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 – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 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
HMS Belfast not only offers a deep dive into naval history, but visitors can also play World of Warships on interactive terminals inside the ship. Additionally, free guided tours provide valuable insights and enhance your visit. To avoid crowds, plan your visit on weekdays, and make sure to explore both the lower decks and the bridge for a complete experience.
Kacper Dąbrowski (Pyr0G) - in the last week
Only a three star as you cannot visit everything within the ship. £25.45 for an adult without donation. There is wheelchair access but I couldn’t remember seeing it even though it was signposted. If your small built your be alright but anything over 6’ tall or wide then you may struggle as I did with the stairs and low ceilings.
Overall you get to see the life onboard this old warship and the volunteers knew their onions.
Rob - a week ago
This floating museum was so fascinating. The audio tour and signage was very informative. It was just great going below decks and understanding the operation on this warship. The whole ship was open and available to go through. It was a fabulous tour and good for all ages
Chris Mann - a month ago
Had an absolutely fantastic day on board HMS Belfast today. There is so much to see and do, the staff are amazing. The best part are the veteran's on board, and the stories they tell of their experiences working on HMS Belfast when she was a working ship. Highly recommend for all ages.
Terri Mansfield - a week ago
Easily one of the best types of museums you can visit! Especially if warships are your thing, this beauty is absolutely must see! Pretty much all of the main areas are accessible or displayed, helpful staff fairly easy to find if need be. Having seating area both in the ticket section on the river bank as well as on the ship's main deck is quite welcomed as you can easily spent several hours exploring! Youngsters might fing little gaming section interesting as well. Just be wary of some tighter corridors as well as quite narrow staircases connecting each deck.
Dominik Kuthan - 2 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: Brian Brandsberg Berg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Loz Flowers - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Loz Flowers - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: usf1fan2 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: David Blaikie - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: David Blaikie - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KlausNahr - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KlausNahr - cc license via Flickr
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