A replica of the vessel in which Captain James Cook sailed the world more than two hundred years ago is docking in London on Friday.

The original Endeavour was converted from a coal carrier in Deptford, south London in 1768 and reached Australia two years later.

But the modern version, which was built in western Australia, took just four months to reach British shores and is returning to south London on Friday to dock in Woolwich.

It will sail down the Thames to The Royal Arsenal Pier where it will be open to the public as a 'floating museum' until 8 September, before setting sail for Southampton.

Epic voyage

HM Bark Endeavour is the star of the BBC 2 series The Ship in which a 21st century crew re-creates Cook's epic voyage.

Since the ship was finished in 1994 it has travelled the world to ports in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa among others and will be touring the UK for the next few years.

The vessel, and its crew of 56, docked in Whitby, north Yorkshire on 21 June after leaving Australia in February.

The original Endeavour set sail from Plymouth on 8 August 1768, arriving in New Zealand a year later and in Australia by 1770.

It had a hold filled with food to last for three years, provisions and gunpowder.

But the modern day version contains lavatories to avoid polluting places of natural beauty as well as an engine in case of emergency.

The arrival cements the borough of Greenwich's strong maritime connections.

It is home to the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark, the last surviving China clipper ship, which has stood in drydock there since 1954.