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About
Visit The Matthew at Bristol's harbourside, moored in her usual spot opposite M Shed at Princes Wharf.
Based in Bristol’s historic Floating Harbour for much of the year, The Matthew is popular for both harbour tours and longer sailing trips.
Hop on board
The Matthew provides an unrivalled platform to view the city from the water.
When moored at the M Shed, The Matthew is free of charge to visit – you can go on board, look around, climb the steps to the upper decks, and have a chat with the knowledgeable guides.
If you want the full sailing experience, you can choose from a Harbour Trip, a Fish and Chips Trip or a Cream Tea Trip, cruising gently around the Floating Harbour, past the SS Great Britain and the old dock cranes, enjoying all the water activity that makes Bristol one of Europe’s most interesting maritime cities. Or go a little further afield on the ever-popular Avon Gorge Trip, sailing down the River Avon, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and along the Avon Gorge towards Pill.
The Matthew is also available for private hire.
Contact The Matthew on 0117 927 6868, send an email to info@matthew.co.uk, or visit the website for further information about dates, to buy tickets for your trip, or for private hire information.
The Matthew – Past and Present
Owned by The Matthew of Bristol Trust, the modern Matthew is a fabulous and faithful reconstruction of the ship used by the explorer John Cabot when he discovered Newfoundland in 1497.
The stunning replica was built here in Bristol to mark the 500th anniversary of Cabot's voyage, and upon her completion, she set sail to reconstruct Cabot's original journey. On this historic journey in 1997, The Matthew followed the same course to Newfoundland as John Cabot had in 1497, carrying the same number of crew members and taking exactly the same amount of time to complete the crossing. On 24 June 1997, The Matthew was welcomed into port at Bonavista, Canada by Queen Elizabeth II.
In June 2012, she took part in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames, returning to Bristol shortly afterwards. She has also appeared at various maritime festivals, both at home and abroad – Brest and Vannes in France, and Falmouth, Plymouth, Gloucester and Portsmouth, a bit closer to home here in Bristol.
Today, when not moored in Bristol's historic Floating Harbour, the sails are unfurled, and the ship continues to explore the exciting wild seas around the British Isles and Northern Europe – creating a spectacle wherever she ventures.
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Opening Times
| Open (1 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2022) |
|---|
* April–November: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm
December–April: Saturday and Sunday, 10am–4pm
We are also open on bank holidays (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
Awards
- Regional and Miscellaneous
WTTC Safe Travels 2021
TripAdvisor
Travelers Choice 2022
- Excellent225
- Very Good91
- Average29
- Poor6
- Terrible5
Recent Reviews:
- Chatto127Southend-on-Sea, United KingdomFriendly staff and an enjoyable trip
Tuesday, 31st August 2021My wife and I enjoyed a pleasant trip round the docks on the Matthew. The staff were very friendly and told you quiet a bit about the ship and the history of the area. Read full review - kevinsN7858NVRemarkableWednesday, 27th October 2021The story of how a wooden sailing ship, without any modern, or even old, navigational aids, crossed the Atlantic, is quite remarkable, and this replica, built to exact specifications, explains it all, Read full review
- Charles FNewtown, United KingdomA gemFriday, 21st January 2022A very interesting recreation of the early trans Atlantic explorer that John Cabot took over to Newfoundland with helpful interpretation by the dedicated volunteers. Read full review
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