3 See photo gallery
The HMS Belfast warship is a floating museum moored on the River Thames and is an important part of the Imperial War Museum.
Exploring this historic warship will give you a sense of how life was like on board of a warship during World War II.
Launched in 1938, the ship was a powerful destroyer serving Great Britain during 32 years when it acquired special relevance during World War II and the Korean War.
Between 1950 and 1960, the HMS Belfast was no longer used for war purposes, but recommissioned for humanitarian actions.
The warship remained in service of Great Britain's navy until 1965 and after being retired, it became a floating museum in 1971.
A tour of its deck
An audio guide will accompany you during the visit to its nine decks. You will be told about the historical and military events in which the warship was involved, as well as some interesting anecdotes such as the fact that it was normal to bring cats aboard the ship to control rodent plagues.
During the visit, you get to see the different parts of the ship where the sailors lived, like the cabins, the kitchen, the dental room, the sick bay, the emergency room, or the wine cellar, as well as the engine room and operations room.
The magnitude of the operations led on this ship is visible when you observe the cockpit, the captain's cabin and the canons used to fight against the many air strikes.
A warship full of memories
You can visit practically the whole ship, and each of its decks and rooms offers fascinating stories. Although the visit is sometimes a little difficult due to the narrow passageways and steep staircases, the fact of visiting the only warship that survived the Second World War makes this visit definitely worthwhile.
Views from the HMS Belfast deck
HMS Belfast infirmary
3See photo gallery
River Thames, near the Tower Bridge
March to October: Every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
November to February: Every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
Adults: £ 23.60 (US$ 29.20)
Students and seniors over 60 years old: £ 21.25 (US$ 26.30)
Children between 5 and 15 years old: £ 11.80 (US$ 14.60)
Free entry with the London Pass.
HMS Belfast Tickets £ 23.60 (US$ 29.20)
Tube: London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines), Tower Hill (District and Circle lines)
Buses: all buses that go to London Bridge
London City Hall (243 m) Tower of London (359 m) Tower Bridge (410 m) The Shard (446 m) The Old Operating Theatre (510 m)
City Hall Sea Life
On the banks of the River Thames, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, is the futuristic building of the City Hall, headquarters of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
The London Sea Life is one of the most important aquariums in the United Kingdom. There are more than 500 species, inclusing more than 40 sharks and 12 penguins, meaning it's one of the biggest in the world.