The Navigators
a steampunk ship in a galleria
A giant, ship-like kinetic bronze that drips and moves in the glass-roofed Hay's Galleria by the river.
Free to visit · London Bridge · London Bridge · SE1 2HD
Opening: Galleria open daily
In the elegant glass-roofed arcade of Hay's Galleria by the Thames stands The Navigators, a huge and wonderfully strange bronze sculpture by David Kemp. Part ship, part fantastical machine, it rises some ten metres in a riot of masts, paddles and pipes, and parts of it actually move, with water spouting and jets working in a slow mechanical dance.
It nods to the area's history as a great wharf where ships unloaded tea and goods from around the world. Free to admire under cover whatever the weather, it is a brilliant, slightly steampunk surprise on a riverside walk near London Bridge.
Getting there: In Hay's Galleria by the river, a couple of minutes from London Bridge.
Best time to go: Any time the galleria is open, good in any weather under its glass roof.
Insider tip: Wait a moment and you will see the water features and moving parts come to life, it is kinetic, not static. It is under a glass roof, so it makes a great free rainy-day stop right by the river.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide