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The Great Britain Guide

Maritime museums · East of England

Lightvessel 18

In or near Little Oakley.

Free admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.5 · 22 Google reviews

Lightvessel 18 in England East, United Kingdom.

Danish ferry entering Harwich harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1225882

Oxymoron — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
2 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Harwich Town · 0.5 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

Lightvessel 18 is located in Tendring, Essex, with the postcode CO12 3HH. The nearest railway station is Harwich Town, which is 0.5 km away. Accessibility is limited, and entry details are not specified.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Lightvessel 18 is a preserved museum ship in England East, United Kingdom — a vessel of historic significance preserved as a public visitor attraction. Britain's museum ships span Tudor warships (Mary Rose), tea clippers (Cutty Sark), Victorian battleships (HMS Warrior) and 20th-century submarines.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2025

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Official information

The LV18 lightvessel is a historic maritime vessel located in Harwich, serving as a preserved example of a manned light vessel. Visitors can explore the ship, which hosts various events and exhibitions, and learn about its significance in maritime history.

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Suffolk Coast & Heaths

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Light Vessel 18 Saint Gowan, otherwise known as LV18 is an ex-Trinity House lightship and is the only Trinity House lightship equipped with a majority of its original equipment. Built in 1958 as one of a class of 8 lightships by Philip and Son, the ship was initially posted to the Saint Gowan station and subsequently served at several other stations before retirement in 1994. In 1997 the vessel was sold to Sea Containers Ltd and two years later was chartered to Tony O'Neil for preservation purposes. In this new position she began to serve as a location for various revival broadcasts of offshore radio. In 2002, The Pharos Trust was established for the purposes of the preservation and upkeep of LV18 and the vessel was subsequently purchased by the trust. In February 2024 an arson attack occurred aboard the vessel and serious damage was incurred to the ship.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Coordinates
51.9485, 1.2866
County
Essex
District
Tendring
Parish
Harwich
Postcode
CO12 3HH
Parliamentary constituency
Harwich and North Essex
Phone
07446 171 320
Established
1958
Nearest railway station
Harwich Town0.5 km
Opening
Daily 11am–4pm; closed November–March except for pre-arranged visits
Official site
www.lv18.org

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

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Where to eat & stay near Lightvessel 18

Places to stay

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Suffolk Sands Holiday Park

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Dovercourt Holiday Park

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Lightvessel 18?
Lightvessel 18 is in Essex, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode CO12 3HH), in the parish of Harwich.
What is Lightvessel 18?
Lightvessel 18 in England East, United Kingdom.
How do I get to Lightvessel 18?
The nearest railway station is Harwich Town, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode CO12 3HH.
When was Lightvessel 18 built?
Built or established in 1958.
Who owns Lightvessel 18?
Lightvessel 18 is owned by | registry =.
Is Lightvessel 18 a protected site?
Yes — Lightvessel 18 is part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape (AONB).
How do I get to Lightvessel 18?
The nearest railway station is Harwich Town, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CO12 3HH.