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UK Days Out Savers

The Royal Yacht Britannia

Historic Ship & Museum verified UK Days Out Savers

The Royal Yacht Britannia

Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh (EH6 6JJ) • Lothian

star4.8(45,200)
Lothian
🚢 The Queen's Former Floating Palace 🎧 Incredible Audio Guide Tour 🛌 The Queen's Bedchamber ⚙️ Spotless Working Engine Room
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scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 16:30 (Last entry). Closed entirely on December 25th and January 1st.

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OFFICIAL bolt VisitBritain Shop

The Royal Edinburgh Ticket (48-Hour Pass)

Don't buy individual tickets! The Royal Edinburgh Ticket grants you prepaid, fast-track access to The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, plus 48 hours of Hop-On Hop-Off bus travel.

£81.00/ person
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Getting Here

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Location Address

Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh (EH6 6JJ)

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Public Bus Services

Local bus lines operate frequent daily services directly to stops adjacent to the attraction entrance.

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Regional Transit Links

Connections
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Edinburgh City Centre (Princes Street)

Edinburgh Trams

20 min
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Edinburgh City Centre

Lothian Buses (10, 16, 34, 35)

25 min

About The Royal Yacht Britannia

Moored permanently at Ocean Terminal in the historic port of Leith, The Royal Yacht Britannia is consistently voted one of the best tourist attractions in the UK. Serving as the Royal Family's floating residence for 44 years, the ship traveled over a million nautical miles. Today, a phenomenal self-guided audio tour grants visitors access to five decks. You will explore the elegantly modest State Apartments, the Queen's personal bedroom, the gleaming Engine Room, and the starkly contrasting cramped quarters of the 220 Royal Yachtsmen.

Quick Facts

  • 🚢The Queen's Former Floating Palace
  • 🎧Incredible Audio Guide Tour
  • 🛌The Queen's Bedchamber
  • ⚙️Spotless Working Engine Room
  • scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 16:30 (Last entry). Closed entirely on December 25th and January 1st.
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Insider Tips

  • check_circleThe Audio Guide is a Masterpiece: Do not skip the handset audio guide (included in the price). It features fascinating interviews with the actual crew and is available in 30 languages.
  • check_circleStop at the Royal Deck Tea Room: Located on the top deck, it is highly recommended to stop here for freshly baked scones and tea. However, they do not take reservations, so try to visit early in the day.
  • check_circleIt is fully wheelchair accessible: Unlike almost every other historic ship in the world, Britannia is exceptionally accessible. A central glass lift provides wheelchair and buggy access to all five decks.
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What to Expect

1. The State Apartments

Explore the elegantly decorated drawing and dining rooms where the Queen hosted presidents, prime ministers, and global royalty. Notice the surprisingly modest, 1950s country-house decor.

2. The Royal Bedrooms

Look through the glass into the private, single-bed cabins of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It is the only bedroom of a British monarch you can view anywhere in the world.

3. The Crew Quarters

Descend into the starkly contrasting lower decks to see the cramped, bustling quarters, the NAFFI shop, and the galleys where 220 Royal Yachtsmen lived and worked.

4. The Gleaming Engine Room

End your tour in the immaculate, steam-powered engine room. It was kept so spotless that the Royal Family would occasionally host receptions right next to the machinery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Royal Yacht Britannia still used by the Royal Family? expand_more

No, the Royal Yacht Britannia was officially decommissioned in 1997 after 44 years of service. It has been permanently moored in Leith, Edinburgh as a visitor attraction ever since.

How do you get to the Royal Yacht Britannia from Edinburgh city centre? expand_more

The easiest and most reliable way is to take the Edinburgh Tram from Princes Street directly to the 'Ocean Terminal' stop. The journey takes about 20 minutes and drops you right outside.

How long does the tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia take? expand_more

Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2 hours exploring the five decks and listening to the complimentary audio guide. Allow extra time if you plan to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room.

Explore the Area

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Standing magnificently at the bottom of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official working residence of King Charles III in Scotland. Visitors can take an exceptional self-guided tour through the opulent State Apartments to see where the monarch hosts global dignitaries today. The tour then steps back in time to the 16th century, exploring the historic bedchambers of Mary, Queen of Scots—the very site where her secretary, David Rizzio, was brutally murdered in 1566.

Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth

Set in a striking tent-like structure at the foot of Arthur's Seat, Dynamic Earth is Edinburgh's ultimate family science attraction. The highly immersive, interactive tour acts like a time machine, taking visitors back to the Big Bang. You will walk through a rumbling volcano, touch a massive real ice block, experience a simulated earthquake, and wander through an indoor tropical rainforest. It also houses Scotland's spectacular 6K full-dome planetarium.

The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Located directly next to Waverley Station, the Edinburgh Dungeon is a high-energy, 80-minute walkthrough experience. It uses brilliant live theatrical actors, highly detailed sets, special effects, and two thrilling underground rides (a boat ride and a sudden drop ride) to tell the gruesome stories of Edinburgh's past. Visitors are plunged into total darkness and will encounter legendary characters like the cannibal Sawney Bean, the body snatchers Burke and Hare, and the local witches.

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Local Car Rentals

Explore the beauty of Lothian at your own pace. Hire a car from trusted agencies nearby.

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VW Polo or similar (Economy)

Manual • 5 seats • Hertz

£35/day
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Nissan Qashqai or similar (SUV)

Automatic • 5 seats • Enterprise

£68/day
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