Cutty Sark audio guides

Follow the audio tour

Want to hear what life was really like at sea? Follow the Cutty Sark audio tour and take a voyage into our seafaring past.

Listen to thrilling tales from the ship's history, hear about the lives of its captains and crews, and discover how Cutty Sark became the fastest ship of its day. Each stop on the tour guides listeners through a different area of the ship, from the close confines of the Lower Hold to the open expanse of the Main Deck.

Featuring expert commentary, rich audio, images and text, the Cutty Sark audio tour is your chance to explore the ship at your own pace and in your own way.

Listen online

Download Smartify for free from the Apple or Android app store.

Listen to the Cutty Sark Soundscape

Cutty Sark Soundscape is a new digital experience that immerses you in the sounds of sailing on a tea clipper 150 years ago. Hear the wind, waves, rigging, creaking wood and other sounds along with specially commissioned music composed by Sonic Collaborations.

Different sounds are automatically triggered as you walk around the ship. You can even personalise your experience by choosing from a range of different weather conditions and adjusting the balance between music and audio effects. Listen to the soundscape on your own device and at your own pace as you explore the ship. 

Cutty Sark Soundscape is an audio experience with a difference. There’s no commentary: it’s just you, the sounds of the ship, the roar of the waves and the rush of the music. Let your imagination flow.

Download the Smartify app

Learn more about Cutty Sark Soundscape

How it works

All Cutty Sark audio experiences are available to listen to via Smartify, the world's most downloaded museum app. We recommend downloading the app before you arrive and bringing headphones to enjoy the full range of audio experiences.

• The Cutty Sark audio tour is available to listen to via the app and online. The tour is available in nine different languages as well as British Sign Language.
• To listen to Cutty Sark Soundscape, open the Smartify app, tap the 'Scan' button at the bottom of the screen and hold your phone up to the Cutty Sark Soundscape poster – the experience will load automatically. Alternatively you can search for the soundscape within the app.

Hint: you’ll need to allow Smartify to access your camera and Bluetooth for the experience to work. We also recommend logging into the free Museum Wi-Fi, as phone signal in some parts of the ship can be limited.