Queenborough is a small old town that perhaps has seen better days. It is reputed that Admiral Nelson kept a house here with his mistress Lady Hamilton. The town was once an important crossroads for shipping using the now defunct and silted up channels that enabled them to get to Sandwich and Dover via an "inland" route.(see history section).

Positioned as it is near the western mouth of the Swale it has proved very popular with yachtsman and motorboaters for an overnight stop. Regular forays are made from the Benfleet/Southend areas across the Thames estuary to spend a Saturday night tucked up at Queenborough. If on passage up the Thames, it can provide a very useful stopping place without making too much of a detour...

The new addition of a floating jetty to enable a clean landing is to be applauded, as are the provisions of some visitors moorings. Beforehand landing had to be made on a rather long and slippery hard. (Which is still there). ... read more

The approach to Queenborough is made after entering the River Medway at Sheerness. The approaches to the Medway and Sheerness are covered in a different article, the main thing of note is that the whole entrance to the Medway can get very busy with shipping. Sheerness itself is a big ship harbour and tugs are often in use pulling ships off the dock. The point is Sheerness will have to be passed to reach the western entrance to the Swale and due caution is required.

Pilotage Details: ... read more

Once in the Queenborough area lookout for yellow visitors mooring buoys on the eastern side before the floating jetty. There are also two large grey buoys near the end of the hard, and these are intended for rafting up on. The Hard extends a long way out, be careful not to foul it.

Another mooring option is alongside the concrete barge moored up opposite the town. ... read more