9-deck WWII warship-turned-museum with naval guns, permanently moored on the Thames.
HMS Belfast in Lai
Description
What a fantastic day out, for IWM members its free! Amazed to see life on a battle ship. Belfast has a on board cafe for a quick bite and a cup of tea. Quite shocked how big she is! Well worth a visit.
MoreStill one of the finest pieces of history to visit. Last went as a child and this time took my own. Some good changes have been made and he experience still leaves a lasting impression and life long memory. If you can manage to avoid the extra computer bits added then you get the best of this, why stare at a screen when you have the whole ship there to walk through and experience?Great views of London from the decks and right next to so many other attractions its a great start or end point to a day out with the kids. Tickets are not cheap, but you help keep this vital piece of our history afloat.
MoreI have been truly amazed by the sight of the HMS Belfast.There have been various cases throughout my visit which changed my perspective on Warships. It feelt even bigger as when you hear or seen pictures of it.It takes about 2 to 3 hours alone to see the whole ship, and has a nice cafe.My favorite parts about my visit were to see the view from the ship across London and the various real storys told throughout the ship bringing you closer to the events the ship and its crew went trough.HMS Belfast certainly has been one of my favorite ships before my visit and now even more so, a truly beautiful ship.I almost forgot to add this but, walking trough the ships narrow paths, climbing up/down the decks and smelling the ships history made you feel truly connected to it. Theres no museum you can visit featuring the Belfast, as the real deal. Almost the entire ship can be visited without a guide freely.Definitely a must visit if you ever visit London! :)
MoreGreat historical record with real life stories from people who worked on the ship and high quality guides. A fantastic record in the center of London with stunning views of the city
MoreAbsolutely wonderful experience, extremely open and easily navigable, even for a warship, arrows and directions are clear yet there not being a set one way system allowing you to visit lower decks with ease, fabulous conditions excluding a dual-purpose 4inch cannon undergoing rust, however, it was pointed out to be undergoing renovation and it is understandable that a 87 year old or thereabouts warship will have some rusting.Wonderful to sit on the decks and just enjoy the breeze and great for taking photos, gift shop has not only memorabilia but also information on naval warships including those which mention Belfast in the Battle of the North Cape.I would absolutely recommend anyone who can go does go as it is a fabulous experience for all
MoreI love itOver any museum in for maritime, this is the real thing, you can feel the narrow passages along the engine room. You can feel the responsibility on the compass deck. Piece of our history, we all ow a huge debt to people who serve on such warships during WWII.Surprisingly coffee at the end in Stocker cafe is not bad at all
MoreAudio guided tour of several decks of this battleship that saw service in WW2 and Korea. The guns turrets/rooms are fascinating if youve nvr spent time aboard a ship in the military. Self guided audio tour included.
MoreReal life warship to be explored. Some interactive features for children & adults alike. 9 decks to explore, moving between decks is via a set of steep ladders marked clearly whether they lead up or down. The engine room can be quite daunting for younger children as they run a noise simulation to show how loud the room was when the ship was at sea.
MoreHMS Belfast is a fantastic museum to explore & any budding photographers out there will definitely want to arm themselves with their camera. Some areas of the ship are not easily accessible, so it helps to be a little agile to get around. Staff range from being very friendly to rude.
MoreAn excellent and informative attraction, Altogether a unique experience. I never expected my kids would enjoy that much, but to my surprise, they also enjoyed a different experience. Kudos to the management for making fun of and being informative.
MoreA great day out in the very centre of London visiting an icon of WW2’s Royal Navy, HMS Belfast. It’s not exactly a cheap day out, but then again, nothing in London is. The guides onboard the ship were friendly and helpful in explaining the history of the ship and the naval battles it fought in. Thoroughly recommended!
MoreGreat experience! Make sure that you avail yourself of the free audio guide. The guide provides very intriguing and interesting snippets of information that isnt available elsewhere. All decks are great to visit. The kitchens have a virtual cooking simulation that allows visitors to experience what it might have been like cooking for 1000 crew without making anyone sick or setting the ship on fire. I personally enjoyed the boiler room in the belly of the ship under the water level and a visit to the gun and navigation posts. While visiting take note of all the vacuum tubes that were used to send messages to different locations on the ship.
MoreThis iconic London landmark does not fail to enthral and engage. An incredible history and loads to see and enjoy.
MoreForget the London Eye or Madadame Tussauds, visit HMS Belfast instead.Its literally worth every pound, and the volunteers make this experience so much more worthwhile. Kudos to the one I met on my way.In my personal opinion this warship is in top 5 attractions of London, if it werent for ships like this, thered be no British Museum either.So it was really great to learn the history of that ship and see its true size. Cheers to the team.
MoreWant to learn about a war ship ? This is the place that you must go. Very informative and you can go inside and see how each section of ship works and how different people are participating in it.
MoreVery cool ship. No wait time and if you love history this is a place for you. You can go around inside the cannons, battle stations, ammo storage, the bridge and a lot lot more.
MoreIf you have 2-4 hrs this is a must do experience. It was really cool to walk thru and see the various areas and also the smells of the different areas were incredible..... I could only imagine the hustle n bustle on this ship back in the day.
MoreAmazing experience, although I only managed the level deck we went on to - after seeing the sick bay I was left feeling queasy. It was an incredibly hot day when we visited (the heatwave of August 2022!and the smell within the sick bay left me wanting a bed!! It had an air of that "old fashioned clinical" smell. I went back and sat in the sun, while my husband kept exploring for about 90 minutes! He found the ship interesting and full of history maritime information. Pre book your tickets in advance, and try not to go on a day that is extremely hot!
MoreI visited with a 4 year old in august. On a positive side it wasn’t too busy and the ship was clean and relatively interesting. The staff friendly and well informed. Unfortunately thought it didn’t quite meet my expectations. Firstly there’s nothing really interactive, the dummies are all gone and the staff don’t wear sailor uniforms which is a strange break from the whole experience. The layout is also confusing. The flow through the ship is complicated leading to walking against people walking. If the put the dummies back, added some basic Interactive features like video games for kids or even things children could touch and play with I think it would be better. For the older crowd of 70+ it was clearly a highlight but as that generation fades the future of this gem is uncertain. Wasn’t worth the ticket price but was ok for 45 minutes.
MoreA WW2 Cruiser, now a museum anchored on the Thames near Tower Bridge.We spent nearly 3hrs onboard having a good look around & reading about personal experiences about life onboard.It was still in use after WW2, so there has a been more modern bits added.It’s a must to visit, such a unique view of the Thames & the immediate surrounds.
MoreAmazing! You need at least one and a half hours to see most of what is accessible, so be prepared!! It’s a ship so there’s a lot (A Lot!of going up and down narrow stairs. Some rooms/spaces have sounds of what it used to be, and some videos explaining things. Very helpful and polite staff. Thought it was a bit expensive, but it’s really worth it. There’s a cafeteria and restrooms.Definitely not a place for claustrophobics.Low ceilings, narrow corridors and passages, can get really hot.Please note that at the time of our visit the ticket office was cashless, so card etc only.
MoreA fantastic experience. The combination of the smells and sounds really brings the place to life.Loved climbing down to the lower decks into the bowels of the ship - its not that easy in places negotiating some of the tight hatches and steep ladders (something I think claustrophobic people wont be too fond of but well worth it. Love the engine room.On the upper decks there are great views across the Thames.From a practicality point of view its not going to be something for those that arent able bodied. There was a family with a lady on a wheelchair and it looked like a massive battle - most of the hatches have raised steps to negotiate.
MoreFantastic real battleship from 1936 . Its service for Royal Navy ended in 1963 and it went all around the world It was a real contribute to the final peace in the worldwar 2 and the Korean war . You can go almost everywhere on the ship and feel the atmosfere how it must be like to live on a battleship ! Great museum. Little bit expensive 28 euro pp for adult. But really a great experiance and worth the money!
MoreGreat day out. Super interesting history and you really feel it walking around. The stairs are basically ladders so dont recommend if you have mobility issues
MoreExcellent! The audio guide in different languages helped my nephews to enjoy the experience. The kids had a great time! It’s expensive for a family, there should be some discounts for a family with four kids…
MoreGreat Ship. You get to visit the engine room and the boiler room and actually tour them completely..... Something that is very rare for a museum... Amazing time!!!
MoreFantastic tour! We attended midweek and experienced no line ups or wait time. The staff were awesome in setting up our tour for success. The audio guide was interesting and we went at our own pace. The tour gave me a new level of appreciation for the people who serve to defend our freedoms.
MoreWe loved the trip to HMS Belfast!It was a really cool dip into history inside and on the old battleship. Really interactive with games, sounds and realistic view of what it was like to live on this ship.The rooms were interesting, climbing the ship to the different areas was cool and being on the deck of the ship was a cool experience.You can sit in the captains chair, enter the gun area and have a good look at all the areas.The cafe was good. It have sandwiches, drinks and cakes. Not really a cooked place although they did heat up the baguettes.We went on the hottest day of the year (our fault 😅and it was really good. The ship shielded the heat for a while.Though we did get a bit confused on where we were - maybe there should be a map every now and then to show where you currently are on the ship.
MoreIt was such a lovely experience visiting HMS Belfast. The vessel is full of history and its so interesting to explore all 9 decks. We were given audio handsets that explained the history of specific parts of the ship. The crew also gave a brilliant talk about how the ship operated - they were very knowledgeable. The onboard cafe was good and there was also a nice seating area out in the open where the pigeons keep you company! ☺️ The views of the river are lovely, especially on a summers day. The gift shop was nice and the staff there were friendly and helpful.
MoreA truly wonderful experience exploring the HMS Belfast, especially the upper decks where you can see the beauty of the river Thames and magnificent nearby structures. Lovely seating area and café. Toilets on site, friendly members of staff and a gift shop.
MoreA great experience to see what life was like on board the HMS Belfast in the 1940s. The floating museum gives an excellent insight into war and naval history.
MoreVery interesting ship to visit. Impressive to see it in real. A must if you like history. A good physical condition if required to visit the ship as you have to took steep ladder.
MoreBetter than most other London tourist attractions! Well worth the money and a few hours of your time. Almost the entire ship is accessible. Lots of ladders to climb and areas to explore. Surprisingly very little is roped off (except for some smaller staged rooms that are meant for viewing). Way down in the boiler and engine room was my favorite. Not too busy either (mid Wednesday).
MoreWell worth a visit and full of great facts all set out with props and actual equipment from the ship. The volunteers are friendly and very informative. A vast ship so definitely make aside some hours to explore
MoreLoved it, I think the childrens "sea legs" could have been easier to find to start with and make it clearer where to go, but that aside, great interactive games, fascinating to see, the whole family really enjoyed it.
MoreFive Star plus. An incredible ship to visit, very interesting from the upper decks down to the engine room. The inside of the ship is amazing, in spite of it being built in the late 1930s it is a mass of engineering, pipes, machinery, has to be seen to be believed. What I find fascinating is how such a ship can be designed, built and equipped, its mind boggling. Well worth a visit, and if you do be prepared to spend several hours to really appreciate it. The only downside was the cafe, not brilliant and when I had a cup of tea they were going to heat the milk to put in it!!!!🤔
MoreThoroughly enjoyed going around the ship.Both toilets and a cafe on board . Only downside was that the directions to follow, in order to see everything and listen to the guide handset ,werent very clear. It didnt matter though as you can just wander around freely and still see it all .
MoreAmazing museum. I honestly admire how they manage to keep all the interior in good condition for 50 years. Definitely commendable and must see. :)
MoreAbsolutely great walk round abit of history from WW2. Would recommend this to anyone thats interested in war ships, great for all ages. The only thing is if your taller than 5ft 7in just remember to duck in places lol.
MoreBudget at least 2 hours to see and do everything onboard - audio guide is highly recommended as well! Fascinating look at life on a warship even if you’re less interested in the war itself and more about life onboard.
MoreInteresting, historical military ship. Lots to see and explore for a few hours for any intrepid adventurer. Interact with the exhibits and get a feel how life on board may have felt in the depths of the ships belly. Working telescope on deck was a great addition spying on the passing boats or sightseers across the river.Coffee shop on board wasnt great unfortunately. Cream teas without any cream, then soup and bread without any bread, but you werent told this until you had paid. Good for a quick drink or a snack.Nice gift shop with lots of quality items for anyone wanting a keepsake.
MoreHad a great time looking around, took up to two hours to see it all. Theres a lot of ladders so be aware that you need to be able to climb to see it all. But very interesting insight into a valuable ship that was a key player from ww2 till 1971.
MoreA really amazing experience! We spent a couple of hours here, climbing up ladders, using the interactive screens and exploring all the rooms. Some rooms are a really tight fit you have to breath in! The volunteers were so helpful.Its best to go this time of year as there arent many schools visiting and its much cooler. Ill definitely be going again in the near future!
MoreI dont know I shall call HMS Belfast a London landmark. But it is definitely worth your time to make a visit to this decommissioned battleship. It is moored on the south side of the river Thames right next to the Tower Bridge and opposite the Tower of London. I am not going to write here about the her history. You have to find out yourself by exploring 5 decks. I would advise to book ticket in advance. At the entrance they will scan the barcode from the email and you are free to go. There are toilets all around and cafe with selection of drinks and snacks. We spent on board around 2 and half hours, climbing up and down steep steps minding our head. There is a souvenir shop at the entrance. Not big, but we bought some fridge magnets and sweets.
MoreWent there as a kid, and today was thrilled to bring my own kids to see the Belfast. Arguably, was better suited to my 11 year old son than to my teenage daughter...Great tour of the ship, with helpful explanations and examples of how life was on-board.
More3.75 stars. Walked past hundreds of times so figured Id check it out. It was a drizly, windy day. Lots to explore on the ship. Some areas can be tight and lots of ladders to climb up and down. Cafe onboard. Entry fee a little pricey. Explored the ship for a couple of hours.
MoreIve visited London several times before, but it wasnt until my latest trip that I finally made it to the HMS Belfast. If you are into naval/military history, this definitely should be on your list. Entrance fee isnt necessarily cheap, but it 100% worth it. Felt like I was onboard for a few hours as I explored the various decks and the interactive exhibits. I dont know if I got lucky or not, but there also werent many other visitors on that particular day, which made the visitor even better.
MoreHMS Belfast is one of those things you should do once when in London. But it certainly isnt cheap (£22 for an adult, £11 for a child).It takes between 60 and 90 minutes to explore all the decks depending on whether you stop to read everything. There is a tea room on board too. Good for kids but a fair degree of climbing up and down ladders to note if anyone has mobility issues.
MoreHad a very nice experience during the visit. Tickets can be bought online or at the info office. Before your visit pick up a map makes things way easier getting around the ship. Put aside around 2-3 hours to visit the ship. The staff can help you answer your questions and explain how the ships equipment functions and role of different people who worked on the ship. The ship is like a floating city housing everything you need. The personal who operated it was very skilled. On borad are toilets, a restaurant and interaction activities for children but also for adults😄. The open deck offers a nice view of River Thames and London. If coming with tube get of at London Bridge station. Nearby you can take river cruises, visit Tower Bridge or Tower of London. Restaurants couple of minutes walk.
MoreA unique experience and a lot to learn about. We really enjoyed it, and there were some kids activities. Was really good to know the ship history and see the different ship part. Enjoying going through the different levels and different rooms and discovering new things. Spend few hours in it. Staff were really nice and helpful.
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