handling regulations and the nature of our gangways we are unable to carry electric wheelchairs or motor scooters and there is a safe handling limit of 14 stone.

 

Waverley has a toilet for the disabled on the promenade deck – accessed with a Radar Key. Whilst we welcome disabled passengers aboard the ship not all ports and piers have suitable access.

 

London Pier

Step-free access to ship. Wheelchair Accessible. Passengers should be aware that the gangways at Tower Pier will be at a steep angle.

 

Southend Pier

Low water landing stage requires use of stairs.

Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world at 1.3 miles in length, there is a pier train that you can take to the entrance.

 

Catering on board:

Waverley’s Dining Saloon, situated on the Main Deck is open throughout your cruise offering a range of snacks and hot food.

The Caledonia Tea Bar on the Promenade Deck offers a range of hot and cold drinks, soup, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and ice cream

The Jeanie Deans Lounge on the Main Deck offers a relaxing atmosphere with excellent views of the passing scenery. A selection of hot and cold drinks are available as well as stronger refreshments.

The Talisman Bar located beneath the Dining Saloon offers a relaxing atmosphere serving a range of stronger refreshments.

Terms & Conditions Waverley Paddle Steamer