The restored Cutty Sark opens again to the public at Greenwich from today (Thursday) following an official reopening ceremony by The Queen.

The £50 million restoration over six years was set back by a major fire on board in 2007.

In a unique engineering project the vessel’s hull has been raised 11 feet off the base of the dry dock. The solution takes weight off the clipper's keel and allows visitors to walk under the hull for the first time.

The hull’s sleek design resulted in the ship’s outstanding speed which resulted in her achieving a record breaking average speed of 17.5 knots on the journey from Sydney to London.

The Cutty Sark’s  weather deck  and rigging have been restored. Below decks the ships history is explored in a series of exhibits and interactive installations.

Much of the original frame has been restored, paint colour coding inside the hull shows which parts are original and which new. Most of the planking is original.

Luckily much had been stripped from the vessel before the fire broke out. This plus the fact that the fire was restricted to part of the ship meant damage was not as extensive as it might have been.

Richard Doughty, Director of the Cutty Sark Trust; said: ”This is an historic moment for an iconic ship, truly part of the nation’s maritime history. We have not only saved the clipper but we have secured its future.

Eric Kentley, consultant on the project from the start said: ”We were advised back in the 1990s that the rudder and stern were in danger of collapsing and if that happened a shudder would go right through the hull which in turn would cause that to collapse too.”

The Cutty Sark will be open from Tuesday to Sunday each week plus Bank Holidays. Admission is £12 with concessions.

Link to the Cutty Sark website