Waverley to make historic return to Newhaven in her 80th anniversary year

The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer visits sails from Newhaven on Tuesday, 22 September, 2026

The Waverley will sail from Newhaven Port for the first time since the 1980s. This is an exciting event for Newhaven as one of Britain’s best-loved historic ships, the Paddle Steamer Waverley, returns to the port for a special excursion to the Isle of Wight.

Her departure from Newhaven Harbour will be a memorable sight. With her two towering funnels, traditional timber decks and great red, white and black paddle wheels, Waverley is instantly recognisable, and unlike any other passenger ship still sailing today.

The visit will be particularly significant because 2026 marks 80 years since Waverley was launched on the River Clyde on 2 October 1946. It will also be the first time she has included a sailing from Newhaven in her programme since the 1980s.

A living piece of maritime history

Waverley was built to carry passengers on excursions from Glasgow to the towns and villages around the Firth of Clyde. She made her maiden voyage in June 1947, sailing to Loch Goil and Loch Long.

By 1973, Waverley had become the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world. When she was withdrawn from regular commercial service, her future looked uncertain. The following year she was famously transferred to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for the symbolic price of £1.

After extensive work by volunteers and supporters, Waverley returned to passenger service in 1975. She has since carried millions of passengers around the coasts of Britain, calling at ports and piers from the Clyde and Western Isles to the Bristol Channel, Thames and south coast.

A major £7 million heritage rebuild was completed in two phases in 2000 and 2003. The work renewed much of the vessel while restoring her appearance and passenger spaces to something much closer to their original form. New boilers were installed in 2020, enabling this remarkable working steamship to continue sailing.

Today, Waverley is owned by a registered charity and operated on a not-for-profit basis. Passengers can still watch her powerful triple-expansion steam engine at work and experience the distinctive motion and sound of her paddle wheels turning through the water.

A special voyage from Newhaven

Waverley’s Newhaven sailing takes place on Tuesday 22 September as part of her 2026 South Coast and Isle of Wight programme and is completely sold out. People who want to see her leave the harbour will see her best from the west bank near The Hope Inn.

After leaving Newhaven Harbour, she will cruise towards the Solent and the Needles Lighthouse before calling at Ryde. Passengers will be able to enjoy views of the Sussex coast, the Solent forts and some of the south coast’s most familiar maritime landmarks.

For those joining at Newhaven, a mandatory shuttle service will operate to take passengers into the docks. Sailing details and tickets for future trips can be viewed at Waverley Excursions.

Even for those not travelling, Waverley’s arrival and departure will offer a rare opportunity to see an operational paddle steamer in Newhaven Harbour. Residents, maritime enthusiasts and photographers are invited to look out for her and help give the ship, and her passengers, a warm Newhaven welcome.

Newhaven: a gateway to Sussex

Waverley’s return also highlights Newhaven’s long maritime tradition and its continuing potential as a departure point for coastal excursions and a gateway for smaller, distinctive cruise vessels.

The port occupies an excellent position on the Sussex coast, within easy reach of the South Downs National Park, Seven Sisters, Brighton, Lewes and many of the county’s most important historic and cultural attractions.

That potential was demonstrated earlier in 2026 when the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer became the first cruise ship to call at Newhaven for more than ten years. Its international passengers travelled into East Sussex to visit Pevensey Castle and Battle, Seven Sisters and Birling Gap, and Charleston near Lewes.

The visit showed how smaller cruise and expedition ships can use Newhaven as a convenient gateway to the county—bringing visitors within reach of its dramatic landscapes, celebrated heritage and cultural destinations.

Welcoming Waverley offers another opportunity to demonstrate the port’s ability to accommodate special passenger vessels. It also underlines Newhaven’s value as a place from which people can begin their own journey by sea, rather than simply passing through on their way elsewhere.

A port with a future as well as a history

Ships have shaped Newhaven for generations. The arrival of an internationally recognised vessel such as Waverley connects that maritime past with an exciting future for the port and the town.

As she steams out through the harbour entrance in September, Waverley will carry with her 80 years of history. Her return will also send a clear message: Newhaven is ready to welcome memorable ships, new excursions and visitors from Britain and around the world.

Waverley sails from Newhaven on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The trip is sold out but tickets and the latest sailing information are available from Waverley Excursions. All timings and sailings are subject to confirmation and prevailing conditions.