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HMS Belfast

World War II cruiser weighing 11,500 tonnes, now a floating naval museum, with 9 decks to explore. Visitors can explore all decks, from the Captain's Bridge to the Boiler and Engine rooms well below the ship's waterline. Areas to visit include the sailors' mess- decks, the galley, sick bay, operations room and the six-inch gun turrets. Shop and refreshment facilities available, plus a full education service to pre-booked groups. Also exhibition telling the story of HMS Belfast, from inception in the mid-30s to the decision to save her.

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Opening times:
1 March - 31 October: (daily): 10.00 am - 6.00 pm except 24, 25 and 26 December.
April - October: Tues - Fri: 1.00pm - 5.00pm. Sat & Sun:1.00pm - 6.00pm. Nov - Mar:Tues - Fri:1.00pm - 4.00pm. Sat & Sun:1.00pm - 5.00pm. Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays). Closed: Jan, Christmas & Good Friday.
Concessions for disabled and carers £3.50. Students/ elderly accompanying a disabled person get in @ cheaper price rate
Children under 16 free entry, must be accompanied by an adult

Access in London review of HMS Belfast

Reviewed by: Access in London

This cruiser saw service during the Second World War, and supported the Normandy landings. She was active until 1965 and served in Korea. Now permanently moored on the riverside just upstream of Tower Bridge and run by the Imperial War Museum. Admission charge. Car Park on the corner of Tooley Street by Tower Bridge. The shop and ticket sales point are somewhat congested, and accessed via a threshold and Door width 75cm. Entrance flat, with an open lift down to the level of the quarterdeck bypassing -4 steps. Note that the lift can only be reached along the right side of the gangway, which is normally the exit route. There is a steepish ramp to the boatdeck on an upper level. Wheelchairs are available for use. They have gone to considerable lengths to make parts of the ship accessible, but it's difficult, as there are narrow gaps and doors to gun turrets, and high thresholds/bulkheads (which were designed to keep water out during rough weather). The decks are quite rough with various ridges and protrusions. Chair users will find that help is vital especially to get inside, as some of the ramps put over the bulkheads are very steep. You can get close to some of the smaller guns on the boatdeck. Towards the bow, where the anchors are laid out, there is a barrier 25cm high to get over. Going up inside to see the bridge and wireless room, and down to the engine room and living quarters, involves steep ladders and well over 100 steps, and is only possible for the relatively agile. In spite of this, there's enough to see in the accessible parts of the ship including all of the quarterdeck, to make it an interesting visit. There's a wheelchair toilet (Door width 90cm Side transfer distance 100cm+) on the quarterdeck level with portable ramps to help you negotiate the bulkhead threshold (which is 35cm high) to get to the loo. You need to ask, and the ramps involved are pretty steep.


Trip Advisor ®

Traveller Rating:

4.0
Based on 8 reviews
Ranked #91

 Latest 5 reviews of HMS Belfast

Ship ahoy!

Make sure you pick up the free audio guide as you board HMS Belfast so you can concentrate on viewing all the many and varied exhibits to be seen. There is much to interest those who appreciate the...

Make sure you pick up the free audio guide as you board HMS Belfast so you can concentrate on viewing all the many and varied exhibits to be seen. There is much to interest those who appreciate the historical and technical side. Learn how HMS Belfast played a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. Visit the engine room, boiler room, gun turrets, radio and communications rooms etc and do not miss the living quarters where even the ship's cat had its own hammock and lays contentedly! Do be aware though that with nine decks to explore you will need to be fairly agile to climb the countless near-vertical ladders throughout the ship. It took about 1.5 hours to complete my tour.

 
3.0
23 August 2008
by Harrovian, England
 

Interesting and atmospheric

We visited HMS Belfast after the nearby Britain at War Museum (don't bother - far too expensive for 30 minutes). We used an Oyster card for Buy one get one free and the children were free so five...

We visited HMS Belfast after the nearby Britain at War Museum (don't bother - far too expensive for 30 minutes).

We used an Oyster card for Buy one get one free and the children were free so five of us for L10.50. The audio guides were FREE, the children loved them and even my 9 year old daughter got involved).

We have no great interest in naval history but found the whole thing interesting and atmospheric and must have been on board for about 2 hours.

Lots of very steep stairways so it would be a nightmare for anyone with small children or the infirm.

I thought it was good value but it wouldn't be of interest to everyone BUT it's not claiming to be anything it isn't!

 
4.0
21 April 2008
by pimbury, Devon, UK
 

Don't bother

Unless you are really interested in Naval history don't go. Most of the ship was closed off and the audio guide was poor. We paid L5 each, full entry is more than L10. For L5 it was ok, but with...

Unless you are really interested in Naval history don't go. Most of the ship was closed off and the audio guide was poor. We paid L5 each, full entry is more than L10. For L5 it was ok, but with so many free things to do in London which are better don't waste your money.

 
2.0
29 December 2007
by london_visitor78, UK
 

Terrific total experience

This was absolutely brilliant. It's terrific to find an attraction where the staff are as interested in it as the visitors. The battleship is fascinating and unlike a dusty museum, this really...

This was absolutely brilliant. It's terrific to find an attraction where the staff are as interested in it as the visitors. The battleship is fascinating and unlike a dusty museum, this really captures the atmosphere, the smells and feel of the real thing. You can visit most parts of the ship and the FREE audio guide leaves your eyes free to really take in the sights. Make sure you put time aside for the Crossing the Line Ceremony. It's a hoot.

 
5.0
26 August 2007
by taniwha_chris, Milton Keynes
 

Great experience

Of course, if you decide to vist it, you know you are going to visit a nave ship. So, if you're not interested, don't go. However, if you are really interested, there is alot to see. A lot of the...

Of course, if you decide to vist it, you know you are going to visit a nave ship. So, if you're not interested, don't go. However, if you are really interested, there is alot to see.

A lot of the ship is open to public, and the items of display depict in detail how life on the ship was during its glory days during (around) World War II.

Furthermore, it is in the centre of the Tower of LOndon/London Bridge area. SO, many tourist would find themselves in the area, and could easily be added on a day's programme.

A couple of minutes distant from LOndon Bridge tube station.

 
5.0
3 June 2007
by Valletta054, Malta
 

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  1. Recurring event

    To mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War HMS Belfast opens a new temporary exhibition focusing on personal memories of the Falklands War, as provided by a number of key participants.

     

Prices and Booking for HMS Belfast

Prices:

Adult: To £10.30 per ticket
Child: Free
Concession: £6.20 to £7.20 per ticket
 

Location Information HMS Belfast

Address:
Morgans Lane, Tooley Street, London
London
SE1 2JH
Telephone:+44 (0)20 7940 6300
Fax:+44 (0)20 7403 0719
Email:
Website:www.prestigevenues.co.uk
By road:
Exit the station via the Tooley St exit and walk through Hays Galleria towards the River Thames, HMS Belfast is moored between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
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