Field Trip Friday: HMS Belfast, Imperial War Museums
When the kids and I were in London, we stopped by the HMS Belfast to continue our studies of WWII. This warship has a long history of time in service before it was retired. HMS Belfast was there for D-Day, and may have fired the first shot. These days, this museum is an amazing way to experience what life is like on a warship.
The ship is amazingly child friendly, and has many volunteers on board who are happy to help children don a captains hat and tell them all about the ship and life on board. I loved trailing behind the boys as they explored the ship. They were really interested in seeing how the men would sleep in hammocks above the tables.
My favorite part was visiting the boiler room- It was a MAZE of machinery, and I can’t imagine having to maintain it! The whole ship was a little small, a little crowded, and a little stuffy…. but it’s nothing compared to what the 1000+ men must have experienced. I’m so glad we visited!
If you go to visit the HMS Belfast: Do not bring strollers, as there is no way to move along the 9 decks with one. The stairs are more like ladders, and if you have small children, it’s best to have one adult per child to help them navigate. There is a small snack and coffee shop on the ship, which is good, because you probably need a good 3-4 hours to really explore the ship. This is a good visit to combine with either the London Eye, or Shakespeare Globe, as they are all pretty close to each other.
