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    HMS Belfast

    3.9 (46 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    HMS Belfast Photos

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    Chris L.

    Stunning tour of a warship steeped in history. From WWII to the Cold War Belfast stood the watch. In razze dazzle paint scheme she is remarkable well preserved. Audio tour guide included. 5 decks of tour available. You MUST be able to navigate real warship ladders or this could be a bit dangerous. Lovely gift shop with reasonably priced items available.

    HMS Belfast, London
    Wulfstan C.

    HMS Belfast is a 1930s British cruiser which saw much action through WWII and then the Korean War and after, before being decommissioned in 1963. It is the only British cruiser, and largest British warship of any type, from that era to be preserved. One can read all about the history at the Imperial War Museum website and elsewhere online. It is very interesting and one can explore throughout the ship, including the engine rooms, bridge, main turrets, and more. There is a gift shop and there's a cafe on board. One has an option of doing an audio tour. Allow about 2 hours for a really thorough exploration, but one probably need not much more than that and 1 1/2 hours could be sufficient for a good experience. Even 1 hour could suffice for those who just want a quick look through. Anyone interested in warships or WWII history should visit it. It is part of the Imperial War Museum and is docked on the south bank of the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. The London Bridge station is the closest tube station but it's only a short walk from Tower Bridge.

    Annette C.

    Amazing historical ship experience , interactive rooms, and decorated true to the times. You can walk freely amongst the ship, watch your footing and overhead pipes.the boiler room and engine rooms were super cool

    Captain's chair.
    Matthew U.

    I basically made a day of things to do on the South Bank, it is definitely a part of the city that you need a day to discover it all. HMS Belfast was one of my discovery points among the many others. Battleships have always fascinated me. Being able to explore one is a rather cool experience. I really enjoyed this one because not only are you allowed to go about your own way, but you get to see every nook and cranny of the ship. I had attempted to stay with the guided tour but soon discovered that just because it is in numerical order does not mean you have to follow. Because of this I was able to look at things much longer than I expected. Some of the highlights of this place are: the gun turrets, stick around in this room a bit, there is a bit of a simulation of what it would have been like while the guns were fired, floors vibrate and the such. The telegraph room, you can attempt to spell out your name using Morse code. The engine/boiler room, I felt like this was an adult jungle gym. Twists and turns, up and down ladders, ducking, squatting, it's a great workout. Also take advantage of the men that seem to pop up out of nowhere. They are a great wealth of knowledge for the ship. Any question you threw at them they answered with ease and it gave you insight of how the men worked and lived on the ship. One thing to note, if you are not nimble exploration of this ship might be a feat for you. The ladders/stairs are steep and there are a lot of tight spaces from one place to the next. Another thing to note, you might go picture crazy in here. It is one of the few places in London I was able to freely take pictures and I went crazy. If it caught my eye, I snapped a shot. *London Pass saved the day again.

    Bell
    Sue F.

    We stopped here using our London Pass. We had no wait with tickets or entering. There is a free self audio but the route through the ship could be a little confusing. You must be 4' or taller for the tour. You will be climbing and descending in very confined and steep areas. This is not for anyone with walking issues. We all compares it to going through a ropes course so being in shape can help. My DH and DBIL both loved the experience. It's well worth the visit if you have the pass.

    Gun room
    Samantha E.

    The HMS Belfast is a British navy warship dating back to 1938; she was hugely important in World War II, including D-Day, and now is a permanent musuem on the River Thames in London. This was definitely one of my favorite tourist stops in England. I'm not the history buff my husband is, but you can't not be intrigued here. They have exhibits dedicated to specific battles and events. See what it would have been like to live onboard, from the hammock-filled messdeck to a genuinely scary sick bay to the rum rations. And look at the inner workers of the ship, including the shell room, magazine and handling room, engines, radios, and operation rooms. There's a lot of tidbits scattered around the ship, with signs, wax figures and an audio tour-- this is one place where you should definitely take them up on the headset, as it's very informative and you'd miss a lot without it. Tickets are expensive at £14, but that's really not more than any of the other major London attractions. Plan on 90 minutes to explore the ship in its entirety, and wear comfortable shoes that are good for climbing ladders. We went on a weekday afternoon in May and most of the time it seemed like we were the only people there, so it's a nice break from the crowds. This is one of the most unique, immersive museums you could visit. Definitely worth a visit while you're in London.

    Steve B.

    I've always wanted to visit this ship 'museum' so had an opportunity to visit one grey winter morning when not too many tourists or school parties were about. HMS Belfast is one of the various sites of the Imperial War Musem. £16 entry but well worth it in this case. There's a self guided audio tour. HMS Belfast is a Royal Navy cruiser built in the late 1930s and saw extensive wartime action in WWII and then again in the Korean war in the 50's. The whole ship has been restored and almost all of it is open to explore around from deep inside the engine rooms through to the kitchens, medical area, mess, sleeping areas, gun turrets, communication rooms and bridge. I found the whole thing hugely interesting and you can really imagine what it must have been like. There's a lot to see and it takes a few hours to see everything. I love the details of little things such as what was available for those on board in the shop, the design of the ship, the engines, all of it. Note: There are a lot of fairly steep ladders to go up and down with some restricted head space (I had to duck down frequently to avoid getting pranged on the head) so probably not one for the claustrophobic or anyone who isn't that mobile. Anyhow, highly recommended as a piece of history that's interesting and let's you feel like you are there back in time.

    Mike C.

    Really cool ship. Really cool stuff. I would recommend coming here if you have a couple of hours to spare. It's the permanently docked ship along the Thames river just west of the Tower Bridge. If you have the London Pass, your entrance fee is waived. An audio guide is included with your tour. There is a lot of history with this ship. You get to walk on the decks and the halls of the sailors and officers that served during World War 2. It's a battleship, so they have the standard huge guns that were used during a lot of the Naval warfares. I might be a little biased because I love military history, but still, even the young and the old will enjoy their time here. And they just re-opened the museum after several months of renovation. It's a bit pricey, but if you have the London Pass, you're golden.

    Katelyn T.

    Great place to be if you're a WW2 history fan. My hubby loved it. I'm not a big WW2 historian but it was cool to see the ship museum. Interesting to see how soldiers lived on the ship back in the days. I would recommend it, very educational and fun

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    HMS Belfast Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - HMS Belfast

    I could teach you history, I could teach you geography, I could teach you about life on a warship, but nooo...

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    Jack The Ripper Museum - Police Office at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Jack The Ripper Museum

    4.1(19 reviews)
    0.6 miWhitechapel

    I waited for a while to write this review as I wanted to parse this experience a little more in my…read moremind. In general, this place was reasonably well designed to tell the Jack the Ripper saga at a level for the casual observer. In other words, for those who want to learn the historical significance of the events on a basic level, it was perfect. I was afraid that it might be overly gimmicky and touristy. And there was some dramatic effect pervasive in the audio guide (extra cost), but it was not overdone. While the museum is housed in the Whitechapel neighborhood where the murders occurred, the structure itself has no documented connection to any of the homicides or murder suspects. The museum is well chosen, however, as it features five floors where they stage scenes relevant to the telling of the Ripper saga. The ground floor was informational, while the next level was set up as one of the first murder scenes where a victim was found. The second floor (third level) was staged as the apartment of one of the prime suspects Walter Sickert. There were actually a period overcoat and derby in that room to try on for a photo op. The third floor was set up to be a likeness of the police station with actual police artifacts from the investigator who was working the case. The top floor was constructed as a shanty apartment from one of the last victims. The basement (last in the tour on the recommended sequence) was a scene from the Ten Bells Tavern which seemed to be a seminal hunting location for the Ripper. The museum was well presented and the audio guide and displays presented the right amount of drama to tell the story without crossing the "hype" border. If you want to leave out most of the drama, you could forgo the audio guide. I thought it was a nice added dimension. But the artifacts and the signage by themselves give a very good basic history of the events associated with the Ripper. The backgrounds of the victims were quite interesting. Likewise fascinating were the identities and backgrounds of the lineup of suspects that had been pegged as possible culprits by various contemporaries as well as scholars and JtR buffs since that time. What particularly interested me was the status of Whitechapel within London's social environment at that time. It was clearly very different from the current standing of the community, which has really only changed in the past 20 or 30 years from what I could glean. This area was clearly rife to present opportunities for a psychopath like the Ripper to find his victims. These unfortunate women were victimized first by society and by their own poor choices before becoming ultimate victims for the Ripper. It was an intriguing dive into London's social history. Because of the iconic and enduring nature of the mystery behind these killings and its inextricable tie to the City of London, this museum is probably worth seeing if you have the time (and I emphasize the word "IF"). Given the number of worthwhile sights in London, I'd be hard pressed to urge most people to prioritize it. This was my fifth or sixth trip to London, and the third in which I've had my wife with me, so we were in a situation where we were on second tier sights, making this one easier to prioritize. We were also staying in Shoreditch. Hence, the proximity was working in our favor as the museum was walkable. On the other hand, if you are a crime buff or a mystery buff in addition to being interested in social and cultural history, you might elevate this sight to a must-see. It is done well enough to be both entertaining and informative.

    I didn't take a lot of pictures of this great little museum because that would ruin it for those…read morewho like these types of places. Nice little souvenirs to take home. Museum takes you through the whole Jack the Ripper murders. Mind you it is a three story museum and more information in the basement. Lots to look at, and it brings you closer to what happened.

    Photos
    Jack The Ripper Museum - Police Office at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Police Office at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Jack The Ripper Museum - Recreation for Discovery of Victim at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Recreation for Discovery of Victim at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Jack The Ripper Museum - Bedroom at Jack the Ripper Museum

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    Bedroom at Jack the Ripper Museum

    Dennis Severs' House - House exterior. No photo inside. £15

    Dennis Severs' House

    4.1(30 reviews)
    1.0 miSpitalfields

    This was such a unique and fantastic "still-life drama" visit. If you are looking for an obscure,…read moreyet artsy experience, this is the place to see. Each room is pretty narrow and you'll be walking up about 6 flights of stairs so wear comfortable shoes. You'll use all of your senses when you walk through this house and, imagined how people lived during the early 18th century based on economic means. Costs 10 GBP per person for a general visit and they take cash only. I used an Uber to get here and decided to Google Maps my way through the town of Shoreditch afterward which, was also a fun adventure.

    I really wanted to love this experience. I loved the idea of it all - a home frozen in time,…read morestripped of anything modern, oozing history and story and questions. I even loved the way I discovered it: I just zoomed into our hotel's location and moved the map on my screen to see what was nearby and intriguing. On the whole, it was an interesting experience. There were a few other people making their way through the floors of the residence, and some of them (one group in particular) clearly wanted to be anywhere but inside those walls. Still, we took our time with each room, trying to put ourselves in the time, forget the world outside, become immersed in the experience. There are four floors, and you're not supposed to talk, which made finding the right "next room" a bit of a challenge. I think I tried to enter rooms out of order on three of the four floors (and only got the fourth floor right because there was only room available). They have people working the space, but none of them pointed in the right direction or gave even the slightest hint that you were headed the wrong way until you'd already committed to walking into a room. Each room had a different "story" attached to it. You walk in, take a moment to gather your senses and get a feel of the place (no modern technology, so everything's candle and fireplace lit), then you're meant to understand everything that was going on right before you walked in. There are small cards scattered throughout the dioramas, which encourage you to ponder a certain piece, question the placement of a chair, or absorb a scent. They go out of their way to ensure accuracy and make the rooms feel authentic. Yes, that really IS a bedpan with something that looks suspiciously like wee floating in it (I couldn't bring myself to check on that one). Maybe I was just too tired to really appreciate what they did there. I am glad that we went - it was different and maybe a bit odd - but I don't know that I'd recommend it to anybody who doesn't have an appreciation for history or strange. They don't allow photos (follow their Instagram page if you're interested in getting a sneak peek of the space), so you're going to have to rely on your ever-fading memories and snapshots in your mind. Or maybe that's just me.

    Photos
    Dennis Severs' House - The house itself.

    The house itself.

    Dennis Severs' House - Dennis Severs' House London

    Dennis Severs' House London

    Dennis Severs' House - Dennis Severs' House facade

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    Dennis Severs' House facade

    The Old Operating Theatre

    The Old Operating Theatre

    4.4(25 reviews)
    0.3 miLondon Bridge
    £

    Very interesting - see the old operating theatre, diseased lungs and brains in jars, crazy medical…read moreimplements. Definitely insightful. To get into the place you have to climb up a very steep, claustrophobic winding staircase which would be impossible for some people.

    I love, and I mean LOVE, a medical history museum! Because…read morefolks...they aren't all well-known, but they aren't unusual to find. And you should definitely seek one out, if there is one in a city you are visiting. They tend to be small, but also the most interactive types of educational museums spaces. The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret is not open everyday (unlike what Yelp says), which makes sense for the size and type of place. Despite it's location near Borough Market and the large London Bridge metro station, it seems it is small enough...far enough off the main drag...and with the smallest little sign indicating it's location...that it has weekend-only hours. Sort of....long weekend....Thursday - Sunday 10:30am -5pm. These are the days and hours as they appear on google AND the museum's own website. So be aware. The actual museum is in the attic of the building that houses it, and requires an ability to go up several stories worth of a very narrow spiral staircase. It is not accessible, and there are no toilet facilities on site. So be aware. I appreciate the stair-traffic-control they do, with alternating red and green lights on the top and bottom so you know when you can go in whatever direction without a mid-spiral traffic jam. Upon paying for entrance, you get a scratch card with a person's illustration on it, and you scratch off a series of information bits as you go through the museum and see their icon. Love it! And there are different ones, so if you have a couple people in a group, you'll learn about different people! There is a children's area with coloring pages and interactive parts... It is all really just....so cool. You should go and experience it, if you have the physical capacity to get yourself to the entrance. I don't want to spill too much of what you will see there....but loads of history along with historical medical instruments, an operating theater, and other various medical-adjacent and old time-y pharmaceutical-y things...it's...fantastic. Well worth your time and money and some fun souvenirs, should you be in to that as well. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    The Old Operating Theatre
    The Old Operating Theatre
    The Old Operating Theatre

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    Clink Prison Museum

    Clink Prison Museum

    3.0(51 reviews)
    0.4 miLondon Bridge, South Bank
    £

    This is a bit of a strange little museum located down a popular alley between Shakespeare's Globe…read moreand the London Bridge. It's located at the former sight of The Clink, one of London's oldest prisons that operated for about 100 years. We did some research online ahead of time, and actually decided to skip it, but once we stumbled upon it we changed our minds. Admission is only £8 for adults, which felt pretty reasonable for what they have going here. They don't have many actual artifacts, but do teach a lot about torture tactics used during the medieval times. Overall, I probably wouldn't come here again, but it was worth the low cost of admission. I believe it took us about 45 minutes to get through.

    The museum is interesting and good to kill a half hour to 45 minutes if you're into getting a…read moreglimpse of medieval torture and crime. The museum is very small, yet it's only about £8, so not a big expense. I bought my tickets in advance on their website for Dec. 26th. I went on Boxing Day, and their website says they open at 10am every other day except Christmas. So I arrived at 10:05am and the doors were closed. There were a few others waiting at their locked front doors as well who bought their tickets online. There were no signs outside nor on their website about differing operating hours for Dec. 26th. I emailed the museum while I was waiting outside and haven't heard anything yet. The others outside called them and it just rang and rang with no message. I'm writing this on Dec. 27th. I waited for about 30 minutes and left to sit at a cafe to do some online investigating. I found on their FACEBOOK page that they were going to open at 11am on Boxing Day. I was happy about this news and went back and was able to enjoy the museum. While it is small, it does have authentic artifacts from the medieval prison days as well as a handful of interactive exhibits. There's some creepy music as well as audio reenactment recordings of prisoners. I'd say it's not a must-do, but if you're in the area near Borough Market and have about an hour or less to spare, then check it out. I just wish they had more accurate hours on their website.

    Photos
    Clink Prison Museum
    Clink Prison Museum
    Clink Prison Museum - Exterior

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    Exterior

    HMS Belfast - museums - Updated May 2026

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