Royal Yacht Britannia Edinburgh Scotland historic gem and iconic attraction

Explore the Royal Yacht Britannia: Edinburgh’s Historic Gem

Scotland has always had a spot in the heart of the current Royal Family, and a visit to Scotland will quickly show you why. From the rolling hills of the Highlands to the majestic Edinburgh Castle or the picturesque coastline, Scotland is worthy of the love the Royal Family has of this region. Nestled on the coastline is their home away from home for many years, and a top tourist attraction awaiting your visit – Royal Yacht Britannia Edinburgh.

The ship’s bell for the Royal Yacht Britannia, which is permanently harbored in Leith, near Edinburgh.

Royal Yacht Britannia Edinburgh

If your Scotland plans include a visit to its capital, Edinburgh, you’ll want to venture over to the port area of Leith to see a special heirloom of the Royal Family. Visit Royal Yacht Britannia, a floating museum that is considered one of the top Edinburgh attraction according to Trip Advisor .

Britannia was the official yacht for Queen Elizabeth II from 1954 to 1997. Quite literally, this was a floating palace that sailed all around the world with the Queen and various family members for over 40 years.

A rare intimate view into the daily life of Queen Elizabeth on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. On the tour you get to see the royal residence and a look at life at sea.
A rare intimate view into the daily life of Queen Elizabeth on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. On the tour you get to see the royal residence and a look at life at sea.

Your Royal Tour Experience

As a royal residence, Britannia is dripping with elegance. Unlike tours of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, or Windsor Castle, a tour of HMS Britannia gets you up close to the world the Royal Family experienced while on board.

Luxury on the high seas was not just enjoyed by the royals. This ship was designed with multiple purposes. It was designed to also be a ship hospital if needed. But more frequently, it served as an ambassador for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. They estimate that the ship logged over one million miles over the 40+ years of service.

During the 968 official state visits conducted on Britannia, the guest list reads like a Who’s Who of late 20th-century dignitaries. Britannia’s state apartments welcomed world leaders including Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Rajiv Gandhi.

The state dining room on the Royal Yacht Britannia was the scene for many world leaders who visited the Royal Family on board. The ship made nearly 1,000 official state visits in its 44 years of service.
The state dining room on the Royal Yacht Britannia was the scene for many world leaders who visited the Royal Family on board. The ship made nearly 1,000 official state visits in its 44 years of service.

The Royal Yacht Britannia history is long, with a long list of formal events and use. But it was also an oasis for the Queen and her family. In addition to vacations and family outings, Britannia was also the ideal place for a honeymoon. It offered all the luxury you could possibly need, with a crew ready to serve your every need. Britannia also provided solitude, which was hard to come by, especially for then Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Charles and Diana used the vessel on their honeymoon back in 1981, sailing around the Mediterranean Sea with stops in Egypt, the Greek isles, and Gibraltar. Other royal family members who utilized the floating palace for their honeymoons included Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

On your tour, you get an up-close view of the formal areas, the more informal areas, crew quarters, and the inner workings of the ship. One of our favorite areas was the Sun Lounge, just off the royal apartment area towards the front of the ship. It was also one of the Queen’s favorite rooms, where she would enjoy breakfast each morning on board and later have tea in the afternoon. It was also a favorite spot for Prince Philip, where he loved to paint while relaxing on board.

The wood paneled Sun Lounge was a favorite spot for both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The wood paneled Sun Lounge was a favorite spot for both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Royal Car Collection

While it was a floating palace, it was also a transporter for the Royal Family to ports all over the world. They relaxed plenty on board but were also prepared to go ashore, and the ship contained everything they would need. This included two vehicles that were aboard Britannia and are now on display during your tour.

Car enthusiasts will enjoy seeing a replica of a Land Rover Series 1 on display. Also on display is the very impressive Rolls-Royce Phantom V state car, which is parked on the wharf below the ship.

The Royal Family truly traveled in style when they were on Britannia. That extended to when they were on land too, including the Land Rover and Rolls-Royce that came along their travels.
The Royal Family truly traveled in style when they were on Britannia. That extended to when they were on land too, including the Land Rover and Rolls-Royce that came along their travels.

While visiting Britannia, you also get the opportunity to learn about and see three other boats. The tour includes insight into the family’s love of sailing. There are two of Prince Philip’s racing yachts, Bloodhound and Coweslip. Bluebottle was a wedding present to Elizabeth and Philip from the Island Sailing Club of Cowes.

For fans of the Royal Family, there is unique memorabilia in nearly every room. There is also a fun game for children or fans of corgis. They have hidden stuffed toy corgis throughout the ship for you to count and keep track of. You can enter your guess in the gift shop and maybe even win a prize.

Your admission provides you with several nice photo opportunities. In addition to walking around the ship, you can also enjoy afternoon tea at Britannia. Afternoon tea is not part of your standard admission.

If you are looking for a unique experience, you might consider spending the night. The Royal Yacht Britannia is also a floating hotel. Fingal Hotel is a five-star hotel and exclusive use venue on Edinburgh’s waterfront.

Planning Your Visit

We spent about 90 minutes touring Britannia and enjoyed seeing the details of this historic attraction. There are some lists of things to do in Edinburgh that have this as the area’s top attraction. It’s probably not worthy of the top spot on those lists, but it is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

You can get to the port in Leith via public transportation and the tram, or via taxis and ride shares which are plentiful in the area. If you’re ambitious, you could walk the two-plus miles to the port from the Royal Mile, though it is not recommended.

A side view of HMS Britannia, and a great spot for a photo. It also provides you a view to see how large this ship is.
A side view of HMS Britannia, and a great spot for a photo. It also provides you a view to see how large this ship is.

Royal Yacht Britannia tours are available from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (April – October) and 10 AM to 3:30 PM (November – March). Last admission is one hour before closing. Ticket prices are the same online in advance as they are for walk-up customers. We still recommend buying in advance if possible, allowing you to spend less time waiting in line and more time exploring the many exhibits. Admission price includes a free audio guide to help you get the most out of your time on the ship. The price for a ticket is very modest, roughly £20.00 for adults.

We visited on a weekday morning and did not experience any crowds. However, during peak times, you can expect more people. The ship is large with plenty of room for everyone, so you should be fine. It involves a lot of walking around, including up and down ramps.

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