From Dunkirk Little Ships to WW2 classics
St Katharine Docks welcomes the Classic Boat Festival this September with over 70 registered vessels, the biggest gathering the marina has hosted to date. From Dunkirk Little Ships to WW2 classics, wooden sailing barges to restored narrowboats dating back to the 1930s, it’s the event of the year for London’s only marina, where maritime heritage shines in all its glory.
The lineup is a roll-call of serious boats with serious stories. Tom Cunliffe, writer, talk host, and generally beloved yachting personality, returns for 2026 and will be holding court on Sunday at 1pm. The star of the showcase will be a beautifully restored RNLI and Dunkirk Little Ship ‘Guide of Dunkirk’, painstakingly brought back to life by Abbey Molyneux, an award-winning female boat builder. It details a restoration that took years of love and craftsmanship, like most of the DLS fleet.
There’s the newly restored barge Raybel, Sir Alec Rose’s historic yacht ‘Lively Lady’, Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht ‘Nancy Blackett’, and a Clipper Round the World Yacht ‘Courageous’. In addition, making a first appearance at the festival are a pair of classic narrowboats from the 1930s that are charming inside and out.
Beyond the showstoppers, there’s the festival backbone: the Dunkirk Little Ships (a record-breaking 24 vessels), the Thames Sailing Barge Gladys, the mighty Motor Tug Kent, and the Gloriana herself – the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee barge. The Wapping Marine Police Unit, Royal Navy, and wooden boat builder Landamores are also joining the party.
Opening and closing to a salute of horns, what makes the festival so special is how it transforms the entire estate. The docks come alive with colour and festival vibes as flags adorn the ships and landside, the waterside fills with a excited energy, and the restaurants across the marina offer maritime specials to match the occasion. It’s not just a boat show, it’s the docks reimagined, with historical working boats that reminds you why maritime heritage matters.
Full details: www.skdocks.co.uk/marina
