All aboard! We caught a glimpse of the age of discovery on The Matthew in Bristol Harbour

“Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be aboard the sailing ship that discovered Newfoundland?

Nestled by Prices Wharf, near M Shed, The Matthew of Bristol, a wooden vessel with green accents and no sails, stands strong under the backdrop of the Bristol Harbour.

The caravel is a replica of the ship John Cabot used in his famous voyage across the Atlantic where he found Newfoundland in 1497.

Before the famous transatlantic voyage, the Matthew was believed to be an ordinary commercial ship that carried goods between Bristol, Ireland and Biscay, but little else is known about where or when the vessel was built. The replica was built in Redcliffe Quay between 1994 and 1996 to celebrate the 500th anniversary 1997 of Cabot’s famous and successful voyage. The ship is free to explore when it is moored at M Shed.

The Matthew also offers regular sailing experiences including Harbour Trips, Fish and Chips trips, Fish and Chips trips with Piratitude and longer Avon Gorge Cruises during the summer sailing season between April and October, and can also be hired for private events. The ship is owned by the charity The Matthew of Bristol Trust which uses all donations and profits made during public and private trips to maintain the ship and its legacy.

Online sales for the harbour trips close 24 hours before the day and cost £14 per adult (plus £1.56 online fee), £11 (plus £1.53 online fee) for seniors (65+) and concessions (disabled, carers), £9 for children ages 5 to 17 (plus £1.22 online fee) and free for children ages 4 and under. Having read on the booking website that any remaining tickets would be available for sale on board the vessel with cash on a first-come, first-served basis, we decided to try our luck on a gloomy Tuesday morning.

I arrived with 20 minutes to spare before the Harbour Trip and was pleased to find that it would cost £10 to get on The Matthew, which was £5 cheaper than if I had booked online, which made the risk worthwhile. It was not very long until we were invited to go onboard the vessel which had multiple seats available across the main deck.

The trip was popular with a wide range of age groups, including families with young children. Having been lightly raining during the morning, the crew warned us to be cautious when walking around and using the ladders to the upper decks since they were quite slippery.

The motor-driven vessel took off at around 10.50 am, and a little after, I decided to make my way up to one of the upper decks, where I remained for the rest of the relaxing journey.

The Harbour trip took about 50 minutes to be completed and sailed between Prince Street Bridge and The Pumphouse/Junction Lock before returning to Princes Wharf. Memorabilia of the trip was also for sale on board, and the friendly volunteers were available to ask any questions about John Cabot and the vessel.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience which I would recommend if you have the opportunity. The harbour trip allowed me to relax and appreciate the historical harbour and what it has to offer from a new angle. Some highlights were seeing the SS Great Britain up close, the wildlife (including swans) and the suspension bridge.”