For the next few blog articles, my London Shoes will be knocking-out some ‘quickies’ in succession – for no particular reason other than that’s just the way the topics in question have presented themselves.
Last week on the 27th of August 2025 – a boat, very different from the norm – sailed under Tower Bridge on its way to St. Katharine Dock.
The “SAGA FARMANN” – a 20 metre reconstruction of a 1,000-year-old replica Viking cargo ship, from what was around and used around AD998.
Construction work on the ship began in 2014 – and it was built using traditional Viking materials and techniques, but with modern safety fittings.
The ‘Saga Farmann’ set sail from Tonsberg in Norway, way back in April 2023 – and with a top speed of 10-12 knots (using sail) the ship has spent the past 2yrs re-tracing the old Viking trading routes across Europe, sailing down the Rhine – the Danube – the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
It took around 2yrs to complete its journey from Norway to London – re-enacting an old Viking trading route.
The ship’s 18 volunteer crew live on the boat – there’s no modern shower/bathroom fixtures or home comforts like that, and everyone has to muck-in and take responsibility. The crew are made up of people from all different parts of the world, and they are swapped around at regular intervals (where convenient).
The vessel is a great example of ancient boat building being used in today’s modern maritime world.
Anyway – having seen a BBC news clip last week showing the arrival of the ‘Saga Farmann’ sailing under Tower Bridge, with all its Viking crew on board – my London Shoes felt that the visit of this historic replica ship deserved to be captured by way of a Shoes’ blog – and so, on a rather gloomy rainy day, I headed off down to the River Thames and to St. Katharine’s Dock – to take few photos and find out a little bit about the boat and its sailing initiative.
Whilst walking around St. Katharine Dock I stumbled upon another historic vessel that was moored up there.
The ‘Gloriana’ Royal Barge that was commissioned as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘Diamond Jubilee Pageant’ – where over 1,000 boats followed her in a procession down the River Thames.
This majestic 90m long rowing barge that has provision for 18 oarsmen and has 2 inboard engines – can carry 34 passengers. Apart from the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012 – the same year, the ‘Gloriana’ also sailed down the Thames carrying the Olympic Torch. So – seeing it the boat there in St. Katherine Dock was a unexpected bonus.
Having spent some time with them marauding Vikings – I went and had a swift-half at the Dickens Inn pub in St. Katharine Dock, before setting off back home.
Now – (and this is just my personal opinion) I’ve never been a great lover of the 3 storey Victorian built former warehouse – that much later became the Dickens Inn pub – with its faux Dickensian features/fixtures/fittings, it’s very touristy…..and I get that, why wouldn’t it be, as St. Katharine Dock attracts thousands of ‘visitors’ each year, and the pub is on-site, extremely popular and very busy at times. It’s just not my personal cup-of-tea, but for this particular jaunt out it was perfect for a customary quick ‘cheeky’ one – after meddling with all those sea-faring Vikings.
So – in summary- on the 6th & 7th September the ‘Saga Farmann’ will be the ‘star attraction’ at the “Classic Boat Festival” that’s being held at St. Katharine Dock – where it will share the limelight with some little ships that were involved in Dunkirk plus a few Thames sailing barges – sounds like it could be a really interesting and enjoyable event.
Hope you enjoyed this little snippet blog article and its accompanying photos.
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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog article
The ‘Saga Farmann’ Viking trading ship – in action on the high seas
The promo for the ‘Saga Farmann’ visit to London
St. Katharine Dock – right near Tower Bridge – the home of the ‘Saga Farmann’ for a couple of weeks
The ‘Saga Farmann’ – a 20 metre reconstruction of a 1,000-year-old replica Viking cargo ship, from what was around and used around AD998 – now moored up in St. Katharine Dock
Them Vikings making their presence felt in St Katharine Dock
The ‘Saga Farmann’ set sail from Tonsberg in Norway, way back in April 2023 – and with a top speed of 10-12 knots (using sail) the ship has spent the past 2yrs re-tracing the old Viking trading routes across Europe, sailing down the Rhine – the Danube – the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
Construction work on the ship began in 2014 – and it was built using traditional Viking materials and techniques, but with modern safety fittings.
Me & my London Shoes – alongside the ‘Saga Farmann’ and its Viking crew – at St Katharine Dock
The ship’s volunteer 18 crew live on the boat – there’s no modern shower/bathroom fixtures or home comforts like that, and everyone has to muck-in and take responsibility. The crew are made up of people from all different parts of the world, and they are swapped around at regular intervals (where convenient).
The ‘Saga Farmann’ ship is a great example of ancient boat building being used in today’s modern maritime world.
The ‘Saga Farmann’ took around 2yrs to complete its journey from Norway to London – re-enacting an old Viking trading route
Some of the Saga’ Farmann’ Viking crew – carrying out conducted tours of the impressive replica of an old Viking trading ship
A couple of the Viking crew of the ‘Saga Farmann’ – waiting to welcome London punters aboard
A lady Viking showing punters around the ‘Saga Farmann’
The 1825 built St. Katharine Dock – that sits just a couple of mins walk from Tower Bridge. The dock took its name from the ‘St Katharine by the Tower’ hospital that once stood next to the site
Views of St Katharine Dock
Views of St Katharine Dock
Views of St Katharine Dock – you can see just how close it is to Tower Bridge (see a bridge Tower in the distance)
Whilst walking around St. Katharine’s Dock I stumbled upon another historic vessel that was moored up there – the ‘Gloriana’ Royal Barge
The ‘Gloriana’ Royal Barge that was commissioned as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘Diamond Jubilee Pageant’ – where over 1,000 boats followed her in a procession down the River Thames.
This majestic 90m long rowing barge that has provision for 18 oarsmen and has 2 inboard engines – can carry 34 passengers. Apart from the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012 – the same year, the ‘Gloriana’ also sailed down the Thames carrying the Olympic Torch
The extremely popular ‘Dickens Inn’ pub in St. Katharine Dock
Inside the Dickens Inn pub – St Katherine Dock
Inside the Dickens Inn pub – St Katherine Dock
For this particular London Shoes jaunt out, The Dickens Inn was ideal for a customary quick ‘cheeky’ one
Thanks for the reminder about the event at St.Katharine Dock this weekend – we’ll be heading there on Friday before it goes elsewhere. The Dickens Inn won’t feature in our plans
Nice one Shoes
With Viking heritage according to my DNA test this is doubly interesting
May be short and sweet, but still full of interesting information. 😀
Interesting read Geoff . Much more interested in the Viking adventure than the false looking Dickens pub
Interesting read Geoff👍