The Royal Yacht Britannia, moored in the port of Leith in Edinburgh, was for more than forty years the floating residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family. She crossed the oceans carrying the Queen on state visits around the world, hosted presidents, kings and film stars, and today she is a museum where you can visit the royal apartments, the crew's quarters and the engine room. She is one of Scotland's most popular attractions.
History
Britannia was built at the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, on the River Clyde near Glasgow, and was launched by the Queen in April 1953, a few months before her coronation. She entered service in 1954. In 44 years she sailed more than a million nautical miles and made hundreds of official voyages. On board the Queen received heads of state, and members of the family spent holidays cruising among the Scottish islands. In 1981 Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon aboard in the Mediterranean, and in 1997 Britannia was present at the handover of Hong Kong to China.
That same year the government decided not to replace her because of the high costs. On 11 December 1997, at the decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth, the Queen, usually impassive, was seen to be moved. Since 1998 the ship has been moored at Leith, run by a charitable trust.
- 1953Queen Elizabeth II launches Britannia
- 1954Britannia enters service
- 1981Charles and Diana spend their honeymoon aboard
- 1997Britannia attends the handover of Hong Kong
- 1997The ship is decommissioned on 11 December
- 1998Britannia opens to visitors at Leith
What to see
The bridge and the quarters
The visit, with an audio guide included in the ticket, takes in five decks. You start on the bridge, with its period navigation instruments, and pass through the officers' and sailors' quarters: narrow bunks, the laundry, the sick bay with its operating theatre and the mess. The contrast with the royal spaces tells you a great deal about life on board.
The royal apartments
The State Apartments are surprisingly simple, with 1950s furnishings chosen personally by the Queen and Prince Philip. You see the separate bedrooms of the Queen and the Duke, the drawing room, the Sun Lounge, the Queen's favourite room, with views of the sea, and the large State Dining Room, where guests such as Churchill, Reagan and Mandela sat. One of the royal Rolls-Royces is kept in the ship's garage.
The engine room and the tea room
The engine room, polished like a mirror, shows the crew's meticulous care. On the upper deck the Royal Deck Tea Room serves tea, scones and cakes with views over the port of Leith.
Practical information
The ship is open every day of the year, except for a few holidays. Access is through the Ocean Terminal shopping centre. The route involves steep stairs, but there is a lift to some decks. Opening times and prices are on the official website.
Getting there
- By tram: from Edinburgh city centre by tram to the Ocean Terminal stop, in about 25 minutes.
- By bus: several city routes link Princes Street with Ocean Terminal.
- By air: Edinburgh Airport is linked by direct tram to Ocean Terminal, in about an hour.
Nearby
- The Leith district, with its waterfront, seafood restaurants and bars.
- The Royal Botanic Garden and Edinburgh's New Town.
- The castle and the Royal Mile; see the castle and the Royal Mile and what to see in Edinburgh.
Tips
- How long: an hour and a half to two hours.
- When to go: all year round; mornings are less busy.
- A tip: save the tea room for the end of your visit and ask for a table by the windows.