HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast
- Attraction
- Culture
- Landmark
Since its launch by the British Navy almost 80 years ago in 1938, HMS Belfast has served in both peace-keeping duties and key battles across the world, including the Battle of North Cape, D-Day and Operation Overlord, it also played key roles in the Second World War and the Korean War.
Permanently moored on the River Thames next to Tower Bridge, visitors can come aboard and explore the nine historic decks of the iconic ship and hear the personal stories of the crew who lived and served on board.
Learn what life was like at sea, climb up and down ladders and take the helm in the Captain’s chair and navigate Europe’s only surviving Second World War cruiser. Man the action stations in the Operations Room and help recover a downed plane. Keep a lookout up on the flag deck where there are amazing 360-degree views of London, and delve deeper into the boiler and engine rooms 15ft below sea level. Visitors can witness the warship in action in the Gun Turret Experience, and see what it was like to sleep on the ship with tightly-packed hammocks hanging in the Arctic Messdeck.
Whilst on deck explore the Voyage of Discovery, hunt around the ship and search for clues and discover lesser-known facts about this legendary vessel.
Key Points
- During service the HMS Belfast always had a crew of between 750 and 850 sailors.
- The Belfast spent 33 days at Normandy, during the D-Day invasion and fired over 5,000 shells - which resulted in the toilets on-board the ship to crack.
- Captain Ellison had a pet mongoose on the ship, which climbed into a hidden part of the ship and died. The crew had to play a hide and seek game and try to find the dead mongoose.
- The Belfast is one of three ships from D-Day that has survived. It is the only one in the UK - the other two are both in America.
Location
HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast
- Attraction
- Culture
- Landmark
Since its launch by the British Navy almost 80 years ago in 1938, HMS Belfast has served in both peace-keeping duties and key battles across the world, including the Battle of North Cape, D-Day and Operation Overlord, it also played key roles in the Second World War and the Korean War.
Permanently moored on the River Thames next to Tower Bridge, visitors can come aboard and explore the nine historic decks of the iconic ship and hear the personal stories of the crew who lived and served on board.
Learn what life was like at sea, climb up and down ladders and take the helm in the Captain’s chair and navigate Europe’s only surviving Second World War cruiser. Man the action stations in the Operations Room and help recover a downed plane. Keep a lookout up on the flag deck where there are amazing 360-degree views of London, and delve deeper into the boiler and engine rooms 15ft below sea level. Visitors can witness the warship in action in the Gun Turret Experience, and see what it was like to sleep on the ship with tightly-packed hammocks hanging in the Arctic Messdeck.
Whilst on deck explore the Voyage of Discovery, hunt around the ship and search for clues and discover lesser-known facts about this legendary vessel.
- During service the HMS Belfast always had a crew of between 750 and 850 sailors.
- The Belfast spent 33 days at Normandy, during the D-Day invasion and fired over 5,000 shells - which resulted in the toilets on-board the ship to crack.
- Captain Ellison had a pet mongoose on the ship, which climbed into a hidden part of the ship and died. The crew had to play a hide and seek game and try to find the dead mongoose.
- The Belfast is one of three ships from D-Day that has survived. It is the only one in the UK - the other two are both in America.