Tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland
History
Britannia set sail from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, on April 16, 1953. Serving the Royal Family for over 44 years, it traversed over a million nautical miles, earning global renown. To Queen Elizabeth II, it was a regal abode for state visits, receptions, and family vacations. It symbolized the Commonwealth's grandeur and fostered trade. Now, as a top-rated tourist site and event space in Edinburgh, Britannia continues to charm visitors.
It was determined in 1953 that a new Royal Yacht was needed to replace Victoria & Albert III - the first Royal Yacht not to be powered by sail. This new yacht was intended for global travel and wartime medical support. The order was placed with John Brown & Co shipyard on February 4, 1952. Queen Elizabeth II in the same year took on the task of preparing for her new role as queen and overseeing the yacht's commissioning. The shipyard, renowned for building iconic liners like the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, began construction in June 1952.
After months of work, the newly named Britannia was launched on April 16, 1953, by Queen Elizabeth II. Over her 44 years of service, Britannia sailed extensively, representing British interests globally and hosting numerous state functions and trade missions. Notably, she played a humanitarian role during the civil war in South Yemen in 1986. Upon her decommissioning, Britannia became a visitor attraction in Leith, Edinburgh, opening to the public on October 19, 1998. Queen Elizabeth II expressed pride in Britannia's service to the nation, the Royal Navy, and her family, acknowledging her significant role in history.
Location
The Royal Yacht Britannia now receives well over 300,000 visitors each year. The Yacht can be visited in in Leith, a district in Edinburgh, Scotland. Leith thrives as a vibrant port community, blending trendy artists with seasoned residents. Along the Shore, quaint seafood eateries mingle with classic pubs. Connecting the district to the city centre, the scenic Water of Leith Walkway and bustling Leith Walk offer a tapestry of food joints and vintage stores.
The entrance to the start your self guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia is on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.
Our Experience
Our day started rather early as we decided to head out to grab a sandwich for breakfast and make walk to the Royal Yacht Britannia. In total the walk was about and 1 hour and 20 minutes, but we thought it would be the best way to see the city on foot and it gave us time to take note of any places we would like to stop by on the way back.
We were staying at The Scotsman Hotel, we had got quite a good deal using travel points for our room and the location was perfectly located, making it easy to get to New Town, Old Town or to Waverly Train Station. We were visiting a cousin for the week, and he recommended we stop by Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch, it was the opposite direction of where we needed to go, but we were more than excited to try their Bacon Brie & Cranberry grilled panini for £4.30. It was delightful and perfect for our long walk to Leith.
Once we arrived to the address of the Royal Yacht Britannia, we were a little confused, because it brought us to a shopping centre. As I mentioned earlier the Royal Yacht Britannia is on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, and there are signs to help you find your way.
Once we arrived at the shopping centre entrance of Royal Yacht Britannia we walked through an area highlighting the history of the boat and its occupants. We saw pictures of the Boats construction, members of the royal family and their dress.
Eventually this lead us to an area where they handed us headsets for our self tour of the yacht, and we were guided up many flights of stairs so that we could start our tour of the boat from the top.
It is an absolutely enchanting experience to walk through the halls of the boat and to see them stages as they would have been during it's time in operation. We were able to see the private apartments of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the dining hall, and the spaces occupied and operated by the ships crew.
The Royal Yacht Britannia also offers a Tea Room, which we initially intended to visit. But unfortunately our long walk in the morning had us ready to head back to get some rest at our hotel The Scotsman. The Royal Deck Tea Room offers a variety of treats and drinks for you to choose from, as well as a set menu called Britannia Cream Tea £25, which includes a Glass of Britannia Sparkling Rosé, your choice of sandwich, and is followed by a fruit scone and pot of loose-leaf tea.
The Tour itself takes approximately 1.5-2hours and can take more time if you choose to stop by The Royal Yacht Tea Room. The Tours are also self guided and available either on your mobile device or on an audio headset which is included in the admission price.
Tickets Admission
Bookings are movable free of charge and are refundable up to 48hrs prior to your time slot.
Adult (Gift Aid eligible) £19.50
Child (Aged 5-17) £9.25
Family (3 Children and 2 Adults) £50
Children Under 5 - Free
How To Get There
1. By Bike - Utilize any of the city's bike services and cycle along the traffic-free Water of Leith. Bike racks are outside Ocean Terminal. For cycle routes, see CycleStreets.
2. By Tram -Edinburgh trams now run from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre and down to Leith. To visit Britannia get off the tram at stop Ocean Terminal.
3. By bus- Lothian Bus services from Edinburgh city centre are 10, 16, 34 or 35. Tickets can be purchased with contactless card payment or with correct change. Single tickets cost £2.00 or a day ticket costs £5.00 however the daily cap by using contactless is cheaper at £4.80.
4. By car - There is free parking available at the parking terminal, feel free to use the address info above to find the best directions to get there.
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