afternoon tea on royal yacht britannia

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Royal Yacht Britannia – tickets, prices, discounts, afternoon tea, what to see

Royal Yacht Britannia used to be Queen Elizabeth’s Palace on Water and is now Scotland’s most popular tourist attraction. 

Known by many names such as Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia, Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht ,  HMY Britannia, etc., this Yacht was in the Queen’s service for 44 years and sailed more than a million miles worldwide. 

It is a perfect opportunity to see how the British Queen lived when traveling with other Kings and Queens, World leaders, and celebrities. 

This article shares everything you must know before booking your tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia tour.

Top Royal Yacht Britannia Tickets

# Royal Yacht Britannia tickets # Royal Edinburgh ticket

Table of contents

What to expect at yacht britannia, royal yacht britannia prices, royal edinburgh ticket, where is the royal yacht britannia, royal yacht britannia entrance, royal yacht britannia opening times, are the britannia tours timed, are the royal britannia tours guided, how long does a tour of britannia yacht take, royal britannia discounts, royal yacht britannia audio guide, royal deck tea room timings, 1. the state drawing room, 2. the verandah deck, 3. the sun lounge, 4. the state dining room, the engine room, the laundry, admiral’s cabin.

Here is a quick video on what visitors can expect inside Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia.

Your Royal Britannia tour starts from the Visitor Centre, on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, where you get the historical background about the Royal Family and Yachtsmen.

You then pick up the audio guide, which is part of the entry ticket, and board Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht and explore five fascinating decks.

Highlights on the Yacht’s Royal side are the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room, and The Queen’s Bedroom.

On the ship’s operational side, you get to see the Crew’s Quarters, the Engine Room, the laundry, etc.

More than 95% of the exhibits you will see during your tour are original and are taken on loan from The Royal Collection.

If you prefer, you can also visit the Royal Deck Tea Room.

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Royal Yacht Britannia tickets

This entry ticket gets you complete access to the Royal ship that’s now berthed in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith.

Visitors can explore all five decks at a leisurely pace even as they take in the public and private lives of the British Royal Family.

This ticket also includes the complimentary audio guide. 

Adult ticket (18+ years): 18.50 pounds Child ticket (5 to 17 years): 9.25 Pounds  Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): 50 Pounds Infant ticket (under 5 years): Free entry

This combo is known as the 48-hour Royal Edinburgh Ticket and is a real money saver. 

If you are visiting Edinburgh for the first time, we highly recommend this Royal attractions combo. 

This ticket gets you to access three of the best attractions in the city:

• Royal Yacht Britannia
• Edinburgh Castle
• Palace of Holyroodhouse

And to top it all, you also get unlimited travel for 48 hours on three of Edinburgh’s hop-on-hop-off bus tours. 

Address:  Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, United Kingdom. Get Directions

The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, just 2 miles from the City Centre.

Britannia’s Visitor Centre is on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, just 15 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh City Centre.

Ocean Terminal is soon going to be  re-branded  as Porta. 

There are many ways to get to the Royal Yacht. 

If you are coming by train, you must get down at  Edinburgh Waverley .

From outside the station, you can take a taxi to cover the 3.7 kms (2.3 miles) to Ocean Terminal. 

From the Waverly station, you can also take bus No. 22 and 34.

You must board the buses at  Princess Street (Stop PN) , and after 24 minutes and 27 stops, get down at  Ocean Terminal (Stop OF) .

There is a bus from the Station, every 15 minutes.

Lothian Bus services  run three buses – Bus No. 11, 22, and 35 – from Edinburgh City Centre to Ocean Terminal. 

You can purchase tickets on the bus by presenting the correct change or from the  Lothian Buses app .

A single journey on a Lothian Bus costs 1.70 Pounds. 

If you use Satnav, use the postcode EH6 6JJ. 

Else, open Google Maps to get  directions to Ocean Terminal .

If you prefer a taxi, we recommend  Uber ,  Central Taxis , or  City Cabs .

Car Parking

Royal Yacht Britannia offers free parking at Ocean Terminal.

Blue Car Park on Level E is closest to the tourist attraction’s Visitor Centre. 

This part of the Park also has spaces for Blue Badge holders. 

If you reach by foot, taxi, or bus, access to Royal Britannia is from the Ocean Terminal Shopping Center’s main entrance on the ground floor. 

You must take a lift to the 2nd floor of Ocean Terminal and walk towards the building’s East end.

You will first spot Debenhams and then HMY Britannia’s Visitor Center entrance.  Even though you can book tickets at the venue (the ticket desk is to the left of the visitor center entrance), it is better to  buy them online , much in advance, to avoid last-minute disappointment. 

During the peak months of April to October, Royal Yacht Britannia opens at 9.30 am, and the last entry is at 4.30 pm. 

The rest of the year, the Royal Yacht opens at 10 am, and the last entry is allowed till 3.30 pm. 

The last admission on 24 December is at 2.30 pm, and on 31 December it is at 3 pm. 

Royal Yacht Britannia is closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Royal Yacht Britannia tour

The Royal Yacht Britannia   tours are a perfect way to feel like a celebrity for a few hours. 

In this section, we share a few things you must know before you book your tour of the Royal ship. 

No, tours of HMY Britannia don’t start at a stipulated time. 

When you book your tickets, you only select the ‘date.’ 

On the day of your visit, reach the Royal ship between their opening hours to start exploring.

Her Majesty’s Yacht doesn’t offer guided tours. 

However, every ticket comes with an audio guide to walk around and tour the ship yourself.

Kids get their own version of the audio guide. 

You need at least two hours to explore Royal Yacht Britannia to satisfaction. 

However, if you plan to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room, you must factor in another 30 to 60 minutes. 

Visits during July and August tend to take longer because of the crowd. 

Kids up to four years get the maximum discounts at Britannia, Edinburgh – they get in for free. 

On the adult ticket price of 17 Pounds, children aged 5 to 17 years get almost 50% discount and pay only 8.75 Pounds.

Seniors who are 60+ and students with valid educational ID cards get a 2 Pound reduction on the full ticket.

People in the Armed Forces (with valid ID) can also claim the reduced price of 8.75 Pounds. 

However, this Armed Forces discount is available only at the Britannia ticket office.

Every Britannia Yacht entry ticket comes with a complimentary audio guide.

While receiving the audio guides at the Handset Desk, you can ask for straps to wear the audio guides around the neck. Headphones are also available.

Kids can opt for the children’s version of the audio guide.

The audio tour is available in 30 languages; English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Korean, Japanese, Urdu, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Thai, Turkish, Cantonese, Punjabi, Portuguese-Brazilian, Welsh, Romanian and Gaelic. 

Besides the audio guide, visitor guides are also available through the tour route to help if you have questions.

Royal Yacht Britannia afternoon tea

The Royal Deck Tea Room is on board Britannia and tables are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

It is a perfect restaurant to enjoy freshly prepared food and stunning views of the harbor. 

The menu includes specialty coffees, cocktails, tasty soups, sandwiches, cakes, scones, etc.  Download Menu

The Royal Deck Tea Room has 35 tables and can seat 133 people.

During the peak months of April to October, the Royal Deck Team Room opens at 11 am, and the last admission is at 3.30 pm. 

January to March: Opens at 11 am, last admission at 3.30 pm

November to December: Opens at 10.30 pm, last admission at 3.45 pm

Royal Yacht Britannia interiors

Many tourists wonder what’s inside the Royal Yacht before they book their tickets. 

Some out of curiosity and some to know if a visit to Royal Yacht Britannia is worth it. 

We list below some of the highlights of this Palace on water. 

State Apartments

The State Apartments are the collection of rooms where the Royals lived or entertained their guests. 

The Royal family relaxed in the State Drawing Room whenever they traveled together. 

It also acted as a reception room for up to 250 guests. 

The Verandah Deck was a private space for the Royals, where they could sunbathe or enjoy quoits or deck hockey. 

This area of the ship also had a collapsible swimming pool for the Royal Family to splash around if they wanted.

The Sun Lounge was one of the Queen’s favorite rooms onboard HMY Brittania. 

The beautiful teak-lined room was a designated family room and offered a lot of privacy from the rest of the ship.

This massive dining room onboard Britannia has played host to the world’s most influential people, such as Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, etc. 

With its white paneled walls adorned with gifts received during State visits, this room represents ultimate luxury. 

The Engine Room is a testament to British marine engineering skills because, until the ship got decommissioned in 1997, everything was working fine. 

This room is full of gleaming brass, chrome, and white enamel with the ‘heavy stuff’ under the hood pumping 12,000 horsepower, which would help Britannia and her four-bladed propellers to a maximum of 22.5 knots.  

Eight men operated the Engine Room, Boiler Room, and associated machinery rooms.

The 240 Officers and Yachtsmen on board Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia sometimes had to change their uniforms up to six times a day. 

This is why it was the only ship in the Royal Navy to have a laundry service permanently on board. 

The laundry machines, dryers, and steam presses on the ship worked non-stop, and sometimes the temperature even went up to 48 degrees Celcius (118 degrees Fahrenheit)

The Admiral was responsible for Royal Yacht Britannia’s safe functioning and commanded the 19 officers and 220 Yachtsmen who operated the ship.

He worked, entertained, and often ate (he couldn’t join the other officers in their mess unless invited) in the Admiral’s Cabin. Image: Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk  

The Bridge was HMY Britannia’s center of command and control on all her journeys. 

From here, the officers reporting into the Admiral navigated, passed orders, recorded the logbooks, etc.

Back then, all Royal Navy ships had a Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute shop, known as the NAAFI. 

The crew members and the officers would shop for their daily needs, such as toothpaste, shaving creams, magazines, etc. in this shop. 

Sources # Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk # Architecturaldigest.com # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Urvashi Goyal

She is a city fanatic who loves exploring different cities, understanding their culture, meeting people, and discovering hidden gems. She likes to holiday in offbeat places that mainstream tourists are yet to discover. When on holiday, she avoids crowded tourist traps. Favourite cities: Bern, Los Angeles, and San Francisco

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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The Royal Deck Tearoom aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's No. 1 UK Attraction 2023 and while on board visit the stunning Royal Deck Tearoom. A fabulous extension to the five-star Britannia experience, the Tearoom has stunning waterfront views and waiter service.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023 Please note Britannia will be closed 25-28 June due to the construction work and redevelopment of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.  

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices.

Aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, the Royal Deck was previously where the Royal Family enjoyed drinks receptions, sumptuous buffets, or played deck games.

Now you can treat yourself with speciality teas or coffees in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Deck Tearoom  during your visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Choose from our menu of soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones, all made on board. Treat yourself to a glass of bubbly as you admire the stunning waterfront views!

Discover the heart and soul of this very special Royal residence with an audio tour  of The Royal Yacht Britannia, available in over 30 different languages. Visitor centre, Gift Shop , Tearoom and free parking at Ocean Terminal.

Transport and Parking

Accessibility.

• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Lift or stairlift
• Wheelchair access throughout
• Accessible toilets
• Access guide

Dietary Options

• Gluten Free
• Vegan Meals Available

Typical Prices

Cuisine types, related items of interest.

• Sailing on Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound

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Afternoon tea - Royal Yacht Britannia

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Afternoon tea

A lovely visit around the yacht followed by a delightful Scottish afternoon tea in the glass tea rooms on the deck of Britannia. Good service, really lovely cakes - best lemon drizzle cake I have tasted in a very long while. You can get your ticket validated for visits in the next twelve months for free. Worth a visit

We are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your visit, followed by tea and cake in the Royal Deck Tea Room. The lemon drizzle cake is baked freshly on board and is delicious. As you say, after one paying visit you can apply for your free Annual Pass which allows unlimited access for 12 months – with 15% off in the Tea Room and Gift Shop. Many thanks for sharing your five-star reviews with others.

Make time to visit the Britannia, go there for a few hours, you'll love it. VERY well organised, but what else would you expect? The ship is moored alongside a multi-deck building, so that to get from one level to another onboard, you go ashore then up or down, then return onboard. Very cleverly, this avoids hoards of people trying to get up and down the steep ship's ladders. You start at the top, and can sit in the Admiral's driving seat and the next thing you come to is his own cabin and sitting room. The poor man had to change clothes up to eight times a day! There are so many fascinating details, all on view, with no petty regulations about taking photographs and no one hurrying you along. Take the self-guided tour at your own pace. Go backwards if you like, no one hassles you. The grand banqueting table was all laid out - kings and queens, heads of state, prime ministers and long-dead dictators have all walked and sat where you are standing now. Take a look at the silver pantry where every knife, fork, spoon, salter and platter had its place and every single piece was cleaned every day. Have you seen photographs of the Queen playing on the deck as a young girl? You can stand on that same deck. It is so impressive that this is not preserved as a holy untouchable relic. Hardly any of it is roped off. The decorative style is fascinatingly low-key - more comfortable country house than a Royal home. Everywhere is absolutely spotless despite the thousands of people trooping through every day, how do they do that? Highly recommended. Ignore the ghastly shopping mall on the way in and out. Who needs another retail opportunity anyway? The tea room does a good lunch, you do not have to eat cakes. Warning, however, the music is Frank Sinatra on a continuous loop. (why him, particularly?)

Thank you very much for taking the time to share such an informative and lovely review. It really is fascinating to think about the footsteps you are following in as you step aboard Britannia. Your kind comments about the yacht being spotless are much appreciated, as our Housekeeping team works tirelessly to ensure that the same standards are upheld as when HM The Queen was on board. We play a variety of music in the Tea Room, including Frank Sinatra who once dined aboard Britannia when she was in service. Many thanks again for your five-star review.

Liked the layout and organisation of the tour of the yacht, it was calm, peaceful and spotless. There could have been more signage from the bus stop outside. You find the ticket desk on the top floor of the shopping mall.

Thank you for your feedback regarding the signage – this is something that we are working to improve. As you say, the entrance to Britannia is through our Visitor Centre which is located on the 2nd floor of Ocean Terminal. Many thanks for visiting and sharing your review on TripAdvisor.

It was a well spent morning touring the yacht, it's nice to see sometimes how the other half live! The tour is a self directed tour so plan on about 1.5 hours to see the whole ship, and don't forget to go below deck and see the engine room.

It sounds like you had a wonderful time exploring Britannia’s five decks with the audio handset – it really does help bring the tour route to life and is fascinating to see the contrast between the Royal Apartments and Crew’s Quarters. Many thanks for visiting while you were in Edinburgh.

Toured the Britannia today. Got a 10% discount with the map from Edinburgh Castle. There's a short display first that tells a bit of the ship's story and then you receive an audioguide and cross onto the ship. The set up is laid out really well and this site wasn't too crowded. I guess because it takes a little effort to get out there from the main city parts. We took bus 22 from Princes Street. Really easy- buy a ticket from the office on the bridge or from the driver. The tour of the boat takes about an hour and a half. I think it's worth the time.

Thank you for your kind comments about the layout of the tour route. We have worked hard to ensure that it flows well even at peak times, so your feedback is much appreciated. As you say, we recommend allowing 90 minutes to two hours to complete the tour and a little extra time if you wish to enjoy a treat in the Tea Room. Many thanks for your five-star review.

Very interesting to view the royal families private rooms. Don't miss this tour. Lunch on the ship was divine.

Wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed exploring the Royal Apartments and having lunch in the Royal Deck Tea Room. Many thanks for visiting while you were in Edinburgh.

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Must see visit and have afternoon tea... - Royal Yacht Britannia

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Must see visit and have afternoon tea too

Such a fabulous tour for a glimpse inside the lives of the royals when the Royal Yacht was operational. Afternoon tea is a must for your total experience. The staff were so lovely too

How lovely that you consider The Royal Yacht Britannia a must-see attraction. Visitors do indeed get to see the many areas of the Yacht in which the Royal Family and crew of dedicated Royal Yachtsmen lived and worked while on board.

I so enjoyed getting to see Britannia, and got to have afternoon tea in the cafe. Wonderful experience

Thank you for touring The Royal Yacht Britannia. A visit to the Royal Deck Tea Room to taste our delicious food and drink is the perfect addition to your visit.

We were in Edinburgh and had the opportunity to visit one of the most recognised and famous Yachts in the World. The Floating Palace named The Royal Yacht Britannia From the Royal Bedrooms to the Crew quarters Engine room which was so impressive to the Bridge. There was so much to see and the Informative Audio tour took around three hours which passed quite quickly. Very Impressive indeed ending with a final visit to the Royal Tea Rooms for a well earned Drink and Something to eat whilst sitting at one of the tables by the window.

We are pleased that you took the opportunity to come aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia and walk in the footsteps of Royalty. We are pleased that you enjoyed exploring the five decks of the Yacht, from the Bridge to the elegant State Apartments, with our free audio guide. The Royal Deck Tea Room is indeed a great place to finish you tour. Visitors can take in the gorgeous views while enjoying some tasty treats. Many thanks for your five-star review.

Really good experience, lovely staff, had an unfortunate incident at the tea rooms, however, the manager who was not present at the time Colin was amazing at resolving and making the tour a better experience for my family, a big thank you to Colin and friendly staff

Thank you for visiting The Royal Yacht Britannia. We will pass your kind words on to Colin. Thank you for rating your tour of Britannia five stars.

A great insight into life on the Royal yacht with a journey through the decks, through the quarters of officers and crew and royal quarters. The contrasts on board are striking between the luxury and very basic. You also get a feel for what life may have been when off duty with the number of socialising areas. There are audio units provided prior to entry and you can select numbers marked in areas as you walk through. The info provided is very interesting and at times humourous. There is so much more to see so walk through and see what is shown. We visited in March and it was relatively quiet but we have been told that it can be very busy during the summer.

By stepping aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia, visitors get to explore the five decks of the Yacht from the Bridge to the State Drawing Room, where the Royal Family would entertain their many distinguished guests. It is fantastic that you enjoyed our complimentary audio guide, learning interesting facts and stories about what it was like living on this former floating palace.

I loved Royal Yacht Britannia because it was so much fun, the boat was beautiful and I learned a lot. I liked holding the phone and exploring. The sweetie shop had fudge the Queen would actually eat and they were delicious. My big sisters could eat them too as they were gluten free so they were so happy. My brother pretended to drink beer in the bar. I hope everyone visits it’s the best boat.

What a pleasure to read your lovely review about exploring The Royal Yacht Britannia with your family, Eloise. The fudge from our NAAFI is delicious! Our resident confectioner, Poppy, will be pleased you think so. For the information of others, we have a child friendly version of our free audio guide, so that visitors of all ages can enjoy learning about the interesting history of Britannia.

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Afternoon Tea on Britannia - Royal Yacht Britannia

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Afternoon Tea on Britannia

A wonderful glimpse into how our Queen traveled and lives. Don't miss this opertunitly to see all over Britannia and have Earl grey tea and Dundee cake. The portions are great and the taste excellent. We traveled on the hop on hop off bus taken from Waverley Bridge bus stop where you buy the tickets.

Many thanks for visiting Britannia. We are so pleased to learn that you had such a wonderful tour. Our Tea Room team will be delighted by your kind words! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 90 minute tour. The trust which handles the yacht has done a wonderful job. You can buy tickets there for less than on line and we had no issues. You are provided with an audio devise that is exceptionally well done, aligned to each point of the tour with wonderful insights. The layout is done with I assume cutouts for large windows so that the entire ship can be bored in detail. Parking is free. It is attached to a mall, which confused us a bit. The ship is accessed by the fourth level. Don't miss this. There is only one on the planet and the tour is so well done!

We are very glad that you thoroughly enjoyed your tour of Britannia. As you mention, our Visitor Centre is located on the second floor of Ocean Terminal. This has allowed us to turn Britannia into a highly accessible attraction for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. Thank you for your review and kind recommendation.

Must see! He self guided tour was extremely easy to follow, and it took about 1.5hrs at a leisurely pace. It can be slightly crowded in some areas, but that's the nature of being on a boat. There are restrooms on the yacht and a lift available to go between floors of the tour. There is also a tea room on board for refreshments as well as a sweet shop with fresh fudge!

Thank you for visiting and for telling others that Britannia is a must-see attraction. As you mention, we make our own Britannia fudge on board in our NAAFI; we hope that you tried a sample. Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

Visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia was a brilliant day trip for our family group. There was a good selection of languages available for audio guides, which ensured everyone in our group could enjoy the amusing stories and anecdotes about daily life on the royal yacht. We enjoyed the selection of excellent cakes at the yacht cafe.

Thank you for visiting Britannia. We are delighted to learn that you had such a brilliant day on board with your family. As you mention, we offer a complimentary audio guide which is available in 30 different languages. Many thanks for your five-star review.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is a must do tour in Edinburgh it is very well organised with your own handset to explain every part of the ship as you go around it . It makes you realize how privileged the royal family was to be on a floating palace with over 400 crew to wait on them hand and foot, the difference between their living conditions and the crew is astounding .While on the ship treat yourself to a tea and scone in the ships restaurant , it's a nice experience and not badly priced for the service you get .

We are delighted to learn that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be very well organised. As you mention, the Crew’s Quarters were indeed cramped however, very fondly of their time on board. Thank you for your review.

We decided to check out the Royal Yacht more out of just looking for more to do than anything else, but well worth the time. It's a beautiful ship and a real taste of what the Royals are used to. The ship is of course no longer used by the Queen, and we were told she is very disappointed at no longer having it's use, but who wouldn't be. take the time while in Scotland to visit, and be sure to stop in to the tea room, this was the only good cup of coffee we had while in Britain.

It’s wonderful to learn that you enjoyed both your tour and visit to our Royal Deck Tea Room. As you mention, The Queen was very fond of Britannia and described it as the one place where she could truly relax. Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

The Foodie Travel Guide> Things to do in Edinburgh> Afternoon Tea Royal Yacht Britannia

Take Afternoon Tea on the Deck of The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith

by The Foodie Travel Guide | Jan 15, 2019

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland

Treat yourself to a royal Afternoon Tea on her majesty’s yacht Britannia, the former royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II. The ship’s a grand old lady now, having sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world.

Sip Tea in the Royal Deck Tea Room

The Queen would often take her Afternoon Tea on the sun deck. Typically, wafer-thin cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches, pastries and cakes were served with tea in the finest bone china cups. You can treat yourself to tea here too. Along with the delicious cakes and pastries, you’ll have a wonderful view over the Firth of Forth. There’s organic whisky cake, Victoria sponge cake and both sweet and savoury scones.

How to Find The Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

The Foodie Travel Guide

Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures. 

Tour the Royal Yacht Britannia

• One of the UK’s top tourist attractions
• Enjoy views of the Firth of Forth
• Take Afternoon Tea
• Taste home-made fudge in the NAAFI sweet shop
• Explore Leith’s bar and restaurants

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The Royal Yacht Britannia Has a Fascinating History—Here's Everything You Should Know

It doesn't get more majestic than Queen Elizabeth II's yacht.

Seventy years ago, the Britannia began its journey as the royal yacht for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family of the United Kingdom. Over the next 44 years she’d travel more than a million nautical miles and, in all her glamour and old world elegance, served as a residence that welcomed state visits from all over the world and family holidays alike. Then and now, she was and is a majestic symbol of the British Commonwealth and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II .

“Britannia is special for a number of reasons,” Prince Phillip once said. “Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace or just a house. The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia. As such she is a splendid example of contemporary British design and technology.”

Although she retired from service in 1997, today the Britannia, one of many of the world's grandest yachts , is docked in Edinburgh, where she is open as a visitors’ attraction and host of private events. Below we give you all the Royal Yacht Britannia facts you might want to know, from who owns the yacht now to why she was decommissioned to how fast she is to how to get tickets to visit. Britannia was, after all, the one place the queen said she could “truly relax,” so why not see why for yourself?

Royal Yacht Britania Facts and History

On February 4, 1952, John Brown & Co shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, received the order from the Admiralty to build a new Royal Yacht to travel the globe and double as a hospital ship in times of war, according to the royal yacht's website . King George VI passed away two days after, sadly, and so on April 16, 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II announced the yacht’s new name as the ship was revealed.

"I name this ship Britannia,” she said. “I wish success to her and all who sail in her." Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy in January 1954 and by April of that year sailed into her first overseas port: Grand Harbour, Malta.

The queen and The Duke of Edinburgh worked with interior designer Sir Hugh Casson for the ship to serve as both a functional Royal Navy vessel and an elegant royal residence. Queen Elizabeth II selected deep blue for Britannia’s hull, instead of the more traditional black. Its Naval crew included 220 Yachtsmen, 20 officers, and three season officers—plus a Royal Marines Band of 26 men during Royal Tours.

All of them might have had to change uniform up to six times a day, so the laundry service on board worked nonstop. The yacht also engaged in British overseas trade missions known as Sea Days and made an estimated £3 billion for the Exchequer between 1991 and 1995 alone.

The ship’s wheel was taken from King Edward VII’s racing yacht, also named Britannia, according to Boat International , and the 126-meter ship could reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots, according to Super Yacht Times . Other fun facts: The yacht could produce her own fresh water from sea water, and shouting was forbidden aboard to preserve tranquility, favoring hand signals for Naval orders instead.

Over the next 44 years, the Britannia would sail the equivalent of once around the world for each year, in total visiting 600 ports in 135 countries. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones were the first of four couples to honeymoon on the ship in 1960, gifting them all privacy to sail to secluded locations. Prince Charles and Princess Diana followed in 1981 on the Mediterranean as well as Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips before them in 1973 in the Caribbean and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986 in the Azores.

For family vacations aboard the ship, games, treasure hunts, plays, and picnics were organized, and on warm days the children could play in an inflatable paddling pool on the Verandah Deck.

In the Sun Lounge, the queen especially enjoyed taking breakfast and afternoon tea with views through large picture windows, a space you can see replicated in the TV show The Crown. Although no filming took place on board the Britannia for the show, researchers ensured scenes aboard it were accurate. In the queen’s bedroom, the resemblance is seen down to the decorative wall light fittings and embroidered silk panel above her bed that had been specially commissioned.

In 1997, the ship was decommissioned after the government decided the costs to refit it would be too great. On its final day in her service that followed a farewell tour around the U.K., the queen openly wept as the Band of HM Royal Marines played "Highland Cathedral."

"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," Queen Elizabeth II said. All clocks on the ship stopped at 15:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked from the yacht for the final time, and they would remain at that time until the present.

How to Tour the Royal Yacht Britania

Today the yacht is owned by Royal Yacht Britannia Trus t, and all revenue it generates goes to the yacht’s maintenance and preservation. Ticketed entry allows you to step into state rooms like the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room and State Drawing Room, in addition to the working side of the ship in the Crew’s Quarters, Laundry and gleaming Engine Room. Along the way you will see original artifacts from the shop—95 percent of which is on loan from The Royal Collection.

How to Visit the Royal Britania

You can visit the Britannia any day of the year on Edinburgh’s waterfront. Hours vary by season, and you can find them listed and purchase tickets on the yacht’s website . Private tours are also available, and you can visit the Royal Deck Tearoom, where the Royal Family hosted cocktail parties and receptions, for drinks, meals and scones. Additionally, the Britannia hosts special ticketed events for New Year’s and other occasions, and event spaces can be booked as well.

While you are in Edinburgh, you can also stay on the Fingal , a neighboring yacht-turned-floating-hotel, which is a seven-minute walk from the Britannia, and dine at its Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, which serves breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, and cocktails.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

The Royal Yacht Britannia is open, start your tour on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal

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Planning a visit?

Start your tour at our Ticket Centre and visit our Gift Shop, both currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. 

Due to the  upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 25 - 28 June. As part of this redevelopment, Britannia will also be gaining a new Visitor Centre and Gift Shop which will involve us operating out of temporary accommodation whilst these new facilities are being created. 

Please pre-book your tickets to guarantee admission.

STEP ABOARD FOR A GREAT DAY OUT

A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. Now  Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023 , you can discover across five decks stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served on board. Our five-star visitor attraction is located in Leith, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre.

What will I see?

• Britannia’s five decks with your  free audio guide
• Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
• Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
• See Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room
• Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
• Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
• Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
• Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in the  Royal Deck Tearoom
• Admire the stunning waterfront views from the Best UK Attraction (Tripadvisor)

Opening Times

*Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 25 - 28 June. *The Royal Yacht Britannia is closed on 1 January and 25 December. The last admission to the Royal Yacht on 24 December is 2:30pm.

Tickets & Prices

You can pre-book tickets online or your can pay via card or contactless at the Ticket Centre on arrival.

** Armed Forces, student and carer tickets are only available at the ticket desk. They cannot be pre-booked, but are available on the day of visit.

  See our FAQ page for further details.

Getting Here

Looking for directions? Find out how to find Britannia via tram, bus or car.

Our Hotel, Fingal

Our sister ship, Fingal , is Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel and is a world-class experience from the moment you step aboard. Awarded AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, the 22 luxurious cabins are inspired by its rich maritime heritage and are an indulgent experience like no other.

Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023

We are delighted to be Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023 and a Best of the Best award winner.  Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel.

HM The King's visit

On 3 July 2023, His Majesty King Charles III attended a reception on board The Royal Yacht Britannia for the Association of Royal Yachtsmen to commemorate 25 years  since Britannia arrived in Leith.

Stay at our five-star 22-cabin luxury floating hotel, Fingal.

Sustainability

At Britannia, we are committed to ensuring that we have environmentally sensitive policies and best practice procedures throughout all aspects of our business.

Visiting Britannia

Start your tour at our Ticket Centre, currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. 

Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 25-28 June.

Click on the Visit page  for more information before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

Learn more: fingal.co.uk

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Alexandra Dock, Leith, Edinburgh,  EH6 7DX - Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)131 357 5000

A UNIQUE SETTING

Awarded 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence.

Relax on seats covered in the softest leather and watch the vibrant Leith Docks transform from bold daylight into soft, dusky tones, as the evening sun spills across the ocean.

Experience beautifully prepared dishes bursting with flavour, created with passion by the galley team. Enjoy an evening dinner including Fingal’s smoked salmon, which is smoked on board, as well as delicious seasonal dishes.

To enjoy an unforgettable Fingal experience at The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar you will need to reserve a table.

opening hours

Served daily from 6pm - 9pm. Advance reservation required.

2 AA Rosettes

Please contact our crew on

+44 (0)131 357 5000

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AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and  2 AA Rosettes

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