My husband and I took our eight-year old grandson by train to London Bridge and then did the short walk along to HMS Belfast. Both us adults used tickets obtained through Tesco Clubcard, and children of 15 and under were admitted free, which I thought was excellent.
Audio tours are included in entry, so my husband had the adult one and our grandson and I both had the family one, which was recorded by Tony Robinson. That way I knew just what he was being told in case he asked me any questions.
There was so much to see below decks – including the Galley, Sick Bay, Mailroom, Chapel, Baker and Potato Store (complete with rat).
The noise of firing shells in the Gun Turret Experience was rather scary for some youngsters and both they and adults have to be pretty agile to climb down the very steep steps down to the Boiler Room and Engine Room, but all so interesting.
We sat out in the fresh air on the boatdeck to eat our sandwiches before looking at the shell room and magazine, then ascending to the Admiral's Bridge and right up to the Gun Direction Platform.
We must have spent over three hours looking round. Were glad we arrived soon after it opened at 10am as by the time we left it was getting very busy. An excellent day out though and well worth the visit.
