HMS Belfast
A visit to the HMS Belfast will open your eyes to the difficult conditions faced by the brave men who served on her decks during the war
One of the London's magnificent attractions today is the HMS Belfast. This beautiful majestic ship played such an important role in protecting and winning the war at sea during WW2. It also served in the Korean war during the 1950s. After covering over 500,000 nautical miles it retired to its current location on the River Thames in 1971 where it is now one of the Imperial War Museums.
The HMS was completed May 1936 and after just two months at sea she endured substantial injuries when accidentally striking a magnetic mine. The damage to the ship's lower bowel was so severe that discussions were made as to whether or not the ship should be fixed or demolished. After the decision was made to repair her it took three years to complete. During those three years there were major advancements in technology. Radar with an electronic eye was at that time implemented giving the HMS Belfast an edge that proved to be an extremely useful addition. This provided state of the art technology and it proved to be an advantageous tool for the crew on the ship during the war.
Imagine the feeling of being in very close encounters as the crew of nearly 1000 men had to eat, work and sleep in the same space. The beds consisted of hammocks made from canvas and one of the first skills everyone working on board had to learn was how to mount them without them folding up on them. They were tightly spaced about one foot apart from each other making for extremely close sleeping quarters.
When viewing this grand old war ship you will have a great time exploring the nine decks, climbing up and down ladders adventuring through the core of the inner battle ship. Book a private tour or enjoy an audio tour guide available in four languages that is free for anyone visiting. The languages are English, French, German, and Spanish. Hear many interesting stories of historical events and unbearable conditions that the crew had to endure. For those who chose there is also a family audio guide.
Test your skills at piloting the ship in the interactive operations room, stroll by rooms such as the bakery, the dentist's office the utilities room plus the medical room. Experience the sobering and chilling sensation of war in a simulation of battle of north Cape in the gun turret.
Overall expect to take a minimum of one and a half hours to explore the ship and exhibits, however you may want to allow considerably more time as there are so many other things to see and do including the HMS Belfast gift shop, the cafe downstairs or the rooftop bar and cafe where you can enjoy a meal while taking in the beautiful views.
There are many other impressive landmarks in the area, with the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and The Shard being particularly close, making them good candidates for visiting on the same day.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes. Visit official website for details.HMS Belfast Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH, UK
Phone: 020 7940 6300
Official Website: HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast Reviews
Rated out of 5
Visited as an IWM member so free entry and 10% off in the shop which is always a bonus. The tour is incredibly well laid out and the audio guide is incredibly informative and easy to use. The access to all the areas of the ship is fantastic, from the kitchens to the shell storage to the bridge and into the main guns themselves. It is incredible to think that around 1000 men could serve on board at once. The ship never seemed crowded and we always had time to take in each area with the help of the audio guide descriptions or the various screens around the tour. There are lots of ladders so be aware it can be a bit of a workout, especially when visiting the boiler room and engine room. Highly recommended.
Stephen Mead - 2 weeks ago
Even I lived in London for a long time, I was pleasantly surprised what's hidden inside! 9 floors of history, authentic equipment and even smell from the engine room is still there! Perfect place for kids to teach history but in an engaging way. Recommend to book tickets in advance.
Olga Sulgacika - 3 weeks ago
What an amazing experience. Never been on one before but glad I did. So many parts to explore! Staff were very helpful and kindly gave us a bit of a guided tour. Wear sensible shoes!! Lots of ladder climbing/descending!!!
Anthony Smith - 4 weeks ago
I've been waiting years to visit. Eventually, I got the chance today. It was well worth the wait. It was very well laid out, with good information everywhere. If you're not British, you can use language specific headsets. It made you appreciate what the men had to live and fight in for what we have now.
Mike Siggs - a month ago
A very enjoyable experience, we went on a weekday in the new year so it was reasonably quiet, we bought tickets in advance so there was no wait in the queue which was nice. I definitely recommend buying tickets in advanced it is just quicker and easier.
The actual experience was really pleasant there is quite a good amount to see and read and you can explore every floor! We spent around 4 hours here.
We attended a talk about the royal marines and it was very factual and interesting.
This is a nice day out for any ages!
I recommend
Caroline Leckie - 4 months ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Northern and Jubilee Line | London Bridge | 5 minutes |
| District and Circle Line | Tower Hill | 16 minutes |
How to get to HMS Belfast by Tube
From London Bridge Station exit onto Tooley Street and go right (east) to Battlebridge Lane, left (north) to the Thames Path, then right to the entrance of the HMS Belfast.
From Tower Hill Station on the north bank exit to the south and follow Tower Hill Terrace east to the Tower Bridge approach. Cross the Bridge to the south towers, take the stairs down to the Thames Path and follow it west to the entrance.
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Accommodations near HMS Belfast:
Photo Gallery
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View from the Captains Chair of the HMS Belfast cc licensed photo by Les Chatfield -
Steep stairs leading to the lower deck cc licensed photo by Sven -
HMS Belfast Torpedo cc licensed photo by Andrew Gray -
The ship's resident cat relaxing in its own hammock cc licensed photo by Aurélie -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Loz Flowers - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Croydon Clicker - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: ccs89.euro - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Brian Brandsberg Berg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Loz Flowers - cc license via Flickr
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