The RRS Sir David Attenborough and it's accompanying submarine Boaty McBoatface has arrived in Greenwich.

The boat is the UK's newest state of the art polar research vessel and has arrived in south east London for a three-day 'Ice Worlds' event, a festival of polar science and exploration at the National Maritime Museum.

The RRS Sir David Attenborough is the star of the show, making her London debut after coming up the River Thames on Wednesday through the Woolwich barrier, and now sits tied up in Greenwich.

The ship will be spending the next few days at the home of the Prime Meridian and the Cutty Sark open to the public as part of the Ice Worlds event, but also to mark the start of the COP26 climate conference.

News Shopper: Royal Museums GreenwichRoyal Museums Greenwich

The Attenborough, named after the TV naturalist and BBC presenter Sir David, is the ship the public wanted to call "Boaty McBoatface" in an online poll but were overruled by ministers.

Boaty McBoatface was the centre of an extremely British controversy back in 2016 when the amusing name won the online poll to name a new, world-leading polar vessel.

News Shopper: Boaty McBoatfaceBoaty McBoatface

The National Environment Research Council (NERC) instead went for the more sensible RRS Sir David Attenborough, but an advanced submersible submarine on board the vessel has been given the infamous name.

Operated by British Antarctic Survey, the polar vessel will enable world-leading research in Antarctica and the Arctic.

News Shopper: The RRS Sir David AttenboroughThe RRS Sir David Attenborough

Anyone can see the ship from the riverside while it is docked in Greenwich up until October 30.

Sir David was also present on Thursday to inspect his namesake.

"I am indeed a very proud man to be standing in this remarkable vessel, to be associated in any way with best, the British Antarctic Survey," he told his audience.

"May I wish this ship and all who sail in her, and all the scientists who research on board, bon voyage on her forthcoming voyage to the Antarctic.

"I know that the findings made on this ship in the next few years will be of the greatest value and importance to the welfare of the world. Let us listen to the science."