HMS Belfast, The Admirals Quarters

Fascinating, especially for anyone with a grasp of naval history. Some parts of the ship are inaccessible for safety and/or conservation reasons. The audiovisual displays are excellent. The ship forms an excellent photographic platform for views of the city and the river. The volunteers are incredibly helpful. Be aware that the companionways are very steep, and need to be negotiated with caution; likewise, some of the compartments, especially the engine and boiler rooms, are incredibly cramped. Large backpacks are not a good idea, and unfortunately this also means that anyone with mobility issues is going to be severely limited as to what they can see and experience. Overall, thoroughly recommended. I believe that IWM offers a package deal on tickets for the Belfast, Duxford, and the War Rooms - if so, definitely check it out, as all of them are well worth visiting.

We visited on Friday 19th December, 2025. We booked in advance for 10:30am Overall, our visit was a great experience. It was interesting to see inside the vessel that HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had served on. It was amazingly well preserved and reading about the history whilst exploring was fascinating. You can explore about 85% of the ship from engine rooms, gun turrets and crew quarters to the Admiral or Captain's deck. The ladders certainly made the experience more engaging, too! The cafe area was cosy and the food was great quality. The views of Tower Bridge, the Thames and other parts of the surrounding area were stunning. Unfortunately, what would otherwise have been a perfect visit was a little spoiled by two male members of staff (one volunteer wearing a red jacket & a member of security). Both were fooling around in the Captain's chair, laughing and looking at something on their phone - we were made to feel like we were intruding. Otherwise, there was an older gentleman volunteer who was extremely helpful and knowledgable.