Lightvessel LV18
Lightvessel LV18
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Open to the public without appointment. Fully compliant with current regulations for public access. Please contact if you have queries.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
68 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
19
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Ellie W
5 contributions
Oct 2021
The LV18 was a really brilliant experience. On the deck of the ship there is a garden and lots of information. The people working there were very friendly and informative, having been involved in the radio and music scenes themselves. Below deck are a great range of displays and information. The ship also appeared to be accessible - we saw a wheelchair and stair lift.
Written 27 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EssexUnhappycustomer
ESSEX54 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
I visited a really cool ship with my boyfriend at Harwich, Essex. ‘RADIO CAROLINE LIGHTSHIP 18’ This ship was used in the 1960’s, 1970s for illegal off shore pirate Radio station and it was moored of the Port of Harwich and the DJS found a loop hole in the law to broadcast.
The broadcasts were from this ship anchored off shore, outside territorial waters. Apparently they were raided by the police, had their supplies of food and water cut off, and being generally outside the law. The public demand for Pop Music was so great that eventually the BBC had to compete by setting up its own Pop Station, which became the birth of BBC Radio One; some of the Pirate DJs were given legal work on this station. The Lightship LV 18 was used in the filming of “The Boat That Rocked”. I found this all really interesting and really amazed that there is nothing on the internet advertising this! The gentleman on the ship was very helpful and we only paid a few pounds each for the visit. We took some lovely photos and climbed around the ship.
Apparently tug MURIA towed it from Harwich to Portland for Frigate Films for Universal Pictures for the film 'The Boat That Rocked' which took place in and around the Dorset harbour of Portland for 5 weeks in 2008. The movie is set on a pirate radio station in 1966, "Radio Rock" and its crew of eclectic DJs show broadcast rock and pop music to the United Kingdom from a ship anchored in the North Sea while the British government endeavours to shut them down. It charts a love triangle between two DJs, played by Kenneth Branagh and Rhys Ifans and an American girl, played by January Jones. LV 18 plays the rival station Radio Sunshine and had been partially repainted yellow for the film. This Ship has a permanent home opposite the Pier Hotel in Harwich. The ship has been fully restored and been open to the public since 2011.I would recommend a visit – Worth a visit. Ha'penny pier has a quirky cafe for teas cakes and light snacks. Don’t forget to go to the seafood hut for cockles and crab. We both had a lovely visit and will go back again.
The broadcasts were from this ship anchored off shore, outside territorial waters. Apparently they were raided by the police, had their supplies of food and water cut off, and being generally outside the law. The public demand for Pop Music was so great that eventually the BBC had to compete by setting up its own Pop Station, which became the birth of BBC Radio One; some of the Pirate DJs were given legal work on this station. The Lightship LV 18 was used in the filming of “The Boat That Rocked”. I found this all really interesting and really amazed that there is nothing on the internet advertising this! The gentleman on the ship was very helpful and we only paid a few pounds each for the visit. We took some lovely photos and climbed around the ship.
Apparently tug MURIA towed it from Harwich to Portland for Frigate Films for Universal Pictures for the film 'The Boat That Rocked' which took place in and around the Dorset harbour of Portland for 5 weeks in 2008. The movie is set on a pirate radio station in 1966, "Radio Rock" and its crew of eclectic DJs show broadcast rock and pop music to the United Kingdom from a ship anchored in the North Sea while the British government endeavours to shut them down. It charts a love triangle between two DJs, played by Kenneth Branagh and Rhys Ifans and an American girl, played by January Jones. LV 18 plays the rival station Radio Sunshine and had been partially repainted yellow for the film. This Ship has a permanent home opposite the Pier Hotel in Harwich. The ship has been fully restored and been open to the public since 2011.I would recommend a visit – Worth a visit. Ha'penny pier has a quirky cafe for teas cakes and light snacks. Don’t forget to go to the seafood hut for cockles and crab. We both had a lovely visit and will go back again.
Written 27 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
caroline b
oxford249 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
this is fascinating , a slice of history and very modestly priced - £4 for an adult. go on board and explore - it is run by dedicated enthusiasts. Hopefully you may also see it up at the Ipswich maritime festival next month. Next to Harwich Pier - please go on board and support them they really deserve it.
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
staffo
Rochester,England25 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Hi, some interesting reviews here regarding visits to the Lightvessel LV18 in Harwich.
However, I need to correct some big misunderstandings in people's perception of what they were visiting. The first thing that needs to be understood is that the LV18 HAS NO connection to any "pirate" (or true offshore) radio station which operated from the seas off Britain in the period from 1964 to the early 1990's. Including of course Radio Caroline.
During that long period of British Offshore Radio, the LV18 was occupied in its role as a Lightvessel.
Yes, the LV18 does have an interesting history. But, this is as a Lightvessel.
It is only in the past couple of decades, after the British Offshore Pirate Radio era had long ended, that the LV18 was been used for some fun licensed radio broadcasts in more recent decades. These were tribute broadcasts and not the real thing, mainly from its anchorage in Harwich Harbour.
In fact, they have even included BBC Essex using the vessel for a number of commemorative broadcasts. Nothing naughty about that, of course, they were fully licenced broadcasts.
So, whilst you may see memorabilia on-board regarding the "golden days" of Radio Caroline and Radio London and others, this does not in anyway link to the activities of the LV18.
So, go on-board (it seems like a very good visit for the £2 price!), but please do it with the awareness that you are looking at the vessel which was used (along with the the authentic loaned studio equipment from the real Radio Caroline radio ship Ross Revenge) in the film The Boat That Rocked. But, you are not looking at a boat that rocked the airwaves during the golden days of pirate offshore radio in decades gone.
For that, you need top go a little bit further south to the River Blackwater Estuary near Bradwell in Essex. That is the home of a real "Boat That Rocked". The Radio Caroline radio ship Ross Revenge. Which broadcast at sea from 1983 to 1990 (in defiance of the British Government). The ship is used for regular special broadcasts as part of Caroline's broadcast, 365 days a year with a radio licence on 648 khz AM. You can see the bright red ship from the river bank.
However, I need to correct some big misunderstandings in people's perception of what they were visiting. The first thing that needs to be understood is that the LV18 HAS NO connection to any "pirate" (or true offshore) radio station which operated from the seas off Britain in the period from 1964 to the early 1990's. Including of course Radio Caroline.
During that long period of British Offshore Radio, the LV18 was occupied in its role as a Lightvessel.
Yes, the LV18 does have an interesting history. But, this is as a Lightvessel.
It is only in the past couple of decades, after the British Offshore Pirate Radio era had long ended, that the LV18 was been used for some fun licensed radio broadcasts in more recent decades. These were tribute broadcasts and not the real thing, mainly from its anchorage in Harwich Harbour.
In fact, they have even included BBC Essex using the vessel for a number of commemorative broadcasts. Nothing naughty about that, of course, they were fully licenced broadcasts.
So, whilst you may see memorabilia on-board regarding the "golden days" of Radio Caroline and Radio London and others, this does not in anyway link to the activities of the LV18.
So, go on-board (it seems like a very good visit for the £2 price!), but please do it with the awareness that you are looking at the vessel which was used (along with the the authentic loaned studio equipment from the real Radio Caroline radio ship Ross Revenge) in the film The Boat That Rocked. But, you are not looking at a boat that rocked the airwaves during the golden days of pirate offshore radio in decades gone.
For that, you need top go a little bit further south to the River Blackwater Estuary near Bradwell in Essex. That is the home of a real "Boat That Rocked". The Radio Caroline radio ship Ross Revenge. Which broadcast at sea from 1983 to 1990 (in defiance of the British Government). The ship is used for regular special broadcasts as part of Caroline's broadcast, 365 days a year with a radio licence on 648 khz AM. You can see the bright red ship from the river bank.
Written 9 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesleypoore1
Harwich, UK34 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
Brilliant ship restored well. Interesting to see and good fir kids to explore. Not so good for disabled though as steep stairs onboard. Well worth seeing.
Written 6 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham W
Liverpool, UK10 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
well done to those that have restored and preserved this old light ship. But why is it covered in unrelated rubbish , Ie gardens green bikes and mannequins It would make the light ship keepers that i knew turn in there graves
Written 9 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
balfourman
London29 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
The ship is now an immobile radio station, with an on-deck floral garden like those you see on Dutch barges. There is a lot of information about its earlier broadcasting life; and the emphasis is on that rather than its original purpose. But there remains plenty to show you what life on board was like when it provided safety at sea as well as when it was an off-shore radio station. The accommodation is cramped, and everything you touch is damp. The ladders between decks are very steep. There was little privacy. When crew members were off-watch, they slept in bunks with high sides so rough seas were less likely to tip them out. Each room and section of companionway (corridor) is separated from the next by a high step, so that if a wave came over the side, the water could be contained and pumped out. The doors and portholes could all be screwed shut to contain the water if the waves broke through the porthole glass. So if you suffered from claustrophobia, life as a lightship sailor was not for you. Go and see it so you can appreciate the danger of working on ships.
Written 28 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elephantmummy
Norwich, UK18 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
Owned by a lovely gentle character who has totally restored this lovely old lightship - the last fully restored ship of its kind. It has an interesting history with pirate radio as a previous life. Worth a visit for the tiny secret garden in the prow!
Written 20 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravellerCleethorpes
Cleethorpes173 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Had an individual tour by a local volunteer who was a great enthusiast!Fairly steep steps between decks but interesting as most of the interior is original and there are apparently several rare generators in the lower deck which I suspect enthusiasts would be allowed to see.Admission at £2 was modest and opening times are 1000-1600 daily
Written 22 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonesy409
Harwich, UK2 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
I liked the History behind it & Harwich it was very very interesting and so much to look at including about when it was a Pirate Radio Station.
Written 2 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Why has the light vessel got all that junk on it ie gardens bikes mannequins it would make the old keepers turn in there graves. Why cant it be as it was ?
Written 9 May 2019
Ilona H
Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
It is home to Radio Mi Amigo now as well as a museum to the original vessel. The 'junk' as you put it is a garden which brightens the whole place up a bit. I would pay a visit and support its upkeep rather than moan. Well done to John and the crew keeping it going!
Written 10 May 2019
30 minutes to an hour all depends how much you read and look at the views from the ship
Written 16 August 2017
I am coming with my wife on may 2nd with Thomsons/first choice, where will my transfer coach drop us, I've heard its other side of railway, is this true?
Written 29 June 2015
I'm sorry, are you referring to Harwich International Port? The lightship is on Harwich Quay.
Written 30 June 2015
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