Established in 1843 as the Seamen’s Mission of the Methodist Church, the Queen Victoria Seafarers Rest (QVSR) has a long history of serving those in need, both on land and at sea.
Our accommodation in Poplar is well established and provides a safe haven for up to 175 active and retired seafarers, veterans and others in need of a home.
As an island nation with over 95% of our everyday goods coming to our shores by sea we are also committed to providing first class port based welfare services to active seafarers visiting our shores.
Our seafarers’ centres at Tilbury, the London Cruise Terminal, DP World London Gateway, Felixstowe, Bristol & Immingham provide a warm welcome and pastoral support for those who have spent many months at sea and are far from home.
Accommodation
As part of our commitment to help those who move on from our service to maintain their independence, we provide an Aftercare service with the aim of assisting residents through the transition from QVSR to their new home and help them settle into community life. A lot of factors can lead to an individual failing to thrive and return to life on the streets. We believe that continued aftercare support will help them successfully manage their new tenancy, thereby reducing cyclical homelessness.
Seafarers
We also act as an agent for Shipwrecked Mariners assisting resident and non-resident seafarers and their dependents with individual maritime grants.
Ex-Service
Funding from the Royal British Legion and the Veterans Accommodation Fund has supported the creation of 23 en-suite rooms at QVSR which are reserved specifically for the use of veterans.
Homeless
Seafarer Centres
Our aim is to work in partnership with other Mission Societies and port authorities to raise awareness of the valuable job seafarers do and to engage with the local community to provide a welcoming environment whilst they are in port.
After spending as many as 9 months at sea our seafarers centres are designed to be a place where seafarers can feel “at home”, where they can catch up with family and friends via the internet, relax in comfort with music & TV entertainment, purchase refreshments and souvenirs, and socialise with other crew members.
QVSR
London Tilbury
londontilbury@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR Crew Lounge Tilbury Cruise Terminal
londontilbury@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR London Gateway
qvsrlondongateway@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR
Felixstowe
qvsrfelixstowe@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR
Immingham
qvsrhumber@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR
Bristol
qvsrbristol@qvsr.org.uk
QVSR Chaplaincy
QVSR has worked in the Port of London since 1843 providing chaplaincy services to seafarers and their families.
With the expansion of QVSR Seafarers Centres we now have Chaplains based in Bristol, Immingham and London Tilbury.
Our Chaplains provide pastoral support and welfare services both onshore at the seafarers’ centres and aboard the ships.
Meet our Chaplains
Support QVSR
QVSR News
Gordon Foot’s Nordic Challenge for QVSR
👏 What an achievement! Congratulations to Gordon Foot on completing his Nordic Challenge 2026 and raising an amazing £9,249 for QVSR.
SEA SUNDAY – 12th July
Sea Sunday is an annual event when churches are encouraged to remember the work carried out by international seafarers, to give thanks for their vital work, and to pray for them and their families.
Here we offer some prayers, hymns and readings which can be used in Sea Sunday worship.
Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE opens the new “Kamal Chunchie Wing”
Our new wing of eight en-suite bedrooms is named in honour of pastor and community worker Kamal Athon Chunchie who began his mission work here in the East End.