The Spurn Lightship is a boat museum in a historic vessel that sailed through the vast River Humber for almost 50 years. Its intriguing displays offer an insight into the daily life of sailors on board the ship. Learn the fascinating history of this large navigational aid via the interpretation panel.
Take some photos of this black ship, with its bronze-colored base and large white letters spelling SPURN. Gaze up at the black tower that rises from the center of the boat. Its light helped to guide other boats in the River Humber for 48 years.
Make your way through the sleeping quarters, which are preserved as they were to show you how the seven-person crew lived on long deployments. Examine the pieces of emergency equipment and consider how the various tools might have been put to use.
The displays showcase an array of communication implements and other features that were employed from the inauguration of the ship in 1927. Note that it was eventually decommissioned in 1975, before being converted into a museum in 1987.
The boat museum is open on Sundays from mid June until early September, before closing for winter. Enter for free. Its hours are from late morning until the afternoon, although the interpretation panel explaining the boat’s history and main features is on display at all times year-round.
Wear practical clothing and shoes, as suggested by the museum. Note that the site is not equipped with wheelchair access.
The Spurn Lightship is on the northern edge of the Humber Dock section of the Hull Marina in the heart of the city. Take a train to the Hull railway station and walk southeast for 10 minutes to get here. View some of the other attractions in the area, such as Holy Trinity Church, the Ferens Art Gallery and the Hull Maritime Museum.
