Cruise Talk: The HMS Belfast, in London

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » The HMS Belfast, in London

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Topic: The HMS Belfast, in London

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-28-2000 07:56 AM

The HMS Belfast was delivered in 1939 for Britain's Royal Navy. She is on of the last examples of a great aurmoured war ship. She is now a floating museum in the pool of London.

What's this got to do with cruise ships, you may well ask? Well some of the smaller ships, such as Seaborne, moor along side of her, passing under Tower Bridge. If you are interested in her, the offical web site is very good:
http://www.hmsbelfast.org.uk/

[ 07-22-2001: Message edited by: Malcolm ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-28-2000 08:17 AM

Malcolm - when we were in London for 2 days, after our crossing on the Westerdam in '89, my husband and I went to the Tower to see the Jewels. We could see the Belfast from there, and he wanted to go over and visit it, but it was too long a walk for me. I am sorry now that we didn't go as he loved old war ships and sailed on small ones like the Belfast during his navy days while in University in Toronto. Too bad we didn't know about this site last year. Thanks.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-28-2000 05:17 PM

Hi Sympatico, I've visited many of the world's greatest cities - and it does not matter how long I spend there, rushing around the tourist sites, when I get home I always regret not seeing something!

London and the UK has got some excellent maritime history. There is Greewhich (London), Portsmouth, Southampton, Dover..etc..etc., to name a few areas. Come back to theUK soon and you can see some more

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

nzmike
First Class Passenger
Member # 1308

posted 05-29-2000 08:52 PM

I visited HMS Belfast a couple of years ago when I was living in London. She is extremely well preserved and not significantly altered; she is still afloat and all machinery remains in place. About half of the ship is open to the public for a self walk tour and it is fascinating - everything is well presented and feels very authentic. The engine and boiler rooms are beautifully preserved and still have original access ladders etc - quite a climbing challenge! The wonderful thing about her is that she feels so authentic - almost as if she is ready to sail away. A pity that the planners at Long Beach didn't follow a similar model back in 1967....

Posts: 186 | From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-22-2001 07:38 AM

Anyone else been to see her?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

David McIntosh
First Class Passenger
Member # 1737

posted 07-22-2001 11:09 AM

Saw her in London in the mid-seventies. I am sure much restoration has taken place since then. For anyone interested in warships might I suggest the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina. They also have a destroyer (the USS Laffey) as well as a diesel sub and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter.

Posts: 124 | From: Columbia, SC, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

titanicsteve
First Class Passenger
Member # 2142

posted 07-22-2001 11:37 AM

I to am just back from london and when I was at the London Tower I saw her but I could not get over to her because there was not enogh time!

Posts: 510 | From: Ireland (near Titanic birthplace!!) | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Dolphins
First Class Passenger
Member # 2043

posted 07-22-2001 08:42 PM

We hope to visit HMS Belfast when in London in September as our hotel is within walking distance.

Posts: 324 | From: Commack, New York | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

kimberley
First Class Passenger
Member # 1888

posted 07-27-2001 03:58 PM

I visited her last year with my kids aged 7 and 10 then. It was a brilliant visit and well worth it. Children are free and the cost for an adult is pretty reasonable. The kids were made horonable seamen for the day. They took part in a quiz and answered questions as they walked and investigated the ships. I know some adults wished that they had also taken advantage of the quiz. By doing it you learnt so much and made the visit even better. I must say some of the staircases were quite steep and could cause a problem if you have walking difficulties. They have a brilliant mess room with fake things cooking as if it was still a kitchen today. They have a medical centre and dentist with all the smells!!!!. I would definately recommend stopping off for a visit you won't be dissappointed. I think you can also visit her ig you have a LondonPass. Email me if you have any questions.
Kimberley

Posts: 24 | From: Surrey, UK | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

howarde
First Class Passenger
Member # 1482

posted 07-31-2001 02:14 AM

We visited her just recently, in May. Nearly all of the ship is open to visitors now and the special effects used throughout the ship to indicate what life was like onboard are fantastic. I agree that the stairs are fairly steep in a lot of places and it is advisable for ladies not to wear a skirt or any shoes with heels! It takes quite some time to complete the full self-guided tour and see everything there is to see. I found it amazing that they once launched planes off her deck but they have the videos running to prove it.

There was a small cruiseship moored to her when we visited as Malcolm mentioned - and we looked down on it quite considerably. (I'm not sure what ship it was).

Having also seen the Victory, Warrior, Bristol amongst others in the UK and the Mighty Mo in Hawaii, in my opinion she is one of the best restored and kept warships afloat and is a credit to the mostly volunteers who've got her that way.

It is a great spot for viewing and photographing the Bridge and watching it open to let vessels through.

Elaine

Posts: 36 | From: Canberra, Australia | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-02-2001 10:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by howarde:
There was a small cruiseship moored to her when we visited as Malcolm mentioned - and we looked down on it quite considerably. (I'm not sure what ship it was).

Elaine, the 'Pool of London' is a pretty exclusive place to start a cruise. The ship may have been 'Seabourn Pride'?

[ 08-02-2001: Message edited by: Malcolm ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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