The Royal Yacht Britannia
Address: Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ
The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the world’s most famous ships. King George VI commissioned the yacht shortly before his death, and it was built in Scotland and launched by his daughter Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The royal family used this floating palace for over 44 years, on state visits and holidays to 135 countries. It was decommissioned in 1997, and all clocks on board remain frozen at 3.01 pm, the final time the Queen was piped ashore during the decommissioning ceremony.
The ship is now a 5 star attraction, berthed in Leith, Edinburgh and open to visitors. You can board her at Ocean Terminal and experience Her Majesty’s Britannia in all of her glory. There are five main decks to explore, from the elegant state apartments to the crew’s quarters below. There is a fascinating audio tour to guide you around, which includes a children’s version. There are also BSL tablets, Braille script and each deck is fully accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.
5 things to do on the Royal Yacht Britannia
- On the top decks you can check out the state apartments, Royal bedrooms and sun lounge.
- In contrast to the glamour and luxury, you can then go below deck and discover what life was like for the ship’s crew.
- Take tea in the Royal Deck Tea Room and sample homemade fudge in the sweet shop.
- Visit the immaculate engine room and see the gleaming machinery that powered the ship.
- Discover Britannia’s many treasures, such as, art work from the Royal Collection and historical artefacts including photographs, furniture, crockery, equipment and mementos.
