Inside the 147-year-old clipper ship Cutty Sark

After travelling the world, the Cutty Sark is just just a short ride from central London. For the full story behind this tour, check out Cutty Sark: A tour of 147 years of sailing history.

Named after a line about a poorly clad witch in a Robert Burns poem, the Sark's figurehead is said witch carved in white.

The Sarkis suspended above its drydock, and the glass greenhouse that surrounds its hull vaguely implies the water and waves. You enter under the stern.

Inside is far more impressive, with the ship hovering in a lattacework of beams.

Given how immaculate the rest of the ship is, this decision to make the main entrance to the ship via a hole cut in the hull seems odd.

The hull is a skeleton of metal, clad with wood and more metal.

During its shipping days this would have been packed with tea, wool or other goods.

Today there are short clips describing the ship's history.

The model in the foreground shows the iron framework of the ship, which you can see full size behind it.

The next deck up is the Tween deck, which was also used for cargo. Multiple exhibits line the space now.

Once a place where upwards of 20 men slept, it was later used for cargo and the sailors slept in cabins on deck (which you'll see later).

A typical British view out the porthole, though there are fewer and fewer telephone boxes every year.

It's nice that they didn't pack this space full of exhibits and artifacts. It gives a better sense of the size of these ships.

The bow of the ship, fully laid out with all its running gear.

This bacon had a decided woody flavor.

Peeking out over the buildings in the distance is The Shard.

The deck was wet, and the last time I toured a wet British ship I sprained two fingers in a fall. Being weather in Britain, it changed completely over the next 30 minutes, to a bright sunny day.

In full kit, the Sark had 36,000 square feet (3,345 square meters) of sails. At various times in its life, it had far less so fewer crew were required.

Along the right (the center of the ship) are a series of cabins that held work and sleeping space for the crew.

The ship's tiny galley, featuring a cameo of my hand and camera.

This is the carpenter's workshop, a handy thing to have on a ship made primarily of wood.

If you watch a show like "Deadliest Catch," you'll notice how little the bunks of the crew have changed in 150 years.

In the center is a seaman's chest, where he kept all his belongings for the multi-month trip.

Note the display so kids can try out mopping and scrubbing the deck. Seems like a clever way for the museum to get help cleaning.

A "real" officer talking about what life was like on the ship. A clever use of a projector and glass. Similar to my favorite Disney effect at the Haunted Mansion (was that a spoiler?)

Though the Cutty Sark had many sails, it only had a crew of around 30; fewer in later years when they reduced the total number.

Some ominous looking clouds over the stern.

I have to say this confused me. Why is the wheel "facing" the wrong way. Wouldn't you want the sailor steering the boat to be able to see where he's going?

The binnacle compass.

The Master's Cabin, just down the ladder from the bridge. A few decades after it was built, a later owner expanded one of the smaller cabins and made a larger suite for the captain.

An all purpose room, generally used as the officer's mess, but also to entertain guests and more.

The second mates did a bit better than the lowly crew members, but had to share their room.

The ship's pantry. Most meals would be salted meats, vegetables and so on.

After reemerging from belowdecks, the sun had come out. I'm sure Londoners were horrified.

A quick elevator ride (or stairs) bring you to the big open space below the ship, where there's a small cafe where you can stare at the massive rudder.

This is a unique angle as far as I know for viewing a sailing ship. The tiered steps of the drydock have a few displays and offer a place to sit.

The blue greenhouse (bluehouse) cradles the ship like the water once did, water that is so close but never to touch the hull again (probably...).

Such a well-preservied and gorgeous piece of history.

For the full story behind this tour, check out Cutty Sark: A tour of 147 years of sailing history.