PS Waverley

Having spent our morning window shopping in Bluewater (at least I window shopped, Mum's credit cards got some exercise!), Mum and I headed to Gravesend for a picnic lunch on the Thames side. We wondered why so many people were excitedly hanging around the pier. Eventually all became clear when this magnificent boat steamed up and moored to take on more passengers. Overhearing one of the staff, she had just come from Southend, so was probably heading up river to the Tower of London, before returning for early evening.

The historic Paddle Steamer Waverley is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, and still tours around the coast each year: starting her season sailing amidst the stunning scenery of the Western Isles; she visits the Bristol Channel; spends the summer exploring the West Coast of Scotland before moving to the South Coast of England in September and London and the Thames in October.