Catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth’s preferred bedroom, see the honeymoon bed requested by the then Prince Charles, and find out why a wombat takes pride of place in a roof fan — all on the self-guided tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. After 44 years of royal service, HMY Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith and open to visitors who want to see how the royal family lived at sea.
A tour of Britannia is far more than pulling back the curtains on an episode of The Crown. It digs into the logistics of life at sea, touches on UK history, and shows off the engineering of this floating palace — from the state apartments right down to the engine room. This guide covers what you’ll see across the five decks, how the audio guide works, the essential visiting information, and what else is worth doing nearby in Leith.
Updated September 2026 — ticket prices and opening hours verified against the official Royal Yacht Britannia website.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ |
| Opening Hours (Apr–Oct) | 9:30–18:00 (last entry 16:00) |
| Opening Hours (Nov–Mar) | 10:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00) |
| Adult Ticket | £23 online / £25 at desk |
| Child Ticket (7–15) | £11.50 online / £12.50 at desk |
| Children Under 6 | Free |
| Duration | 1–2 hours (self-guided) |
| Decks Open | Five |
| Audio Guide | Free, available in 30+ languages |
| Parking | Free multi-storey car park at Ocean Terminal |
Setting & Location in Leith
While the Old Town has no shortage of royal attractions, the Royal Yacht Britannia sits away from the tourist crowds in Leith, Edinburgh’s waterfront district and one of the city’s most characterful neighbourhoods. The ship is berthed inside Ocean Terminal, a shopping centre on Ocean Drive, so the entrance is reached through the mall on the second floor. From the city centre it’s a 20–25 minute bus ride down Leith Walk, or a scenic walk along the Water of Leith. Once aboard you swap the shops for teak decks, polished brass and the quiet order of a working royal vessel.
History of HMY Britannia
HMY Britannia was the 83rd royal yacht in a tradition dating back to 1660 and the reign of Charles II. Built by John Brown & Company at their Clydebank shipyard on the River Clyde, her keel was laid in June 1952 and she was launched on 16 April 1953 by the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II, who smashed a bottle of Empire wine against the hull — champagne was considered too extravagant in post-war Britain.
Commissioned on 11 January 1954, Britannia served four sovereigns over 43 years and 334 days. During her career she steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles — roughly one trip around the world for each year of service — calling at more than 600 ports in 135 countries on 968 official visits. Her final foreign mission was to carry the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales home from the handover ceremony on 1 July 1997.
Britannia was decommissioned on 11 December 1997 at Portsmouth Naval Base. The Queen, normally undemonstrative in public, was reported to have cried at the ceremony. All clocks on board were stopped at 3:01 PM — the exact moment she stepped ashore for the last time. After a farewell tour of the UK, the yacht arrived in Leith on 5 May 1998 and opened as a visitor attraction on 19 October 1998.
The Audio Guide
Every ticket includes a free handheld audio guide, and it’s the heart of the visit. There is no set route with a guide marching you along — you move at your own pace, keying in numbers as you reach each point, which means you can linger over the rooms that interest you and move quickly past the ones that don’t. The commentary mixes royal anecdotes with the practical detail of running a ship, and it’s available in several languages. Families should ask about the corgi treasure hunt, a kids’ trail that keeps younger visitors hunting for hidden corgis from deck to deck.
Ticket Prices 2026
Britannia is run by a registered charity and does not charge VAT on tickets. Booking online in advance saves money and gives you access via the pre-booked ticket aisle. Card payments only at the desk.
- Adult: £23 online / £25 at desk / £27 flexible
- NATO Armed Forces: £15 online / £17 at desk
- Young Person (16–21) / Student: £11.50 online / £12.50 at desk
- Child (7–15): £11.50 online / £12.50 at desk
- Child (0–6): Free all year
- Kids Go Free: 25 June – 1 September 2026 (two children per paying adult, auto-applied at checkout)
- Carer / Educator: Free
Opening Hours
Britannia is open 363 days a year. You can stay as long as you like within the opening hours once you board.
- April – October: 9:30–18:00 (last entry 16:00)
- January – March: 10:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00)
- November – December: 10:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00)
- Closed: 25 December and 1 January
Getting There & Parking
The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal, a shopping centre on Ocean Drive in Leith, about 2 miles from Edinburgh city centre.
- By car: free multi-storey car park at Ocean Terminal — one of the very few Edinburgh attractions with free parking
- By bus: local buses run from Princes Street down Leith Walk; journey time about 20–25 minutes
- By tram: the Edinburgh Tram stops at Ocean Terminal
- On foot: a scenic 40-minute walk along the Water of Leith Walkway from Stockbridge
The Five-Deck Tour
The self-guided route works its way down through five decks. You’ll pass the State Dining Room, laid for a formal banquet — its tables could seat 56 guests and took the crew three hours to set; the Drawing Room where the royal family relaxed with live music from the Royal Marines Band; and the surprisingly modest bedrooms of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, kept separate in naval tradition.Highlights include the honeymoon suite — a double bed requested by Prince Charles for his 1981 voyage with Diana — the airy Sun Lounge that was the Queen’s favourite spot with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Verandah Deck, and the State Apartments with their separate sleeping quarters. Far below, the gleaming Engine Room and Machinery Control Room kept the whole palace moving. The contrast between the polished state apartments above and the crew’s working quarters — including separate pubs for officers and ratings, and the dormitories where the 220 yachtsmen (known as “yotties”) slept — is one of the tour’s lasting impressions.
Officers wore gym shoes to stay silent near areas where the royal family ate and slept, and shouting was forbidden throughout the ship. The children’s quarters even included a “Jelly Room” — a chilled storage room solely for gelatin desserts. Three galley kitchens allowed Buckingham Palace chefs to prepare meals throughout the voyage.
Essential Information
- Address: Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ
- Duration: allow 1–2 hours for the self-guided audio tour
- On board: the Royal Deck Tea Room serves cakes and light lunches on the veranda deck
- Accessibility: lifts and ramps run throughout, so most of the ship is step-free
- Kids: the corgi treasure hunt keeps children engaged across the decks
- Cancellations: booking through GetYourGuide gives a 24-hour cancellation guarantee, so a change of plans won’t cost you the ticket
Frequently Asked Questions About HMY Britannia
When was the Royal Yacht Britannia in service?
HMY Britannia served the royal family from 1954 to 1997, sailing more than a million nautical miles on state visits, royal honeymoons and family holidays before being retired.
When did the Royal Yacht Britannia retire?
It was announced on 23 June 1994 that Britannia would not be refitted because of the cost, and the ship was formally decommissioned in December 1997. She has been berthed at Leith as a visitor attraction ever since.
Is the Royal Yacht Britannia a popular attraction in Edinburgh?
Yes. More than 300,000 people visit the royal yacht each year, making it one of Edinburgh’s most visited paid attractions outside the Old Town.
Who owns the Royal Yacht Britannia?
The ship is cared for by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a registered charity that maintains her and reinvests visitor income in her upkeep.
How long does the tour take?
Allow 1–2 hours for the self-guided audio tour, though you can stay as long as you like within opening hours. The audio guide covers all five decks at your own pace.
Is there parking at the Royal Yacht Britannia?
Yes. Ocean Terminal has a free multi-storey car park, making Britannia one of the few Edinburgh attractions where you can park for free. The entrance to the yacht is on the second floor of the shopping centre.
Can you eat on board the Royal Yacht Britannia?
Yes. The Royal Deck Tea Room, located on the Verandah Deck, serves cakes, light lunches, and afternoon tea. It is open only to ticketed visitors and offers views over the water.
