London: HMS Belfast & South Bank Audio Tour

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration2h–3h

Audio guideEN · DE +4

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk a World War II warship, then wander London's South Bank on your own time

You board the HMS Belfast and explore a restored Royal Navy warship from World War II through the Cold War, climbing through engine rooms and gun turrets with a multilingual audio guide. Afterward, you pick up a self-guided audio tour of South Bank's 14 landmarks — Borough Market, Somerset House, the Golden Hinde and more — and explore at your own pace. Entry, all commentary and the tour map are included; you just need to download your ticket via QR code.

2h–3h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore HMS Belfast ship museum
See World War II and Cold War exhibits
Steer the ship yourself
Visit living quarters and deep ship areas
Walk through South Bank district
Discover Borough Market and Somerset House
View the Golden Hinde ship

The Experience

The moment you step onto the HMS Belfast's deck, the Thames opens up around you and the ship's weight settles in. This is the vessel that fought at D-Day, got hit by a German mine, and limped back to be rebuilt — now it sits here as a floating museum with every hatch, gun turret and crew quarters open to walk through. You get the audio tour in six languages, so you can move at your own pace through the engine rooms, the bridge, the living quarters, even steer the ship yourself if you want. The ladders are steep and there are a lot of them, so it's not a casual stroll, but that's also what makes it feel real.

After you've had enough of the ship — most people spend two to three hours here — you download the South Bank audio tour and head out into the district on foot. Fourteen points of interest are mapped out: Borough Market, where the noise and smell of food stalls hit you before you see them; Somerset House with its courtyard and river views; the Golden Hinde, the replica of Drake's ship; the Shakespeare Globe. You listen when you want, skip what doesn't interest you, stop for lunch or a coffee without anyone waiting. The audio commentary is in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish and Chinese, so if you're traveling with someone who prefers another language, you're both covered.

The whole thing is self-contained once you scan the QR code on your voucher and download your ticket — no need to print anything, though they say it's preferable if you can. Just know that suitcases and large bags aren't allowed on the ship, so travel light or find somewhere to store them first. The experience works best if you're comfortable with stairs and narrow passages; the ship's not wheelchair-friendly and children under 4 feet tall won't be able to access all the decks. There are also videos and audio with gunfire and alarm sounds, so if that's a trigger, you'll want to know going in.

What’s included

Your day includes HMS Belfast entry ticket, a multilingual audio tour of the ship in six languages, and a self-guided South Bank audio tour covering 14 landmarks including Borough Market, Somerset House and the Golden Hinde.
Audio commentary is provided in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish and Chinese.
You download your ticket via QR code and explore both locations at your own pace.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Vox City International Ltd

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see a working warship and London's cultural riverside without a guide keeping pace — you move through the HMS Belfast on your own time, then wander South Bank's highlights whenever you feel like stopping for food or a view.

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