There is an opportunity to view the Gloriana from the River locally, as she takes part in the Tudor Pull on Sunday 23rd April from 9am-5pm.

It’s quite a spectacle, especially at Teddington Lock (11.15-11.30am) and Richmond (12.15-1pm), where you get quite close to the boats. The event is a new “tradition” set up by the Thames Traditional Rowing Association to help promote the skills of fixed seat rowing on the tidal Thames. For more info and some pics go to the Gloriana’s website.  The crews taking part usually stop in Richmond for a break.

The annual Tudor Pull is from Hampton Court (10.30am) to St. Katharine’s Pier (4.15pm), then HM Tower of London with HM Barge Master and a crew of Watermen from the Watermen & Lightermen Company. The event is to transport the ‘Stela’, a slice of ancient wooden water pipe, which is handed in to the charge of HM Barge Master by the Governor of Hampton Court Palace to be carried under oars to the Tower of London and presented to the Duty Governor watched over by the Yeoman Warders.