HMS Belfast: Moored Between Tower Bridge and London Bridge on the Thames

Yes. Since 1971, the Town-class light cruiser HMS Belfast (C35) has been permanently moored on the River Thames in London, between Tower Bridge (downstream) and London Bridge (upstream), adjacent to More London and The Shard.

Ship History

• Launched 1938 (Harland & Wolff, Belfast)
• WWII: Arctic convoys, Battle of North Cape (Scharnhorst), D-Day bombardment (Gold Beach)
• Korea: 1950-52 fire support
• Decommissioned 1963. Saved from scrap by HMS Belfast Trust → Imperial War Museum (1978)

Visitor Experience

9 decks open: gun turrets, engine rooms, shell rooms, operations bridge, sick bay, dental surgery, NAAFI canteen, mess decks. Audio guide included. 250,000+ visitors/year. Allow 90-120 min.

Location & Access

• Address: The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH
• Tube: London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern) — 5 min walk
• River bus: London Bridge City Pier (Uber Boat / Thames Clippers)
• Hours: 10 AM - 5/6 PM (seasonal). Tickets: £24-28 adult (online discount). IWM members free.

Mooring Details

Four-point mooring (bow/stern anchors + two breast lines). Maintained by IWM marine team. Dry-docked 2010 (Tilbury) for hull conservation — returned 2011. Next dry-dock ~2030.