Queen Elizabeth II hosted numerous business events on the Royal Yacht Britannia during its 44 years at sea. The ship is the only Royal Yacht available for exclusive use hire, offering a unique experience for guests. The ship features a red carpet welcome, a red carpet dining experience, and an exceptional culinary experience. The Royal Yacht Britannia is perfect for hosting weddings or private dinners, with stunning spaces to enjoy. A private tour on board the Royal Yacht Britannia provides access to the ship’s five decks and a unique insight into its history. The ship operates a 15-minute arrival time slot system that can be pre-booked via their website.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is rated as the No.1 UK attraction on Tripadvisors. For those residing in another country or region, the ship offers a wedding reception on the ship for just £60 a head. To book a private tour, visit Exclusive Hire in Edinburgh or contact the ship directly.
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Who owns the Royal Yacht in Britannia now?
The Trust. Britannia is owned and cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. Britannia is part of the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels, the official register of the most important British ships in existence.
As befits its charitable objectives, the Trust’s principal activity is to encourage as many people as possible to visit Britannia, in order to learn more about this iconic vessel and the ambassadorial role she undertook throughout the world. Since opening to the public on 19 October 1998, Britannia normally attracts between 350,000 and 400,000 visitors per annum, usually making it one of Scotland’s top 10 paid admission visitor attractions. Since first joining our national tourist board’s quality assurance scheme, VisitScotland has graded us in the 5 Star ‘World Class’ category. In addition, for 13 years Britannia received the highest quality mark awarded that year by VisitScotland, making it Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction. The Royal Yacht Britannia has, for the second time, been awarded Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction andhas retained its Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Award, which is awarded to less than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings.
Click here to make a donation to ourCharitable Trust (SC028070).
Is the Royal Britannia worth it?
Well worth a visit. It was fascinating to learn about life onboard the ship for the officers and crew. And great to see the quite modest Royal quarters. The cafe offered a lovely selection of food (not cheap but delicious and very well presented) and the staff were all very friendly.
Did government pay for Royal Yacht Britannia?
The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. Politicians raised questions about its financial value as far back as 1954, when two MPs lobbied for an investigation on why the yacht’s refurbishment would cost £5.8 million, accusing the royal family of waste and extravagance. A government committee later dismissed the accusations. In 1994, the Conservative government ruled the yacht too costly to refurbish, when repairs came in at a whopping 17 million, but then briefly walked back on their decision a few years later.
However, when Tony Blair’s Labour government won the election, and the new government once again declined to pay for Britannia. Britannia’s final journey was to far-flung Hong Kong in 1997, as Prince Charles turned over the British colony back to the Chinese at the end of Britain’s 99-year lease. When they finally decommissioned the boat that summer, the queen cried – one of the few times she’s shown emotion in public. The boat had logged over one million nautical miles.
Today, Britannia sits permanently docked in Edinburgh. Visitors can take tours of its grand galleys, or even rent it out for events. Yet, despite its retirement, the concept of the royal yacht lives on: In 2021, Boris Johnson floated the idea of a new boat. However, a mere eight days ago, Rishi Sunak has scrapped the project – showing that, even now, the concept remains a controversial one.
Can you stay overnight on The Royal Yacht Britannia?
There is no hotel accommodation on The Royal Yacht Britannia.
Frequently Asked Questions. Do I needto pre-book tickets?
We strongly recommend pre-booking tickets online to guarantee admission.
Tickets will be e-mailed to the e-mail address providing during ticket purchase. This e-mail can be shown on your phone/tablet or printed out.
Why did they get rid of royal yacht Britannia?
A further refit at an estimated cost of some £17 million would be necessary in 1996–97 but would only prolong her life for a further five years. In view of her age, even after the refit she would be difficult to maintain and expensive to run. It has therefore been decided to decommission ‘Britannia’ in 1997.
In looking back at the history of Royal Yacht Britannia, one can trace the emotional journey of Queen Elizabeth II. Her affection for the vessel stemmed from deep-rooted sentiment, making HMY Britannia’s retirement remarkably personal.
June 23, 1994, was a dark day for Queen Elizabeth II.
While public perception of Her Majesty’s lifestyle revolved around lavish wealth and exclusive travel, of which money was no object, that generalised consensus remained far from the truth.
Why did the Queen stop using Britannia?
A further refit at an estimated cost of some £17 million would be necessary in 1996–97 but would only prolong her life for a further five years. In view of her age, even after the refit she would be difficult to maintain and expensive to run. It has therefore been decided to decommission ‘Britannia’ in 1997.
In looking back at the history of Royal Yacht Britannia, one can trace the emotional journey of Queen Elizabeth II. Her affection for the vessel stemmed from deep-rooted sentiment, making HMY Britannia’s retirement remarkably personal.
June 23, 1994, was a dark day for Queen Elizabeth II.
While public perception of Her Majesty’s lifestyle revolved around lavish wealth and exclusive travel, of which money was no object, that generalised consensus remained far from the truth.
Can The Royal Yacht Britannia still sail?
Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. She was in their service from 1954 until 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893. During her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than a million nautical miles around the world to more than 600 ports in 135 countries. Now retired from royal service, Britannia is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it is a visitor attraction with over 300,000 visits each year.
HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. She was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953, and commissioned on 11 January 1954. The ship was designed with three masts: a 133-foot (41m) foremast, a 139-foot (42m) mainmast, and a 118-foot (36m) mizzenmast. The top aerial on the foremast and the top 20 feet (6.1m) of the mainmast were hinged to allow the ship to pass under bridges.
Britannia was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war, although this capability was never used. In the event of nuclear war, it was intended for the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to take refuge aboard Britannia off the north-west coast of Scotland.
Was The Royal Yacht Britannia escorted?
HMY Britannia, when on royal duties, was escorted by a Royal Navy warship. The yacht was a regular sight at Cowes Week in early August and, usually, for the remainder of the month, was home to the Queen and her family for an annual cruise around the islands off the west coast of Scotland (known as the “Western Isles Tour”).
During her career as Royal Yacht, Britannia conveyed the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters. In this time, Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278km).
In 1994, the Conservative government announced the yacht’s retirement:
Did the Royals get another yacht after Britannia?
The Labour opposition announced it would not commit the use of public funds for a replacement vessel for at least the first two years of any new Labour government. After its election victory in May 1997, the new government considered multiple options for the future of a royal yacht, but concluded in October of that year that Britannia would not be replaced:
We made clear that we would not spend public money on a Royal Yacht and I am keeping that promise. We in the Ministry of Defence have to justify every penny of the taxpayers’ money that we spend and in this case I could not do so, particularly – as the Queen has made clear – since a Yacht is not needed for Royal travel. We considered in detail all private finance options, but these would only have been viable with a substantial annual subsidy from public funds.
The Royal Yacht’s final foreign mission was to convey the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales back from Hong Kong after its handover to the People’s Republic of China on 1 July 1997. Britannia was decommissioned on 11 December 1997. The Queen, normally undemonstrative in public, was reported to have cried at the decommissioning ceremony that was attended by most of the senior members of the Royal Family.
Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Britannia is a visitor attraction moored in the historic Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is cared for by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a registered charity. There was some controversy over the siting of the ship, with some arguing that she would be better moored on the River Clyde, where she was built, than in Edinburgh, with which the yacht had few links. Her positioning in Leith coincided with a redevelopment of the harbour area and the advent of Scottish devolution.
Can you have dinner on Royal Yacht, Britannia?
Dining on board The Royal Yacht Britannia is a once in a lifetime experience.From 8 to 196 guests, Britannia is equally perfectly suited to an intimate family dinner, a wedding anniversary or birthday as to a corporate celebration.Choose from three private diningRoyal function rooms including the candlelit State Dining Room, the Officers’ Wardroom or the Royal Deck.We also offer a range of entertainment options to delight you and your guests.
From artisan breads to delicate petits fours, every element of every dish is made on board in theoriginal Royal Galleys by our talented in-house team of chefs, led by Executive Chef Mark Alston. Mark is passionate about the quality and provenance of the food he serves on board and uses the very best Scottish suppliers, many of whom are Royal Warrant Holders supplying the Royal Family.
Start your evening by being piped aboard and touring the Royal Yacht with our expert tour guides telling fascinating stories of life aboard, a glass of Champagne in hand, tasting exquisite canapés.
How much is it to go on the Royal Yacht in Britannia?
Tickets & PricesPrices (free audio guide in 30 languages included)PriceAdult£19.50Student (with ID)**£13.50Child (aged 5-17)£9.25Child (under 5)FREE.
Getting Here. Looking for directions? Find out how to find Britannia via tram, bus or car.
STEP ABOARD FOR A GREAT DAY OUT. A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. NowTripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023 – 2024, you can discover across five decks stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served on board. Our five-star visitor attraction is located in Leith, just two miles from Edinburgh’s city centre.
- What will I see?. Britannia’s five decks with yourfree audio guide
- Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
- Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
- See Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite room
- Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
- Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
- Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
- Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in theRoyal Deck Tearoom
- Admire the stunning waterfront views from the Best UK Attraction (Tripadvisor)
Was there a swimming pool on The Royal Yacht Britannia?
Here the Royal Family relaxed in privacy, sunbathing or enjoying games of quoits or deck hockey. Prince Philip would occasionally set up his painting easel here and there was even a collapsible swimming pool for the Royal Family to take a dip if they wanted.
Visiting Britannia. TRIPADVISOR’S NO.1 UK ATTRACTION 2023 – 2024.
PLEASE PRE-BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO GUARANTEE ADMISSION.
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.
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To the NE of the city of Edinburgh, you will find the Royal Yacht Britannia, now in its permanent roll as a museum. An interesting …
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