Absolutely wonderful ship. Lots of things you can touch. Good interactive exhibits. Perfect for someone interested in warships/military history and for those with kids who like big ships and touching everything. There's also a nice cafe inside. Everyone is very knowledgeable and friendly. This ship has a fascinating story - don't miss out. read more

The history contained in this vessel is absolutely voluminous. We went to every room and climbed into every crevasse we were allowed and had a blast exploring its rich history. We also enjoyed a wonderful presentation below decks highlighting the ships many important engagements read more

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Absolutely loved the HMS Belfast Museum. My fiancé and I decided to go here on a rainy day and it was such a great experience for us. There was so much to see here, it took us about 3 hours to get through the entire museum. At the start you are offered an audio guide which was easy to follow while walking through the ship. From the engine rooms to jail rooms, to the kitchens and dentistry room- you never knew what was going to come next. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the ship and its history and they offered several resources and books to look into while navigating the various rooms. It was the perfect day. I will say that there are a lot of ladders and steps to climb when walking through so keep this in mind when planning your trip. There was also a café on board if you wanted any snacks and beverages. Overall, no complaints and would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the UK! read more

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Very cool piece of history and you'll get the chance to explore it. There is a ton to see and learn while ducking and climbing through the corridors of this legendary ship. Be careful as the steps are shallow and the doorways are tight. By far my favorite part of the ship was playing with the targeting scope on the communications deck. They could improve on how they organize the audio tour; it's easy to get lost and miss sections of the ship. Don't be afraid to ask one of the many volunteers for help. read more

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. read more

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The HMS Belfast is a great site to visit, but in reality, it resembles many other warship museums around the world. This does not take away from the history behind it though! The HMS Belfast usually comes with most tourist city passes, so it's an easy one to tack onto your journey around London. Being it's a warship, it is large, but not massive enough to hold several hundred at a time during COVID times. It can get pretty busy during peak tourist seasons and may definitely feel cramped, so a no go for claustrophobic folks. Price wise, it's on par with many of the other sites in the city, which can be pricey, but if you enjoy war times history, it's well worth it. I'd suggest getting a ticket ahead of time to help move through the line in a quicker manner though! read more

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. read more

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The museum was really interesting, it wasn't really guided, you could just kind of walk around by yourself. There were quite a few interactive displays, and the museum was incredibly cool overall. The cafe inside was also delicious, however there were a few nice running around the dining hall and on the pipes on the ceiling. I recommend you visit the museum itself, but perhaps don't eat at the cafe. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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The HMS Belfast is a fantastic historical navy ship docked along the Thames and now open as a museum for exploration. Come prepared to duck through enclosed spaces, climb tiny staircases, and really get the feel for life on the warship as you ascend to the highest lookout tower and then descend into the bowels of the ship. You can easily spend 1-2 hours here exploring everything. There are cool interactive exhibits for getting to know the ship's history better--though the coolest part is simply the adventure itself. If you come on a clear day, the view from the top is also a fantastic photo op for seeing lots of the City and the waterfront architecture around central London. Overall a fun adventure for anyone who's into war history--or just exploring old things! read more

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. read more

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If you are a history nerd like me, then London is the place for you. I do appreciate it the chance to look into the history of Britain's Military while on vacation and the HMS Belfast thrives in producing this. See below High Level notes... 1. As with all attractions in London, if you have a backpack, please be prepared to be searched. Security staff was very professional and it was appreciated. 2. If bad weather is expected, please bring an umbrella and patience as if there is a line to get in, you will be exposed. 3. Very easy to use the London Pass here, ticket staff was very attentive and efficient 4. The team at HMS Belfast does their best to provide access to the ship, please note this is a World War 2 Military ship and that some passages and Stairs are cramped, if you have any leg or joint issues, this can be challenging but is possible. 5. There is are audio devices available 6. Depending on your level of couriousily, plan on 2 to 4 hours (for me I could have been there all day) Tickets - We used the London Pass to get in here and many other locations, I would suggest giving them a try. The que (line) to get in is a little cramped as the small space is shared with a cafe and gift shop. I was surprised as there is a restaurant above the welcome center they added an additional cafe there, again just my opinion since the ship also has a large cafe on board. Boarding - Once your in, this is simple, walk the gangplank to the ship, once on the ship, the audio devices will be there as well as other information on how to tour the ship. Touring - Again, I believe the staff did a great job laying out a route to see everything, however things can be slightly confusing so please be patient if someone goes the wrong way!!!! Experience - The experience of touring the ship is amazing. You have interactive opportunities to see what its like to fire the big 16in guns, sit where the officers did, see how the crew lived and see all the enhancements the ship received overtime. Respect - Please remember, this was a active Military vessel, please be mindful of this and remember you are a guest regardless of your views in life. The one great off change I had was to speak to a former member of the crew on board and see his grandson eyes light up when hearing about life on the ship. Access - For the most part, the HMS Belfast was very open about its missions and life aboard. Guests get a great insight of the ship and I would say not a lot of places are roped off. Conclusion - Thou not what you think when visiting London, I was happy to visit this museum and learn more about Her Majesty's Navy. If you out by the Tower bridge area, this would be a great place to visit in conjunction with the Tower and the bridge. There are a bunch of great places to eat in and around this area so you can see a lot and make a great day of it read more

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. read more

HMS Belfast - Gun room - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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. read more

HMS Belfast - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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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. read more

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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 read more

HMS Belfast - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

If you're a Second World War buff and want to learn a little bit more about naval life during this period, it would be hard to be disappointed with a trip to HMS Belfast, most famous for support in advancing allied troops on D-day and preserved as an Imperial War Museum site for her historical importance in both the Second World War and the Korean War. On board you'll receive a map of the nine decks which tell the story of the sailors with waxwork models and reconstructions. There are a lot of ladders from the Captain's bridge to the boiler rooms so suitable clothing and able bodies are advised! Entrance is £10.30 but I got a special 2 for 1 deal from a booklet you can pick up in the underground - look out for them! read more

HMS Belfast - Museums Near Me - London, XGL

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Very cool battleship. I was impressed with just how much of the ship is accessible to the public. I feel like we could go pretty much everywhere. We saw the engine rooms, the sleeping quarters, the mess, the gun turrets and much much more! The ship was refitted during the '50s so some it still represents that era while other parts have been restored to the WWII style. Kids would have tons of fun climbing up and down the steep stairways. Just be sure to turn around and face the "ladder" when going down. (Watch your head.) read more

I've visited a few other museum warships back in the states (USS Midway, Hornet, Intrepid, Missouri), and HMS Belfast is as worthy of visiting as any of those. The Belfast has the usual signs and captions denoting where the crew and captain lived and worked, how the ship was propelled, and what kind of havoc the ship's armaments are capable of causing. The audio tour portion is also pretty well done, though it would be nice if all the segments told you where you're supposed to go next. I haven't visited some of the other ships in years, but the Belfast may one-up them by having video screens doing a deeper dive on certain topics, which is pretty cool for military / history geeks. For instance, not only do they point out "here's the magazine room, and the shells go up to the guns via this hoist", when you get inside Turret A there's a video showing how it all works together. Or in another case, where there used to be torpedo tubes on the ship, there's a video explaining when torpedoes were fired by the ship, how torpedoes work, and when / why they were removed. As a bonus, the views of the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge are pretty nice and relatively unimpeded. If you're interested in anything military or history related, then the HMS Belfast museum is totally up your alley. And even if it's not exactly your cup of tea, it could be a good diversion from cathedral fatigue. read more

Don't bother with this tourist attraction. None of the brochures I read said that the last entry was at 5pm, I arrived at 5:15pm. Im a quick walker and they would still not let me in.....my 6 year old was upset and it was our last day here. Useless exhibit. Thanks for a wasted cab ride. read more

This is a real live boy's toy and a piece of heroic maritime history open for public exploration. After seeing service in WW2 in the Normandy landings, HMS Belfast is now moored just upriver from Tower Bridge as a permanent floating museum. Even from the bank, she's still an impressive sight. £10.70 gets you aboard but be on the lookout for discount vouchers in local publications and tourist brochures. Just to be able to clamber over the decks and explore the various levels within the ship and admire the big guns is impressive enough. However, in addition, there is a lot of information scattered about the ship as well as waxwork recreations of conditions on board. It's sometimes sobering to slow down and think about what this ship has really been through in the past and how those brave naval seamen operated in such cramped conditions to literally fight for our lives and freedom. A good day out and close enough to other attractions such as the Tower of London opposite on the north bank of the Thames, the London Dungeons and Borough Market. read more

NOT HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. PERIOD. I have problems with my knees causing me to be in braces for them, as well as constant pain. This ship had stairs, steps, and ladders that made it very difficult for me to be able to maneuver. There was a wheelchair accessible elevator, but it did not reach all the floors. Unless you want some strong man to fireman carry you up and down this ship, I DO NOT RECOMMEND coming here. That is why I gave it one star. On the plus side, this is a lovely spot to see history. It is interesting to walk in the shoes of those who served on the ship, as well as hear the occasional vintage music that would play in certain areas. P.S. this ship is very stuffy and on a day that is over 90°F (32°C) the heat is unbearable. read more

Very under reviewed and visited spot. Well worth your time if you're touring in London! We spent hours on the HMS Belfast. We have toured other ships before but none allowed us such complete access to the former Navy ship. Definitely worth stopping by and using the free guided headset, especially if you've purchased the London Pass. read more

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10.70 pounds and you are in, enjoying alive one of the most important England ships during World War 2. I really appreciate what English did during that time, but the museum didn't appeal to me, maybe cause I'm not a boy, so I didn't have that interest in all the details inside it. read more

From the looks of it, you can't make this ship operational in case aliens attack. It turns out the communications are sealed and some of the turrets seemed to be welded shut. As everyone said, it is sort of expensive to pay 10 pounds to walk around a ship, but it is fairly fun. It's quite large and you can explore the very top to very bottom. My biggest question is, however, how did they manage to put that torpedo in the hallway? If you happen to see it in one of the hull decks, let me know what you think. It's huge and there don't seem to be any doors it would fit through. Aliens?! read more

Very interactive & educational w a little for everyone. Mind u they have a lot o narrow stairs to climb up & down so b prepped for the physicality of this experience. It's fun for kids & adults who r in decent shape. read more

This ship is a lot larger on the inside than it looks! The museum is well marked and well displayed. Yes, there are a lot of steep stairs but that comes with the territory of it being a Naval ship. Staff is friendly and there are some cool exhibits about life on the ship and the history of it. read more

Tourist from the US. We love museum ships and the Belfast did not disappoint. Great area and great scenery in the background. This is a great museum ship with a ton of awesome detail. Tourist or Londoner it is a historic piece. read more

So... apparently this is a conference venue. Who knew? My company did, I guess. We held our annual kick off aboard this week and it was definitely unusual. In terms of an event space, it was pretty decent even for a battleship. The wifi worked perfectly and the catering food was good. Downsides would be how easy it is to get lost and end up wandering around halls that look the exact same. And the distance from the conference room to the cafe was kind of a pain as over a hundred of us needed to rattle up and down the ladder staircase. During the breaks we wandered around with the regular tourists giving ourselves creepy guided tours. This place is pretty legit. They have a bunch of waxwork figures acting as the various functions the ship used to carry out. The kitchen blows hot air and the dental room and surgery actually smell like old school antiseptic, so it all feels very realistic. Almost too much so. It can be a bit eery. Even the hospital beds have radios playing old music. It's a super fun place to have a conference or events and so much more interesting than a hotel venue hall. read more

I love this ship. I see it all the time and I end up getting invited to parties and events on it several times a year. Each and every time I feel quite special and have a lovely time. I think the guys at IWM do a great job in keeping her ship shape and I really like the new bar they have open by their ticket office. I can't remember it's name but it's great fun and has views to die for. read more

I have recently visited hms Belfast it is cool and fun I like it it is currently a tour but with out a guise I like the expirience room but it was intresting . If you want to go it is £16 per person read more

I have organised many school trips and this was the worst. Staff were rude, insulting and unhelpful. It might be free to take children from school, but I will never visit again. read more

Written by HMS Belfast: "Really?! 45 minutes?! You gave me a measly 45 minutes?!" I have so much to show you, and you squeeze me between "better" attractions?! I could teach you history, I could teach you geography, I could teach you about life on a warship, but nooo... You have better things to do? Fine! Go do them. There are plenty of other people who actually want to spend time with me, and I'll be happy to show them everything they want to see." read more

I've been to London 60 times and never heard of this. I'm glad I went on this trip. I enjoyed this more than I thought. Seeing the insides of the innards of the ship, engines, turbines, weaponry was very cool. I liked all the history and stories on the ship. There is something for everyone onboard, I would go back. read more

Very bad service at the entrance door (in Cafe room). They seem to honor people who buying tickets from their desks rather than those who using London Pass. On April 6/2018, we came there at 4:50pm with London Pass but couldn't get in. Other people came there at 5:00pm buying tickets at the desks still can get in. That's so unfair and bad service. UNACCEPTABLE!!! read more

Big badaBOOOOM!!! Wow - go and see this thing, it is amazing!!! Although warships, big guns and naval history may not be everyones cup of tea, if you want to see a very very real and interesting piece of the past, this is a must! read more

This was a stop that wasn't on my planned London trip. We ended up with some extra time and were close to here so we went. We had a London Pass so it was practically free. I love visiting ships and this was a great addition to our trip. Its a very well put together museum. It helps to follow the map though since the signs are as helpful as you would think. I ended up going through it 'quickly' since it was near closing time but it still took me over an hour. The mannequins they have are almost creepily realistic but a very neat touch. The have an audio guide that is included with the tour in several languages. (Tip, if you somehow screw up and change the language to something you don't understand, you can hit 9999 to pick another language) . There are also great views of the river and of the Tower bridge from around the ship. On one of the mid-decks there is a nice museum type area that has a lot of history and models as well as movies and audio of some of the more famous battles. Tip: This is not an OSHA friendly tour. The ship has lots of steep ladders (not even stairs) to get from place to place. You can still go around the first desk with out using a ladder but the rest of the ship is impossible to get to. Even if we didn't have the London Pass, 11 pounds is worth it. read more