Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
9 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
10 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
11 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
12 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Viking Longboat
AO Edited

Viking Longboat

This former floral display recalls Andover’s crucial role in Viking history in England.

Andover, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
This “ship” was once a flower sculpture.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
This “ship” was once a flower sculpture.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque explains the history of the sculpture.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
The passengers here were partially inspired by Norse coins and other archeological evidence.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
This sculpture remembers the days when Viking raiders sailed these waters.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
The figures were added to the ship in 2022.   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
Olaf Tryggvason on The Andover Time Ring   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Upon the River Anton as it passes through Andover, a Viking vessel stands as a whimsical reminder of a far less peaceful era when Norse raiders struck fear into the heart of Anglo-Saxon England. This ship is neither a museum piece, nor a meticulous reconstruction, but rather a blend of public art, local history, and floral fancy.

Rather than cleaving the waves of the North Sea primed to pillage, Andover’s longboat began its life as something far more delicate: a flower display for the Test Valley in Bloom Millennium celebrations. 

The sculpture remembers the relationship between Olaf Tryggvason and the town. In the late 10th century, the Norseman and his raiding parties proved such a persistent threat that King Ethelred was compelled to pay a substantial sum of tribute money, Danegeld, to appease the Vikings, and protect the kingdom. In addition to this, Olaf became a Christian and was baptized in Andover, vowing never to invade England again. 

In 2022, weathered steel figures ‘boarded’ the ship as part of a regeneration of the area around the town's mills. The figures were each inspired by authentic Norse depictions found on excavated coins and Viking artifacts.

Related Tags

Public Art Vikings

Know Before You Go

The public sculpture is free to visit. 

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Published

February 21, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.visittestvalley.org/andover-heritage-trail
  • https://www.andover-heritage-trail.co.uk/2-bridge-street?language_content_entity=en
  • https://www.testvalley.gov.uk/news/2022/jul/vikings-return-to-town-mills
  • https://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/news/20582761.new-vikings-added-long-boat-river-anton-town-mills/
Viking Longboat
16a Bridge St
Andover, England, SP10 1BE
United Kingdom
51.206641, -1.480982
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Danebury Meteorite

Andover, England

miles away

Danebury Hillfort

Stockbridge, England

miles away

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

Nearby Places

Danebury Meteorite

Andover, England

miles away

Danebury Hillfort

Stockbridge, England

miles away

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

Related Places

  • One of the BHS murals tells the origin story of Stockport.

    Stockport, England

    The BHS Murals in Stockport

    The history of Stockport is rendered In colorful concrete artwork.

  • All four ‘Tumblers on Life´s Path’ in order, left to right.

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    'Tumlinger på livets vej' ('Tumblers on Life's Path')

    Four whimsical figures make for an unexpected sight along an urban commuter route.

  • Custard apple, breadfruit, and soursop sculptures dedicated to the Caribbean diaspora in the UK.

    London, England

    Custard Apple, Breadfruit, and Soursop Sculptures

    These oversized fruit sculptures honor the contributions of the Windrush generation.

  • Hippos and mushrooms on display in Glenrothes.

    Glenrothes, Scotland

    Concrete Hippos of Glenrothes

    This town hosts 170 pieces of public art, including giant irises, flying saucers, and, famously, hippos.

  • Remains of an old fort on Dalkey Island.

    Dublin, Ireland

    Dalkey Island

    A tiny island off the coast of Dublin was once a pilgrimage site for the sick and the suffering.

  • Basel, Switzerland

    Hammering Man

    This 42-foot tribute to the workforce still reminds us to pause and recharge.

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  • The Poetry Walk on Addison Street in Berkeley, California

    Berkeley, California

    Berkeley Poetry Walk

    A Berkeley sidewalk etched with 128 cast-iron poems.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.