Rig climb frequently asked questions

• Adult: £60
• Child (10-17)*: £49
• Student: £55
• Members (all ages): £30

The ticket cost includes admission to the ship, the climb, all safety equipment and free storage of personal items. Royal Museums Greenwich Members already get free entry to the ship; the Member price is for the Cutty Sark Rig Climb only. 

*All children aged between 10-17 years old must be accompanied on the climb by at least one adult aged 18+. One adult can accompany up to five children.

Incorporating storytelling, immersive activity and authenticity, the experience allows participants to understand what life was like for Victorian sailors who would have had to have climbed the rigging.

The rig climb itself is as authentic as possible within modern health and safety standards. Participants will step up from the Main Deck pin rails, holding on to the shrouds and climb up the ship’s ratlines. The climb will take you to the Tops Platform slightly above the ship’s Course Yard. Once participants reach the Tops platform, they climb slightly higher, traversing onto the Yard (Lower Topsail). Participants will then climb back down to the Tops Platform to embark on their controlled descent down to the Main Deck.

Your ticket also includes full access to Cutty Sark, meaning you can explore the historic ship and climb the rigging on the same day.

Please note there is limited availability per timeslot. To avoid disappointment, we advise visitors to pre-book this experience in advance. 

We strongly suggest that you book online in advance.

All our available dates can be found through our online booking calendar. If you have any questions about availability, please email bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Depending on availability, you can upgrade your standard Cutty Sark admission ticket to include a climb. Please speak with staff at the desks on the day.

No climbing experience is required, but you need to be physically and medically fit. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.

There is no upper age limit as long as you are fit and healthy.

The Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience is not suitable for people with certain medical conditions (e.g. pregnancy or heart conditions). You must not be suffering from any medical condition that may put your health and safety, or that of others, at risk.

Participants must be:

• At least 10 years old. Children aged between 10-17 years old require a paying Adult or Student (18+) to participate in a climb with them, as well as parental consent via an online waiver form.  
• At least 1.2m/3ft9in tall (due to the gap in the rope ratlines).
• Less than 21 stone (130kg) in weight.
• Able to wear a harness that has a maximum width waist of 130 cm/51.1in and a maximum upper thigh width of 75cm/29.5in.

Participants must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Participants must also sign a waiver before the Rig Climb. Children aged between 10-17 years old must have Parental/Guardian consent via an online waiver form. 

Please remember that all Children aged between 10-17 years old must be accompanied on the climb by at least one adult or student aged 18+ (max 5 children per adult).

All tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, so it is important to familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions before purchasing tickets.

For further information please email: bookings@rmg.co.uk.

The maximum number of participants for most climbing slots is six. Please contact bookings@rmg.co.uk if you wish to book more tickets than available.

Cutty Sark Rig Climb is open every Friday and Saturday from 16 May - 31 October. Additional dates are also available over the August bank holiday weekend and October half term -  check the bookings calendar for all available dates.

Generally the climb operates from 10am-5pm, with the last climbing slot starting at 4pm. Remember that your ticket also includes admission to all areas of Cutty Sark, so we recommend allowing at least 45 minutes before or after your climb to enjoy the ship too. 

Please note if you are booking a climbing slot at 4pm, you will need to explore the ship beforehand.

For occasional dawn rig climbs, evening sunset or ‘after work’ climbs until 10pm, please email events@rmg.co.uk.

Yes, we offer a 15% discount for groups of 15 people or more. Due to the limited number of spaces per session, and the popularity of the experience, please contact bookings@rmg.co.uk  to co-ordinate your group’s visit.

Royal Museums Greenwich is a charity, and we are therefore unable to permit fundraising onsite for any other organisation. If you are climbing for a separate charity, please gather support/raise sponsorship in advance of your climb with us. Press filming/photography is not permitted. Please read our important information about filming and photography regarding these restrictions: Non Commercial Filming/Photography guidelines.

Please do get in touch with our bookings team to discuss your booking at Bookings@rmg.co.uk. The team will talk you through our standard and group pricing, and they will liaise with you to find a date with suitable availability.

Please check your spam mailbox as our email may have gone there. Not there? Please contact our Bookings team on 0208 312 6608, Monday to Sunday 9am-5pm. Alternatively, email bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Admission to Royal Museums Greenwich sites as well as the rig climb is by ticket only.

Once booked, tickets are non-transferable and are unable to be rescheduled, refunded or cancelled.

Please check your tickets carefully prior to checking out, as mistakes cannot always be rectified.

Ticket holders should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled rig climb (as indicated on your ticket).

Arriving after the scheduled start time means you may not be able to participate and will not be entitled to a refund. There will be no compensation paid for consequential losses or other expenses of a related nature.

• Sensible clothing, preferably old clothing that you won’t mind getting dirty!
• Your shoulders, midriff and upper legs should be covered. You will be open to the elements so please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Please note the rigging can be a relatively dirty place and birds can visit and nest from time to time. Your clothes may be stained by the tar from the ropes and therefore old clothing is strongly recommended. Royal Museums Greenwich and Wire & Sky will not be liable for any damage to clothing.
• You must wear closed toe shoes, trainers or boots that will not fall off. Open toe shoes, flipflops, sandals or high heels are not permitted.
• Long hair must be tied back.
• Skirts/dresses are not appropriate.
• Jewellery and scarves must be removed.
• Gloves are not provided, but wearing gloves is permitted and strongly recommended.
• We recommend bringing sunglasses with you on sunny days.
• Gilets will be provided. Footwear and protective clothing will not be provided.
• Loose items, including mobile phones and cameras, are not allowed to be carried on your person.

Please bring an electronic version of your booking confirmation email (this can be printed if you prefer). If you have any problems, please contact bookings@rmg.co.uk prior to your visit.

You also must wear closed toe shoes, trainers or boots that will not fall off during the climb. We also recommend bringing a pair of gloves. For more details on what to wear, see the separate section above.

Rig Climbs will take place in all conditions unless the weather is considered to pose a potential health and safety risk to climbers. The objective of the climb is to provide an authentic experience, which will give participants an understanding of life on board the Cutty Sark for the crew that sailed this historic vessel around the world. 

We constantly monitor changes to weather conditions and will keep you updated in advance if we feel that the weather may affect your climb. We will endeavour to reschedule your booking for the next available date that is suitable for you. If an alternative date cannot be arranged, Royal Museums Greenwich will refund you the face value of the tickets purchased to the original method of payment.  

Any contact will be in the form of an email, so you are advised to check your email inbox before visiting to avoid an unnecessary journey should your ticket be cancelled.

The climb itself will depend on the speed of each individual. Please do allow up to an hour to enjoy the whole experience. Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience tickets include admission to explore the ship as well.

We ask participants taking part in the Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience to arrive 15 minutes before the allocated time of your rig climb.

You will be given a safety briefing before your rig climb. Wire & Sky instructors will detail the challenges and limitations of the climb as well as set the scene for the adventure. They will give you handy tips and answer your questions.

During the safety briefing, participants will hear stories about life on board this historic vessel.

Time will be allocated to fit equipment (harness, lanyards, helmet, and gilet) for the rig climb and sign a waiver (if you have not already done so).

You will be asked to empty your pockets; storage will be provided for personal belongings.

Participants agree to follow the direction and decisions of their guides/instructors. If you do not you absolve yourself of our responsibility.

Lockable storage will be provided. Personal belongings are left at your own risk. Storage space is limited so please only bring what you need on the day.

No, not during the climb. This includes action cameras such as GoPros. Storage will be provided for personal belongings.

There will be no designated area for family and friends to take photos. They will still be required to pay for an admissions ticket to enter the ship.

There will be an opportunity to purchase souvenir photos; please speak with the Wire & Sky team on the day.

If medication is essential, this can be left with a staff member on the deck level. Under no circumstances can we allow medication to be carried by climbers.

Yes, if they are not loose fitting or liable to fall off.

Please contact our Bookings team on 0208 312 6608 as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate you, but this may not always be possible. Unfortunately, if you are late on the day, we cannot issue refunds or reschedule your climb. 

A council-operated underground public car park is available in Cutty Sark Gardens, which is open 24/7 and has 70 parking bays.

Limited car parking is located on Park Row/Romney Road (including two electric charging points): book in advance here.

Find more travel information

The Wire & Sky team will be taking pictures of you during your climb – any pictures taken will be available to view and purchase via a QR code on your wristband. Photos are £7.00 for one image or £10.00 for the entire package.

Please make sure you keep your wristband, as this has your unique QR code and you will need it to view and purchase your pictures!

If you encounter any problems with accessing or purchasing your photos, please contact info@wireandsky.co.uk who will be able to assist you.

The Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience is installed and managed by Wire & Sky.

Wire & Sky install and operate urban adventure attractions, and as part of this create unique and inspiring tours with heritage sites. They have a high-profile list of clients and work on prestigious venues across the UK. Wire & Sky are an industry leader in this field, and their focus on safety and professionalism means that you feel safe in the knowledge that they will deliver the highest quality experience.

The controlled descent from the Tops Platform begins at a height of 68ft (21m) from street level. 

• Tops Platform: 52ft approx*  
• Course Yard: 70ft approx* 

*Please note these are heights from Main Deck level and not street level.

The rig climb operation will involve no modification to the existing rig of the ship. All safety lines and equipment used to operate the rig climb are temporary and removable, and used only whilst the rig climb is taking place. 

It should be noted that the Cutty Sark rig is not original. The masts and yards date to the 1950s when the ship was first moved to Greenwich. The rope ratlines are modern and are replaced on a regular basis. This contrasts with the ship’s hull, which is almost entirely original dating back to 1869 both above and below the muntz metal sheathing (which is modern).