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The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and explore this floating Royal residence with a fascinating audio tour of five decks (available in over 30 languages).

Tripadvisor's Best UK Visitor Attraction (AGAIN) 2023-2024 and Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award winner 

Please note The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works outwith our control. 

Visit this award-winning attraction, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre at Ocean Terminal.  The Royal Yacht Britannia played host to some of the world’s most famous people, from Nelson Mendela to Winston Churchill, but above all was home for the British Royal Family for over 40 years. Now you can discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences.

You'll receive a truly warm welcome at Britannia's Visitor Centre before you board this famous ship where you will discover the history of Royal Yachts and view displays and historical photographs of Britannia's fascinating past before boarding Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace.

What will you see?

  • Tour Britannia’s five decks
  • 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- the Sun Lounge
  • 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 and admire the stunning waterfront views.

The tour is available in:

  • Audio handset tour, available in over 30 languages
  • Children’s audio tour
  • Audio tour for those with sight loss
  • ASL and BSL tablet
  • Braille script ​​​​​​ ​​​​​

Complete the Britannia experience with a visit to the  Gift Shop in Ocean Terminal, where you’ll find exclusive Britannia souvenirs, china, toys, gifts and nautical items.

Berthed just moments away, Britannia's sister ship, floating hotel Fingal, offers 22 luxurious cabins inspired by the former Northern Lighthouse Board tender's rich maritime heritage. For further information, visit Fingal's website .

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

-  All weather experience -  Highly accessible for wheelchair users, single buggies and those with limited mobility. Read our accessibility statement here . -  Free Annual Pass for 12 months admission included -  The entrance to Britannia is temporarily on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

How to get here?

By tram: Take the tram to stop 'Ocean Terminal' (Newhaven direction).

By bus:  Regal Tour Bus and Lothian Buses 10, 16, 34 and 35 run from the city centre towards Ocean Terminal. Regal Tour buses depart regularly from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in the centre of Edinburgh. The Majestic Tour is operated by Edinburgh Bus Tours .

By train:  Arrive in the city centre at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, just 2 miles from Britannia. 

By car: Follow signs to Edinburgh and Leith or North Edinburgh. Then follow brown tourist signs for Britannia. Free car parking at Ocean Terminal (level C is nearest). For satnav our postcode is EH6 6JJ. Go inside the shopping centre for Britannia’s entrance and the start of the tour. By plane: Britannia is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh Airport.

For further information on finding Britannia, please see here .  

OPENING TIMES

The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control.

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices. EVENING EVENTS Exclusive dinners and receptions can be hosted on board. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 and see how we can create your event of a lifetime, or visit the events section of our website .

PRIVATE TOURS A private tour on board The Royal Yacht Britannia is an exclusive experience, giving you access to Britannia’s five decks, and a unique insight into the history of the Royal Yacht and how the Royal Family and crew lived and worked on board. Both Morning and Evening tours are available. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 or for more information visit click here . PRESERVING BRITANNIA Britannia is cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust , a self-funding charity registered in Scotland (SC028070). By visiting Britannia you will be helping us to preserve this important piece of history for future generations.

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk See our reviews on Tripadvisor Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram

View our videos on YouTub

Transport and Parking

  • On Public Transport Route
  • Public Parking Nearby

Accessibility

  • Hearing Loop
  • Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
  • Lift or stairlift
  • Large print, braille or audio
  • Level Access
  • Wheelchair access throughout
  • Accessible toilets
  • Wheelchairs or mobility aids provided
  • Suitable for visitors with limited mobility

Dietary Options

  • Gluten Free

Typical Prices

  • Baby Changing Facilities
  • Public Toilet Facilities
  • Lunch Available
  • Licensed Bar
  • Cafe or Restaurant

Payment Methods

  • American Express
  • Diners Card
  • Credit Card
  • Coastal Location
  • Sea/Loch View

Awards & Schemes

royal yacht britannia audio tour

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

Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh

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.

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.

Back to Top

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. 

Royal Yacht Britannia prices

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

Royal Edinburgh ticket

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. 

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia

Royal Yacht Britannia location map

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. 

Royal Yacht Britannia entrance

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.

Royal Yacht Britannia Visitor Center Entrance

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. 

Royal Yacht Britannia opening times

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. 

Are the Britannia tours timed?

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.

Are the Royal Britannia tours guided?

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. 

How long does a tour of Britannia Yacht take?

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. 

Royal Britannia discounts

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.

Royal Yacht Britannia audio guide

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.

Royal Deck tea room timings

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. 

1. The State Drawing Room

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. 

2. The Verandah Deck

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.

3. The Sun Lounge

Sun Lounge at Royal Yacht Britannia

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.

4. The State Dining Room

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

Engine Room at Royal Yacht Britannia

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 Laundry

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)

Admiral’s Cabin

Admiral’s Cabin at Royal Yacht Britannia

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  

Royal Yacht Britannia's Bridge

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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He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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Sneak Peek Inside The Royal Yacht Britannia Edinburgh & Tour Review

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Tour Bell on Deck

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Catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth’s preferred room, see the honeymoon bed requested by Charles, and find out why a wombat takes pride of place in a roof fan during this 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 learn more about how the royals live.

However, a tour of Britannia is much more than just pulling back the curtains on an episode of The Crown, the tour goes deep into life at sea logistics, touches upon UK history and discusses the engineering of this floating palace.

You’ll get a sneak peek at the bowels of the Britannia as well as its bow. So let’s dive into the Royal Yacht Britannia tour review and photography.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at Dock Tour

Visit The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh

Setting and location.

While there is no shortage of royal attractions in the Old Town, the Royal Yacht Britannia is actually located in the lesser-known, very hip and adored Edinburgh neighbourhood, Leith .

You can get to Leith via public bus, taxi or the hop on/hop off bus tour using the Majestic Tour line .

If you have a car, the Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the very few Edinburgh attractions that you can park at for free.

Parking is available at the Ocean Terminal shopping centre/mall where you will find the entrance of the yacht reception area.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Leith

Once you go through reception you will see a number of storyboards and artefacts as you move through to collect your audio guide.

Guest restrooms are located in this area and on the yacht.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Steering Wheel Leith

Royal Yacht Britannia Audio Guide

The audio guide is narrated by the dreamy BAFTA award winner Mark Bonnar who you may recognise from the outstanding UK TV show, Line of Duty and the Scottish TV series, Shetland.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Bonnar (@mark_bonnar)

Visitors can choose between the sanitised audio device which is held up to the ear or using their own headphones and phone.

At each station, you type in a number to access the corresponding facts and stories about the exhibit.

The audio tour comes in 30 languages and there is a children’s version.

British and American Sign Language tablets are also available.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Audio Device Player Tours

There are five decks to explore which take around 1.5 hours to walk through.

To access each deck you use the stairs or elevator in Ocean Terminal then walk over a bridge to get to the deck.

You do this each time you move between the decks, starting at the top and working your way down.

You can enjoy coffee and/or lunch at The Royal Deck Tea Room, which is only open to those who have paid to visit HMY Britannia.

Look how lovely and light the tea room is!

Afternoon teas are available, dahlin’.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Restaurant Tours

Five Deck Tour

The tour kicks off among the tempting buttons, teasing dials and shiny plaques of the top deck Bridge.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Buttons Boat Tours

This is where much of the control took place which was the responsibility of the Britannia’s Admiral or Commodore.

There is only one seat in this room that overlooks the yacht bow reserved for the man in charge.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Deck Boat Tours

Next, the tour takes you outside to the bow which is probably one of the most recognisable areas since this is where the royals would wave from when arriving at their destination.

A wooden lip was added to the bow to keep the wind from lifting up a royal skirt!

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA bow and audio device

One of my favourite spots was the two-inch teak Verandah Deck which acted as a games deck, muse for art, hosted private engagements and doubled up as a swimming pool area for the kids!

The deck was cleaned daily before 8am and all work was conducted in silence so as to not disturb the royals as they slept.

The deck is also where the family photos were taken and acted as the pre-reception area for Zara and Mike Tindall’s wedding.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Bell on Deck Tours

The tour then takes you inside the yacht, through the Queen’s favourite room, the Sun Lounge, which has floor to ceiling windows viewing the Verandah Deck.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Deck Sun Deck Room Tour

Next up is a nosey into the State Apartments which include the separate bedrooms of Queen Elizabeth (first image) and Prince Phillip (second image) and the honeymoon suite (third image) which has a double bed, at Prince Charles request.

Did you know that you can stay in a castle in Scotland?

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Queen Room Tour

The tour also has access to The State Drawing Room with its country home feel, piano and games.

This room was used for relaxing and entertaining.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Sitting Room Boat Tour

Live music was an important part of HMY Britannia’s life and the Royal Marines Band could switch between a ceilidh and classical song with no hesitation.

They could also play every national anthem of the countries the royal yacht docked at, which is a reminder that this vessel has sailed over one million miles.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Entry Tour

The lower you go down the decks, the greater insight you get into the workings of HMY Britannia.

From the pecking order living arrangements, including segregated pubs, to the bedroom dorms, it is evident that life at sea onboard Britannia was not an easy one for workers and sailors.

However, they appeared to create a good balance between work and fun creating games including one with a stuffed wombat, I won’t spoil the surprise!

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Beds Tour

During the tour, you will learn more than just facts about the royal family but also stories about the seamen, superstition, tradition and logistics.

Along with the original room content, there is lots of artwork and photography that compliment the audio guide.

If you are planning a trip from the States, check out this article on things every North American should know before visiting Scotland .

Essential Information

  • Address: Ocean Dr, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ
  • Self-guided audio tour: 1-2 hour s
  • Kids enjoy the corgi treasure hunt
  • Elevator and ramps throughout
  • On-site restaurant

Cancellations

With GetYourGuide, tours have a 24-hour cancellation guarantee so if you can’t make it, you don’t lose your money.

Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Small Boat Tour

Frequently Asked Questions About HMY Britannia

HMY Britannia was used for royal service from 1954 to 1997.

It was announced on 23 June 1994 that HMY Britannia would not be refitted due to cost.

Yes, over 300,000 people visit the royal yacht each year.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is looked after by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust.

royal yacht britannia audio tour

Other Things To Do Near The Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia is located in Ocean Terminal which is home to a number of restaurants, a cinema and the cool Leith Collective should which is a great store for local souvenirs.

The Leith Collective Ocean Terminal Christmas Lights

A five-minute walk from Ocean Terminal is Leith Shore and the independent bars and restaurants that surround it.

Enjoy fine dining at The Kitchen, seafood at The Ship On The Shore, brunch at The Kings Wharf or Nobles, lunch at The Hideout Cafe, afternoon tea at Mimi’s Bakehouse, cocktails at the Roseleaf or a cold pint at Teuchters Landing.

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From Leith you can walk up Leith Walk to Princes Street or along the Water of Leith Walkway to Stockbridge where you will find a Sunday market, cafes galore and a path to the historic Dean Village.

Find out more about Stockbridge here .

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The Royal Yacht Britannia: Fast Track Entrance Audio Guide - Edinburgh - With Reviews & Ratings

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  • The Royal Yacht Britannia: Fast Track Entrance Audio Guide

The Royal Yacht Britannia: Fast Track Entrance Audio Guide - Edinburgh

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Duration: 2 Hrs
  • Languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese
  • Departure Time : January - March: 10:00 - 15:30. April - September: 09:30 - 16:30. October: 09:30 - 16:00. November - December: 10:00 - 15:30
  • Enjoy an audio tour of The Royal Yacht _Britannia_ - ocean-bound home to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years
  • Enjoy your visit with the included audio guide (there's even a special audio guide for kids)!
  • See the Visitor Center and five decks of the ship, including State Apartments, a 3-meter LEGO replica of the _Britannia_, and even the on-board Rolls-Royce Phantom V!

Know More about this tour

The Royal Yacht _Britannia_ was the ocean-based home of Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years, sailing over a million miles around the world! From the moment you arrive, you'll be swept up into a world of nautical luxury and pristine privilege. Soak up the atmosphere in the Visitor Center, as you learn the history of Royal Yachts through exhibits and photos, including a 3-meter LEGO version of the _Britannia_. Then grab an audio guide and walk the gangplank onto the _Britannia_ herself. Explore all five decks, including the Sun Lounge, the Engine Room, and the Royal Deck Tea Room, where many a Royal traveler enjoyed a cuppa with a view. The State Apartments, where guests like Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill once slept, are also covered by the audio guide. Don't forget to visit the gleaming Rolls-Royce Phantom V, which once traveled on the ship, and is still aboard. When you're all shipped out, you can head back to Leith on extended shore leave, with plenty of memories and photos of your time aboard this first-rate five-star vessel.

Additional Info

Getting There

  • Bus: Lothian services 11, 22 or 35
  • Car: Follow signs for Edinburgh and Leith, or North Edinburgh. Then, follow brown Britannia signs. Free parking at Ocean Terminal (blue car park, level E is nearest to the Visitor Centre and has disabled spaces)

Cancellation Policy

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by Nancy & Eric Anderson
Photographs and montages by Authors

It would be hard to find any two cities in Scotland as dissimilar as Edinburgh and Dundee. They both lie on the East Coast in the land of the kilt but tha's about all they have in common. Edinburgh, the capital, somewhat prim and proper, sits above us all like its castle --- the second most popular tourist attraction in the UK after the Tower of London. Dundee, a formerly gritty jute and cloth-manufacturing, ship-building town, until recently had little of interest to tourists. Known in newspaper publishing as the home of the celebrated with its popular family comic strips, Dundee's most famous statue was of Desperate Dan, one of the characters in the funnies section.

Until now.

Both cities seem to have recalled the poem "Sea-Fever"; by John Masefield, Britain's Poet Laureate until he died in the 1960s. A fascinating man who served many years as a seaman, his poem --- faithfully learned by generations of British schoolchildren --- starts "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by..."

To a maritime nation whose navy kept the Empire safe for a century, ships surely fascinate. And now tourists coming to either city have a choice of visiting the famed 50 year-old, now decommissioned, royal yacht or the illustrious 100 year-old royal research ship , the sailing vessel used by explorer Scott of the Antarctic for his constant and finally fatal fascination with that frozen continent.

Royal Yacht

This yacht, 5,862 in gross tonnage and 412 feet in length, was a product of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, the Glasgow shipyard that received so many unwelcome visits from the Luftwaffe in World War II. The keel was laid down in 1952, seven years after the war, and Queen Elizabeth II herself launched this, her personal Royal Navy yacht nine months later.

Its top speed was 22.5 knots and its range 2,553 miles at 18 knots, a lower speed if her Majesty felt like economizing. It wasn't in the same league as, say, the personal yachts of Onassis or Trump but it had a more diverse crew. Its ship's complement, for example, was 20 officers and 220 yachtsmen; four of those were buglers something we don't think "the Donald" has on his yacht. Nor are millionaire's yachts commanded by an admiral. In its lifetime sailed more than one million miles as an ambassador for Great Britain and as a comfort and Royal Residence for Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was visibly moved at its decommissioning in 1997 --- a time when Parliament felt continuing the concept would be too expensive.

When the Queen came aboard as she did on 968 cruises with five tons of luggage and 45 members of the Royal Household, the orders for staff became more complicated from what beards might be allowed amongst the "Royal Yachtineers"; to what behavior was appropriate if crew met Royal personnel in the corridors (stand to attention and look straight ahead). For harmony and hush orders were given by hand signal, gym shoes were worn by Royal Yachtsmen and the teak decks had to be scrubbed silently and before 8AM. The ship's laundry ran 24/7 because staff changed uniforms six times a day. It was the only laundry in the Royal Navy that worked continuously. It wasn't an easy life for the laundry staff or in fact any of the personnel but they were all volunteers and all carefully chosen.

might be fun for visitors can be seen in a short video when a tongue-in-cheek British TV celebrity got exclusive run of the ship followed by his cameraman. It's worth clicking on this link

Royal Research Ship  

although many of the more than 40 aboard were Royal Navy personnel and its leader Captain Robert Falcon Scott, RN did run the expedition along disciplined lines. The Royal Geographical Society ship built in Dundee in 1900-1901 for polar expeditions was one of the last three-masted-wooden sailing ships built in Britain. The Dundee ship builders had learned their skills in the great days of whaling. The ship was double hulled to withstand the challenge of ice and cost £51 thousand then about $5 million in today's US dollars. The ship was well provisioned by the government and by private gifts. Cadbury's, for example, donated more than one and a half tons of chocolate - a reason alone perhaps for sailing on !

The ship set sail for Antarctica in August 1901 and arrived there on February 4, 1902. The crew built a hut as a shelter and storeroom on a rocky peninsula then Scott allowed the ice to advance to encompass the ship as winter advanced into May. Many polar expeditions were carried out including early attempts to find a route to the South Pole. The ship could not be freed the following summer and, in all, the crew spent two years frozen to the ice while Britain waited, holding its breath.

Relief ships arrived twice, the last time on January 5, 1904 but explosive charges failed to free . Finally on February 16, 1904 the last charge broke up the ice and the ship was able to return to England.

The Hudson's Bay Company bought the ship a year later and used it as a cargo vessel. It was used in expeditions 20 years later, then in 1931 for 48 years it became a training ship in London for the Royal Navy Reserve. By 1979 the ship was in very poor condition but the city of Dundee had a long memory and brought home as a well-needed tourist attraction.

The ship tour is very user-friendly. Unlike you are not barred by glass windows from some of the exhibits and the tourists in the Dundee ship get a better feel for what it must have been like to serve aboard. Maybe that's because it's hard for visitors in the port of Leith in Edinburgh to imagine they were Queen even for the day. Allow two hours for the tour in either ship. Both locations are beside mammoth shopping centers with good parking and several restaurants. Discovery Point even has a small café on the premises in the lobby that gives access to the ship.


Tell Eric what you think of his article.
In the meantime, here are some of the feedback we have already received:

I’ve been there twice and covered it on my KNX radio show when I was on LA radio, and your story and evocative photos brought back a ton of wonderful and poignant memories. This could have been an amazingly brilliant military operation – as you both know – that might well have ended the War in Europe maybe a year earlier. However, allied misreading -- and in my view disregarding certain aspects of the situation in Holland -- plus the fact that they dropped the paras over 3 days and not in one huge assault at night (and not in the day as they did) doomed the mission to failure.

Your clever words and great photos brought all this graphically to life, and it should be required reading for anyone interested in any aspect of WW2, and certainly should be read by today’s teenagers. Again Bravo and well done!!!!

John Clayton
Travel with A Difference

We just couldn't leave your website before saying that we genuinely enjoyed the high quality information you offer for your visitors... Would be back frequently to check up on new stuff you post!

Raanana

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What a fantastic write-up!

I could almost copy and paste most of your narrative verbatim as it reflects our fantastic experience with Fantasy Cruises almost to a tee. It was truly one of the greatest vacations my girlfriend and I have ever experienced.

Cheers!
Mike Richard, Editor, Vagabondish.com

* * * * *

One of my dreams is to go to Alaska by way of cruise. This article very much intensifies the longing for that dream to come to fruition. I simply cannot wait much longer. And I will never again be able to think of a waterfall without picturing myself "nosing up" to it. Thank you for this intriguing, virtual journey.

Sandra Mines, Seattle, WA

Loved your photos from Alaska! Because I am the Director of Sales & Marketing for Westmark Hotels, I am up in AK and the Yukon quite often to visit our hotels and staff! But your pictures were so enjoyable-love to see the "real" Alaskans!

Heidi Howeiler, Seattle, WA

Enjoyed your realistic and practical comments on Provence. Always wanted to go there ever since reading Peter Mayle's 2 books on Provence. But the two times I went to France, time was always short, so we spent our days in Paris. And now you say, it is losing its unique charm to tourism. (Sigh). It's always a choice between sharing beauty, and keeping it hidden. The world lurches on. Thanks for your thoughts.

Dette, Iligan City, Philippines

What a great article, especially regarding Louis XIV. I was not aware there was a contemporary account of his execution. It was fascinating. Thank you!

Celtic fan, Nashua, MA

Nancy and Eric,

Enjoyed reading your article on Santa Fe, NM. I was in AZ travel nursing in 2008 and 2009 and made it to Santa Fe. Took a lot of pics and really loved walking around the old town while I was there. Hope to be able to take the wife there in the future.

Brett Eidson, Soso, MS

Hi dude! Nice to see your site. It's beautiful. My congratulations.

New York

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New York

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This is all genuine. I will return to scan.

Keflavik

Good article.

On Behalf Of Diane, Port Ludlow, WA

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When I was hurt in a boat accident my life would be changed totally. I really don't post much but thanks for the good times I have here. Love this place. Long time lurker, thought I would say hello!

Miami

* * * * *

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Adelina, Celaya

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WordPress Themes, Gray Mountain

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Gray Mountain

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Hello people, I just signed up on this splendid community forum and wanted to say hey there! Have a wonderful day!

Jacksonville

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What a fascinating bit of Russian history you wrote about! How sad to learn that 100,000 churches were reduced to create skating rinks and such during the revolution, after seeing the photo of the interior of a magnificent church filled with art! War is so devastating on so many levels! The art of their culture is so beautiful as is shown in the image of the painted box! Thank you,

Yoka, Westlake Village, CA

Interesting observations.... Very informative and thought provoking. Questions.... What would be the best way to get from Moscow Airport DME to boat dock? taxi? prearranged limo? prepaid Viking Tours transfer? Any idea on cost and travel time for taxi or limo or Viking Cruise pickup from airport to boat? We shall be flying to Moscow on our own. Do you happen to have an address for the river boat dock that Viking Cruises uses in Moscow? I would be nice to Google map the situation. Thanks,

Robert Hopwood, Ottawa, Canada

.

and at .

Good luck. Great show Canada’s putting on for the Olympics!

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Reseller Hosting, London

Dear Nancy and Eric

Thank you so much for the wonderful article on statues in Europe. Statues are my favorite art form and your descriptions were delightful to read - knowledge and fun together. I do still wonder about that foot in Rome...

Peggy - Pasadena, CA

I live in Santa Fe and see and delight in it every day, but your writing makes it sparkle even more. How nice to see Santa Fe through your eyes. Great photos!

Cynthia Whitney-Ward - Santa Fe, NM

Dear Dr. Anderson:

I have followed your writing career for as long as I can remember, and I think the thing I enjoy the most about your travel writing is the sense of joy and discovery that leads the reader to anticipate ever corner you turn in your travels.What a delightful traveling companion you are, and I know have always been, with that wonderfully eternally youthful joie de vivre...I wonder:do you feel that East, West, home is best? And where IS that place you have never been, but want to go most of all,yet? Bring we, your devoted readers ever along!

CAT -- San Diego (Scrips Ranch), CA

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What a fantastic primer on New York City. I think you have really captured its essence with this exciting overview of its offerings. Well done!

Gillian Abramson - New York

* * * * *

You describe a city on wheels - er, wings - and an absolutely perfect way to travel. SHOWERS & FLOWERS! Amazing! I love that your passion for all-things-aviation comes through in this story about an almost unbelievable airplane. Thanks for breaking the news in such an engaging way!

Richard Frisbie - Saugerties, New York

* * * * *

Enjoyed your blog on Romania. Noticed you called Bucharest "The Paris of the East." I wonder, is there any city not called "The Paris of something." I've read San Francisco is 'the Paris of the West,' Buenos Aires 'The Paris of South America,' and even Tromso, Norway 'The Paris of the Arctic.'

Terry Cowan - Fresno

* * * * *

Eric -

Enjoyed your article on Madrid. I noticed that you find it superior to Rome. Most of the Spanish folks that I meet seem to prefer Barcelona. How would you rate that city?

Samuel K
Seattle

* * * * *


Great article on Madrid. I've heard there is a rivalry between the people of Madrid and Barcelona. In which city are the people friendlier? How about for hipness? I noticed you were Scottish. I felt a similar thing in Scotland, with a Glasgow v. Edinburgh vibe.

Gary
Santa Monica

* * * * *


Dear Eric,

I liked the article. As I read it, I was wondering how you as a physician were influenced by Hippocrates. What influence did this historical figure have on the practice of medicine beyond the obvious 'oath.' Why is Hippocrates considered to be such a paragon of medicine? DWA - San Pedro, CA

* * * * *


Stay tuned.




Royal Yacht Britannia

  • Royal Deck Tearoom
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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 scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control

Royal Yacht Britannia

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10 reasons to visit The Royal Yacht Britannia 

sun lounge royal yacht britannia

1. Truly unique 

Royal Yachts have been utilised by the British Royal Family for centuries. At the end of each yacht’s seafaring days they were scuttled with another yacht taking its place. Decommissioned in 1997, after 40 years travelling all over the world, Britannia was to be the last Royal Yacht but going against tradition, this iconic ship was given a new lease of life and became a five-star visitor attraction, providing millions of visitors with a sneak peek into the lives of the Royal Family. 

2. Accessible 

We are proud to offer a highly accessible tour. Lifts and ramps to each of the five decks allow visitors of all ages and abilities to see this stunning yacht.

3. Audio guide at your own pace 

Following a tour leader that you can’t hear in a crowd of people and being rushed from room to room like a herd of sheep, is the last thing anyone wants to experience. At Britannia, visitors can take their time across the five decks with audio guides that allow you to listen to as much or as little of the tour as you please. Take the tour at your own pace and really imagine what life was like on board. 

4. 30 languages 

From French to Finnish, Thai to Turkish, our audio guides are in a fantastic 30 languages. We also offer a BSL tablet, Braille script and an audio tour for those with a visual impairment. 

5. See where the Royal Family entertained 

The Royal Family used Britannia for multiple purposes, including as their palace at sea. Whilst abroad, the Royal Family were able to entertain foreign dignitaries aboard this iconic ship. It was said that an invitation to attend an event on Britannia was simply too tempting to resist, allowing for trade missions to bring in millions of pounds in deals for the United Kingdom. 

royal yacht britannia audio tour

6. A home from home

Another purpose was as a holiday home. The Royal Family would accompany Her Majesty The Queen for a summer holiday around the Western Isles. Away from the long lens of the photographer’s camera, Britannia was quoted by The Queen to be the 'one place I can truly relax.’  

7. The Crew’s Quarters 

Britannia is frequently described as a ship of two halves. Whilst the State Apartments show how the Royal Family enjoyed their time on board, the Crew’s Quarters offer a look into where 220 Royal Yachtsmen, known as ‘Yotties’, lived and worked.

8. Cuddly corgis 

Who can resist a corgi? Clarence the cuddly corgi and friends can be found hiding throughout Britannia’s five decks. All ages will love to count them all during their tour. Collect your corgi treasure hunt badge at the end of the tour and wear it with pride. 

royal yacht britannia audio tour

9. Time for tea 

A true must is a visit to the Royal Deck Tea Room. Busy in the ship’s onboard galleys, our team bake delicious scones and cakes, as well as warming soup and sandwiches to be served in the Tea Room every day! What could be more British than a scone and a cup of freshly brewed tea sitting aboard HM The Queen’s former Royal Yacht? 

10. Surprises 

As you tour Britannia, you’ll think you know what to expect. We don’t want to give it all away but how does a Rolls Royce Phantom V sound? 

Visiting Britannia

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK ATTRACTION 2023 - 2024

royal yacht britannia audio tour

The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control.

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. 

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK LUXURY HOTEL TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK SMALL & BOUTIQUE HOTEL AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

royal yacht britannia audio tour

Learn more: fingal.co.uk

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The Royal Edinburgh Ticket - Bus & Attraction Combo!

Activity schedule, key highlights.

  • Inclusions & Exclusions

Hop-on, Hop-off Bus: 48 hours

Edinburgh Tour: 9:19am to 3:40pm, every 30 minutes

City Sightseeing Tour: 9am to 4pm, every 30 minutes

Regal Tour: 8:40am to 5:25pm, every 15 minutes (24 Mar to 2 Nov)

Attraction tickets: Please check the official website of the attractions before visiting

From 24 March tours run later and at a higher frequency. 9am – 6pm every 10-15 mins. 

Redeem your voucher for tickets at Waterloo Place (stop ZG), just off Princes Street.

You can hop on the bus at any of the stops

You can hop off at any of the stops

  • Access to three bus tours and top three attractions - you have got the city covered!
  • Discover Edinburgh's Royal heritage and save up to 20% on individual tickets
  • Marvel at the breathtaking residence of Her Majesty the Queen, Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • Admire The Queen’s former floating palace, the Royal Yacht Britannia
  • Explore the spectacular Edinburgh Castle
  • Tickets are usable within 6 months from the date of purchase
  • Special Horrible Histories commentary for kids narrated by Terry Deary on the City Sightseeing Tour
  • Both printed and smartphone vouchers accepted!

One Edinburgh ticket is all you need to get the most out of your visit to the Old Smoky! The Royal Edinburgh Ticket treats you to a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour across three services as well as admissions to three of the best Scottish attractions - Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is truly your all-access pass to explore the splendours of Scotland's capital city and experience its magnificent royal attractions. Not to mention, you can save over 20% when compared to the total cost of tickets when bought separately.

HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS TOUR 

The hop-on hop-off bus ticket allows you 48 hours of unlimited travel on three bus routes – Regal Tour, The Edinburgh Tour and City Sightseeing Tour, covering the length and breadth of the city. The routes are interchangeable, giving you even more flexibility to travel around the city with minimal hassles. You can additionally listen in on immersive commentary across all the routes, either through headphones or from a live guide.

Some of the stops covered

  • Royal Botanic Garden
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Palace of Holyroodhouse
  • The Royal Yacht Britannia

ATTRACTION TICKETS INCLUDED

EDINBURGH CASTLE

One of the most beautiful castles in the world, the Edinburgh Castle is a truly magnificent sight to behold. With our guaranteed entry, you can dig into spectacular views across the capital, browse through the  nation’s Crown Jewels, including the Stone of Destiny, witness the breathtaking One o’ Clock Gun - the famous time signal firing since 1861 as well as traverse through the oldest building in Edinburgh.

ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA

Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and discover The Queen’s former floating palace at the magnificent Royal Yacht Britannia. With a fascinating audio tour available in 30 languages, you can discover how the Royal Family and their 220-member crew lived, relax and enjoy waiter service in the Royal Deck Tea Room.

PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

Discover His Majesty the king's official residence in Scotland - the Palace of Holyroodhouse - with our guaranteed entry. Lose yourself to the unmistakable grandeur of the Palace as you wander around the State State Apartments used by the Royal Family, the historic chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the romantic ruins of Holyrood Abbey. There’s audio commentary available in 9 languages to keep your engaged.

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • 48 hours Hop-On, Hop-Off Ticket
  • 3 Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tours (Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour & City Sightseeing)
  • Entry to Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Yacht Britannia
  • Live Guide on the Edinburgh Tour route
  • Audio commentary in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese on all routes 
  • Entrance to attractions, unless specified

Useful downloads

  • City sightseeing route map
  • Edinburgh Route Map
  • Regal Tour Map

Please note

Voucher information: You can show your voucher on your smartphone (But if you’d rather print a copy – that’s fine too!)

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes (please check accessibility guidelines for attractions) 

Tickets are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase, with their 24 or 48 hour validity activated when your confirmation is scanned by a member of staff.

Edinburgh is a functioning city and weather, traffic and events may occasionally cause disruption. Times and stops are subject to change.

The operator will reserve your timed entry ticket to Edinburgh Castle when you exchange your voucher. The other two attractions can be visited at any time within the 48 hours – this can stretch over 3 days if started midday day 1 – valid until midday day 3.

Edinburgh Castle is open seven days a week.

Palace of Holyroodhouse is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week from October – June inclusive. There will also be Royal closures if The King is visiting (no alternative offered to Royal Edinburgh Ticket holders). Head in with your Royal Edinburgh Ticket – no prebooking required. Palace of Holyroodhouse is open 7 days July-September.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is open 7 days. Head in with your Royal Edinburgh Ticket – no prebooking required.

The Queen’s Gallery is closed until 2024 to allow essential maintenance work to take place

Due to works at Ocean Terminal – home of Britannia, The Royal Yacht will be closed 11-23 March ( also we now know 25-28 June)

Due to emergency gas works , the Lawnmarket stop for Edinburgh Castle is closed until further notice.

Customer Reviews

Joanne packham.

Excellent way to orient yourself to three of the many attractions of Edinburgh. Very friendly drivers and service people.

Joanne Sims

The combo ticket allowed us to use any of the red, green or blue buses and gave us tickets to the three main attractions. The castle was sold out for the day we arrived, but the bus ‘conductor’ had tickets for that day. Each bus was slightly different. The blue bus allowed access to the royal yacht, but my favourite was the green bus, with a tour guide. The little details made exploring such a beautiful city fun and engaging. I’ll definitely use them again when I come back. Being able to hop on and off at different places allowed greater access to tourist attractions and the bus frequency meant you weren’t left waiting for long before the next bus arrived.

It was great to have access to so many different buses and routes to see the sights of Edinburgh. We used the hop on hop off service for the full 48 hours that the tickets were valid for which enabled us to travel easily around. Having access to the three main attractions (castle, Holyroodhouse palace and Royal yacht Britannia) allowed us to access these with ease without the hassle of buying separate tickets. The staff/guides were all very friendly and knowledgeable. Would definitely do it all again!

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The Crown Season 5 Filming Locations: In Detail

The Crown Season 5 Filming Locations: In Detail

The Crown Season 5 filming locations include Ardverikie, Lancaster House, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Wellington College, Cobham Hall School, Winchester College, Burghley House, Brompton Cemetery, Greenwich ORNC, Lincoln’s Inn and the London Coliseum. Further scenes were filmed on the Netflix show’s extensive sets around Elstree Studios.

As the Netflix drama moves into the 1990s, it revisits some of the established locations for the royal palaces, and adds new settings. We’re also in for a change of cast, led by Imelda Staunton as the Queen, with Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.

Marcia Warren steps in the Queen Mother, while Timothy Dalton plays Peter Townsend for a brief reunion. Dominic West takes over as Prince Charles, with Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles.

New figures for The Crown Season 5 include Mohamed Al-Fayed (Salim Daw) and his son Dodi (Khalid Abdalla), Penny Knatchbull (Natascha McElhone) and John Major (Jonny Lee Miller). Flashbacks also give us glimpses of earlier cast members and filming locations.

Where Was The Crown Season 5 Filmed?

royal yacht britannia audio tour

The Crown Season 5 was filmed in Chatham, Greenwich, the Moray Firth, Ardverikie, Knebworth, Wellington College, Brompton Cemetery, Somerley House, Eastbourne Pier, Winchester College, Wrotham Park, Lancaster House, Lincoln’s Inn, and more stunning locations.

However, with the show growing bigger each season, the number of sets at Elstree has also grown. The Britannia, royal residences and Downing Street are among the custom-built backdrops.

The Crown Series 5 Filming Locations

John brown and company shipyard.

Clock Tower Building - Chatham Dockyard

We see the ship in two eras. After Claire Foy’s Elizabeth has launched the ship, we see Imelda Staunton’s Queen at Chatham Historic Dockyard as she boards the Britannia to sail to Balmoral.

And here’s where to watch the real Britannia launch! It’s right here on the BBC Scotland News Facebook page .

Royal Yacht Britannia

The Crown Season 5 Britannia scenes were filmed on the real Royal Yacht and a replica built at Elstree Studios . The recreated top deck of the Royal Yacht’s appears in the dinner scene at the start of Episode 5. Other parts of the ship were duplicated elsewhere at the Netflix show’s Elstree base.

In an interview with Elle Décor , production designer Martin Childs confirmed the filming locations for the Britannia in Season 5 of The Crown. And it’s confirmed that the lower decks were used. We think these are the engine room scenes, which show off the machinery visible from above on the tour.

You can visit the real Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, to the north of Edinburgh. Visitors can see the real engine rooms, Prince Philip’s art supplies, family lounges and bedrooms on the now-decommissioned Britannia. There’s also a permanent Royal Deck Tea Room , if you want to dine like the royal family in the scenes from The Crown Season 5.

Balmoral Castle

Knebworth House

Interior shots for the Balmoral scenes have been filmed at Knebworth throughout the Netflix show’s run. Knebworth House confirmed that it’s a filming location for The Crown Season 5, sharing the news online the day before its release .

Knebworth’s dramatic architecture makes it a popular filming location, and The Crown’s substitute for Balmoral’s Scottish Baronial style. You can visit this location easily – check for opening days and special events! https://www.knebworthhouse.com/

The exterior belongs to Ardverikie in Newtonmore - also known as Glenbogle from Monarch of the Glen. And the surrounding land appears in the show as well.

Balmoral Estate

Balmoral scenes for The Crown Season 5 were filmed around Kinloch Laggan and Lossiemouth. Kinloch Laggan is where Ardverikie is situated, and this is a real Highland location. Like the real Balmoral Estate, it’s in the Cairngorms National Park . This year, other locations add to the landscape for loch scenes.

The Crown’s loch scenes were filmed around the Moray Firth near Lossiemouth and the Covesea Lighthouse. The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald caught Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville in costume for the scenes.

In the Season 1 Episode 1 loch scenes, Princess Margaret and the Queen spend time together in a boat on the loch.

Range Rover Scenes

Prince Philip’s driving scenes were filmed in Hertfortshire. Back in October 2021, Jonathan Pryce was spotted filming the Range Rover driving scenes - part of Prince Philip’s life outside the palace. In Season 5, we see the Duke of Edinburgh following his love of driving and of carriage racing.

Lowther Horse Show

According to the Stamford Mercury , the Lowther Horse Show scenes were filmed at Burghley’s grounds.

As the series goes on Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's friendship attracts controversy – until Prince Philip asks the Queen to give her approval. While the Netflix series raises questions about the relationship, there’s no doubt that Prince Philip was devoted to carriage racing.

The Duke of Edinburgh competed in the sport, notably the Royal Windsor Horse Show, until the early 2000s. As described in the episode, he sought it out as an alternative to polo .

Kensington Palace

Wellington College

Wellington College has been used as Kensington Palace in The Crown from Season 3 onwards. It appears again in Episode 4, “Annus Horribilis”, and other scenes involving Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales famously lived in one of the palace’s apartments after her split from Prince Charles.

London Streets

Lincoln’s Inn Fields appear in The Crown’s London street scenes as Princess Diana agrees to be interviewed for Andrew Morton’s book. The gateway is visible, along with the surrounding terraces.

Buckingham Palace

Lancaster House

Wrotham Park has been used as the Queen’s audience room since The Crown Season 1. Over the years, The Crown has filmed Buckingham Palace scenes at Wilton House, Goldsmiths Hall and Greenwich Old Royal Naval College.

The palace’s portico scenes used to be filmed in Greenwich, but have been switched for a replica in Elstree Studios. Other palace interiors are filmed on custom sets at Elstree too.

The Ritz Paris

The Crown’s Ritz hotel filming location is Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. The Rothschild mansion appears in Season 5 Episode 3 “Mou Mou”. Look out for the dining room’s mantelpiece and mirrors. This room is seen in the meeting to buy the Ritz, and later when Mohamed Al-Fayed speaks with Sydney Johnson, personal valet to the Duke of Windsor.

Of course, the real Ritz Paris has taken on a different role in the story of the Royal Family, Princess Diana, and the Al-Fayeds. But in Season 5 Episode 3, we’re focusing on the Al-Fayed patriarch’s story and love of prestigious settings.

Bois du Boulogne/Villa Windsor

The Crown’s Bois du Boulogne locations are Halton House and West Wycombe Park. Halton House appeared as the former Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson’s French retreat in the Netflix show’s earlier seasons. It makes a return in Season 5 Episode 3. Look out for the exterior as the former king trains his valet.

Halton recently appeared in Enola Holmes 2 as the Lyon family home – one of many screen moments. It was built for the Rothschilds, who still own the nearby Waddesdon Manor, and as a result they share some architectural links.

West Wycombe Park is another original Bois du Boulogne filming location from The Crown Season 1 that appears in Season 5 Episode 3. Look out for it in the interior shots as Mohamed Al-Fayed and Sydney Johnson inspect Wallis Simpson’s house after her death. Halton House’s entrance and West Wycombe Park’s as the Queen’s representative removes Edward VIII’s abdication desk and letters.

As shown in the Netflix series, Sydney Johnson worked at the house in its heyday and during its renovation. The real valet to the former Edward VIII said, of the Villa Windsor’s restoration:

“I feel on top of the world… the restoration is so authentic I expect to see the duchess stepping down the staircase asking, ‘How do I look?’” Sydney Johnson, Valet to the Duke of Windsor and Mohamed Al-Fayed

If you want to see the real Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s décor, Architectural Digest has captured it in amazing detail . Everything from the clocks to the North Persian carpets is recorded.

Look out for Harrods in the shots of Mohamed Al-Fayed looking over his newest purchase. This looks very much like the real Harrods department store in Kensington, complete with its illuminations.

The real Harrods is a fixture of Knightsbridge to this day. But the prestigious shopping destination’s relationship with the Royal Family has changed over the years.

In 2000, Prince Philip withdrew his royal warrant. The store had held royal warrants since the 1950s. But after the Duke of Edinburgh declined to renew, Mohamed Al-Fayed spoke out to say he wouldn’t seek to renew the Queen or Prince of Wales’ warrants. Harrods then-owner elaborated:

“We are proud of the Harrods reputation as the world’s finest store and we naturally welcome discerning shoppers from all over the world… The royal family, with the exception of Prince Philip, are welcome to shop at Harrods at any time.” Mohamed Al-Fayed

Sydney Johnson’s Grave

The Crown cemetery location for Sydney Johnson’s grave is Brompton Cemetery in London. In The Crown, we see Mohamed Al-Fayed paying his respects over the gravestone. The engraving reads Sydney Johnson, Valet to the King.

Brompton Cemetery opened in 1840, and is still a working cemetery to this day. But it’s also a Grade I-listed on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens and a precious green space. You can find guides to the well-known figures who are buried there, and popular walking routes, on the Royal Parks website.

Moscow Streets

The Netflix show’s Moscow scenes were filmed in Bradford. In The Crown Season 5, the Queen’s car is seen driving through the streets of the Russian capital, actually Bradford’s Forster Square area.

The Telegraph and Argus caught filming in progress , with Russian signage appearing on Holdsworth Street, Canal Road and Valley Road.

Windsor Castle

Look out for Burghley Castle as The Crown’s Windsor Castle location in Season 5. The famous Windsor Castle fire scenes were filmed at Burghley, and smoke billowing over its roof . A replica of one of its rooms was also used as a fire-damaged Windsor in scenes of the Queen and Prince Philip surveying the damage.

Burghley also provides St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle after the repairs. It appears in the scenes of Prince William and the Queen having tea at Windsor during his time at Eton. Look out for it again when the Queen and Director General of the BBC have a tough conversation after Martin Bashir’s interview is screened.

You can visit this Crown location – check the opening dates for the house, grounds and restaurant.

Guildhall Jubilee Lunch

The Painted Hall, Greenwich

Look out for the exterior of the ORNC buildings at the opening of the episode, as the Queen exits the car. She is seen walking into the Painted Hall, climbing the steps to its distinctive black and white floor.

The artwork has a royal theme of its own. Among the scenes depicted around the Painted Hall, you’ll find the accessions of William and Mary, and George I. And you can indeed find the paintings for yourself, because it’s open to the public – check the website for current admission details .

The Queen really did make her famed “annus horribilis” comment during the Guildhall Jubilee Lunch . In reality, the Ruby Jubilee banquet on 24th November 1992 took place just days after the fire at Windsor Castle.

The real Guildhall , with its 600-year-old Great Hall, is the home of the Corporation of the City of London, who hosted the event. While it didn’t appear in this episode of The Crown, it is a popular filming location in its own right.

The Eton town and school locations in The Crown are Winchester College in Hampshire and the Cobham Hall School in Kent. Prince William’s car passes the entrance to the Winchester College in Season 5 Episode 7, “No Woman’s Land”, before the press call.

Winchester was founded in 1382, pipping Eton to the post by about 60 years. Princes William and Harry’s former school was founded in 1440, on the banks of the Thames. As seen in The Crown when the Queen considers inviting William for tea, Eton sits just on the edge of Windsor.

Eton College

Kent’s Cobham Hall School appears in glimpses of Eton’s courtyard and interior shots. Look out for the Gravesend school in the press call and William’s lesson on Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.

It was confirmed as a filming location by Visit Kent , along with other local spots appearing in the likes of Enola Holmes 2 . While Eton is an all-boys school and Winchester has only recently become co-educational, Cobham Hall is an all-girls day and boarding school.

It was founded by socialite Bhicoo Batlivala , who had attended another prestigious school, Cheltenham Ladies’ College. But the building itself boasts its own royal connections. Cobham Hall has been home to the Barons of Cobham, Earls of Lennox and Earls of Darnley. Over the centuries, the residents have hosted royalty of their era, from Elizabeth I to the Duke of Windsor.

Broadcasting House

It looks like a real glimpse of Langham Place in Season 5 Episode 8, “Gunpowder”, with CGI assistance bringing the BBC’s Broadcasting House back to the 1990s. Built in 1932 , the Broadcasting House building was later updated with the glass-lined piazza space that occasionally appears in BBC features.

Eastbourne Pier

The Crown Season 5 Episode 8 features shots of Eastbourne’s pier and seafront . Look out for several angles in quick succession at the start of the sequence before the Bashir footage is reviewed.

Eastbourne’s shingle beach is another location seen in the episode, as the race to halt or allow the broadcast begins.

The Queens Hotel

Queens Hotel, Eastbourne

Royal Variety Performance

The Royal Variety Performance scene was filmed at the London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane in London . The London Coliseum’s exterior is seen as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrive for the Royal Variety Performance on their wedding anniversary. The real auditorium appears as well, with shots from various angles throughout the second half of the episode.

As a side note, while the London Coliseum has hosted the event, it wasn’t the venue that year. On 19th November 1995, the day before Princess Diana’s interview with Martin Bashir aired, the Royal Variety Performance was held at the London Dominion.

The Queen and Prince Philip would have watched acts including Cirque du Soleil, Allan Stewart, Des O’Connor, Riverdance and Elaine Paige. Thanks to the Royal Variety Charity’s archive, you can check out the line-up right here .

Prince Charles’ Hong Kong scenes were filmed in London’s West End . The area already has a strong connection to China and Hong Kong, through local expat communities and Chinatown’s restaurants and importers.

Journals and essays written by King Charles III were shared with the press after he took the final trip in the Royal Yacht Britannia. In the texts , he wrote about his thoughts on the journey itself and the Hong Kong handover.

The Theatre

Lyceum Theatre, London

While the Princess of Wales’ fashion choices influenced the costumes shown in The Crown, they don’t appear at the same events. As Yahoo Life UK point out, the blue dress Diana is seen wearing to Swan Lake harks back to a Jaques Azagury dress she wore to an event at the Serpentine Gallery in 1995.

The Crown’s Highgrove location is the Somerley Estate in Dorset. Somerley appeared in Season 4 as Highgrove, and is also set to reappear in Season 6. Filming took place in October 2022 , before Season 5 had arrived on Netflix.

While Somerley isn’t open to the public, you can stay at this Crown location. There are holiday lets on the estate – or you can host a wedding or special event at the house. https://somerley.com/ That said, you can visit the real Highgrove gardens . In fact, King Charles III’s private residence in Gloucestershire has hosted garden tours for 25 years.

Recent Posts

WATCH: Queen Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit Russia

Queen Elizabeth II, photographed in 1993.

Queen Elizabeth II, photographed in 1993. RollingNews

On Oct 17, 1994, Queen Elizabeth II became the first ruling British monarch to set foot on Russian soil.

As the eyes of the world are on Russia and the invasion of Ukraine, which has caused I migration of refugees unlike anything seen since World War II, we thought it interesting to look back at the October 1994 of Queen Elizabeth II to the Kremlin, by invitation of the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

In 1994 the Queen made a three-day visit to Russia. Three years before had seen the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when Yeltsin took office. His hope was that Her Royal Majesty's visit would strengthen the trade relationship with Britain and the Western World. 

Yeltsin's spokesman, Vyacheslav Kostikov, said at the time "We realize that the British queen would never have visited a Communist country."

  • History of "God Save the King", Britain's National Anthem

Personally, 1994 was also a difficult time for the Queen personally as her son, Prince Charles, had separated from Princess Diana, just two years earlier. A biography of the Prince, by Jonathan Dimbleby, had caused a media frenzy over comments made by Charles with relation to his relationship with his mother and father, Prince Philip. 

The Queen and Prince Philip landed in Moscow on Oct 17, 1994. They were then taken to the Kremlin where they were greeted by Yeltsin and his wife, Naina. The Royal pair were also treated to a special performance of the Bolshoi Ballet.

The climax of the tour was a state banquet given on the final evening by the Queen aboard the royal yacht Britannia which had sailed to St. Petersburg to meet the royal party. 

They left Russia on Oct 20 and broke the journey home by visiting Finland. 

Since 1994 some members of the Royal family have visited Russia, including Princess Anne. She visited in 2016 to mark the 75th anniversary of the first Arctic convoys from the United Kingdom during World War II. Prince Charles also Russia in 2003. This visit resulted in a return invitation to President Vladimir Putin to visit Britain later that year.

Check out some AP footage of the Queen having dinner at the Kremlin:

Related: Queen Elizabeth II

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  1. Audio Tour

    Start your tour at our entrance, currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. Please note that tickets purchased in person are by card/contactless only. The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control. Click on the Visit page for more information before you visit.

  2. The Royal Yacht Britannia Official Website

    Start your tour at our entrance, currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. Please note that tickets purchased in person are by card/contactless only. The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control. Click on the Visit page for more information before you visit.

  3. The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh

    Both Morning and Evening tours are available. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 or for more information visit click here. PRESERVING BRITANNIA. Britannia is cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a self-funding charity registered in Scotland (SC028070).

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    Edinburgh: Hop-On Hop-Off Combo City and Britannia Bus Tour. Explore Edinburgh with a 48-hour hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus pass. See famous landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Palace of Holyrood House while learning about their historical significance from the onboard audio commentary.

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    from. $26.69. Edinburgh Shore Excursion: City Tour and Royal Yacht Britannia. 16. When your cruise ship arrives in Edinburgh, get to know Scotland's capital on this full-day shore excursion. Board a comfortable coach which takes you to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia, the former royal yacht of the British monarchy.

  17. Royal Yacht Britannia

    Book your tickets online for Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh: See 23,622 reviews, articles, and 11,823 photos of Royal Yacht Britannia, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 543 attractions in Edinburgh. ... The audio tour is excellent and there's lots of the ship to explore, from the posh bit to the crew quarters and engine room. A must for ...

  18. Royal Yacht Britannia

    Royal Yacht Britannia www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk. This yacht, 5,862 in gross tonnage and 412 feet in length, was a product of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, the Glasgow shipyard that received so many unwelcome visits from the Luftwaffe in World War II.

  19. 10 Reasons to Visit

    10 reasons to visit The Royal Yacht Britannia. 1. Truly unique. Royal Yachts have been utilised by the British Royal Family for centuries. At the end of each yacht's seafaring days they were scuttled with another yacht taking its place. Decommissioned in 1997, after 40 years travelling all over the world, Britannia was to be the last Royal ...

  20. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket

    ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and discover The Queen's former floating palace at the magnificent Royal Yacht Britannia. With a fascinating audio tour available in 30 languages, you can discover how the Royal Family and their 220-member crew lived, relax and enjoy waiter service in the Royal Deck Tea Room.

  21. The Crown Season 5 Filming Locations: In Detail

    You can visit the real Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, to the north of Edinburgh. Visitors can see the real engine rooms, Prince Philip's art supplies, family lounges and bedrooms on the now-decommissioned Britannia. There's also a permanent Royal Deck Tea Room, if you want to dine like the royal family in the scenes from The Crown Season 5.

  22. Queen Elizabeth

    The climax of the tour was a state banquet given on the final evening by the Queen aboard the royal yacht Britannia which had sailed to St. Petersburg to meet the royal party. They left Russia on Oct 20 and broke the journey home by visiting Finland. Since 1994 some members of the Royal family have visited Russia, including Princess Anne.