Lydia Eva
WHERE
Great Yarmouth
What it’s like
Climb aboard a historic steam fishing vessel and its sister ship, or book a murder mystery boat trip on Lake Lothing.
This is a chance to get up close to actual working history rather than a model of it. Lydia Eva is a steam-powered fishing vessel, and alongside her you can explore Mincarlo, another historic boat from the same era. Kids who like clambering about on things with ladders, ropes and portholes will find plenty to look at, and it beats a photo behind glass in a museum.
For something more of an event, there's a murder mystery boat trip on Lake Lothing, a 2 to 3 hour interactive puzzle adventure that runs alongside an actual boat ride. That's a proper afternoon out rather than a quick look round, and it's the bit worth building your day around if you fancy something different from the usual steam railway visit.
Worth knowing before you set off: Lydia Eva is currently based at Heritage Quay in Lowestoft until around the end of September or beginning of October 2026, not in Great Yarmouth itself, so check which quay you're heading for. Opening hours are shorter over winter and spring, 10am to 2pm until 23 May 2026, then stretching to 10am to 4pm from 23 May through to the end of October. There's no online booking here, you call Ernie Artis directly if you want to book a spot or ask about hiring the vessel for a private event, which is a bit old school but does mean you get a real person on the phone.
If you're around on 29 August, the Lowestoft Maritime Festival is worth timing your visit for. It raises money to help preserve Lydia Eva along with Mincarlo and Excelsior, so it's a good one for showing kids why these old boats matter rather than just letting them run about the decks.
Need to know
- Booking
- To make a booking or discuss hiring for private events, call Ernie Artis
- Parking
- Nearest public car park on Hall Quay, approximately 150 yards north of the bridge
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest railway station approximately 3/4 mile to the north
- Lydia Eva is currently berthed at Heritage Quay in Lowestoft, not Great Yarmouth, until around autumn 2026
- Booking is by phone only, through Ernie Artis, including for private hire
- Hours are shorter in winter and spring, 10am to 2pm, before extending to 4pm from late May
- The Lowestoft Maritime Festival on 29 August supports preservation of Lydia Eva, Mincarlo and Excelsior
Plan your visit
How do we book a visit?
There's no online booking, you call Ernie Artis to arrange it or to ask about hiring the vessel for a private event.
What are the opening hours?
It's 10am to 2pm right through until 23 May 2026, then 10am to 4pm from 23 May to the end of October.
Is Lydia Eva actually in Great Yarmouth?
At the moment she's berthed at Heritage Quay in Lowestoft, staying there until around the end of September or start of October 2026.
What is there to do besides look at the boats?
There's a murder mystery boat trip on Lake Lothing, a 2 to 3 hour interactive adventure with puzzles built around the ride.
Where do we park?
The nearest public car park is on Hall Quay, about 150 yards north of the bridge. The nearest railway station is roughly three quarters of a mile north too.
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