The Maritime clock is being turned back on the Thames to the days of sailing when 54 tall ships stage a grand parade next week.

East London Advertiser: 54 Tall Ships are taking part in grand parade on Thames on September 9 at Greenwich, like these at Keil Regatta in July [photo: Mike Brooke]54 Tall Ships are taking part in grand parade on Thames on September 9 at Greenwich, like these at Keil Regatta in July [photo: Mike Brooke] (Image: Archant)

The parade sets off from Royal Greenwich, opposite Canary Wharf, on Tuesday week, September 9.

Canary Wharf is playing host to 20 tall ships for three days from next Saturday, when they are moored at Wood Wharf and open to the public, before the grand parade down river.

Canary Wharf Group’s Camille Waxer said: “Hosting 20 impressive tall ships is the first time we’ve had so many sailing vessels moored here.”

The 20 vessels are being moored at Wood Wharf as part of the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival, following the five-day Falmouth-to-Royal Greenwich race.

The owners are on hand during the three days alongside maritime experts to answer questions about the vessels. Roaming entertainers for children are also being laid on.

The vessels which are open to the public from Saturday to Monday, 10am-6pm at Wood Wharf, off Preston’s Road, Blackwall, join the others at Greenwich riverfront to sail down the Thames at 1pm on September 9, sounding their horns and heralding a farewell to London.

It is London’s first regatta for 25 years, with hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to turn out to watch the vessels sail past famous landmarks like Canary Wharf, the 02, Thames Cable car and the Royal Docks.