If you're taking a gentle stroll along the Thames for the very first time, making your way from Tate Modern to Tower Bridge perhaps, your initial reaction may well be one of alarm on spotting what appears to be a warship coming up the Thames.
But there's no need to worry. Its presence does not mark imminent conflict with some nasty external threat. It's
HMS Belfast, and it's been moored in the same spot for many years.
HMS Belfast has an illustrious history, having set sail for the first time in 1938, just prior to a rather large and somewhat troublesome world event that lasted six years.
Indeed, HMS Belfast, originally a Royal Navy light cruiser, formed part of the British naval blockade against Germany. The ship was unlucky enough to hit a mine within a year, the damage so bad that it took two years to repair.
Once back on the water, HMS Belfast saw much action during WWII, and was even involved in the Korean War between 1950 and 1952.
After retirement in 1963, the ship was almost scrapped. Thankfully, due to the work of keen conservationists, the decision was taken to turn HMS Belfast into a museum ship and as a result it was moored at its current spot on the Thames in 1971.
In the early days only the upper decks were open to the public, but today visitors are welcome to explore nine decks of this historic ship.
Sloped ladders take you between decks so appropriate footwear is essential. Take a good look around and learn about exactly what life was like on the open sea.
Click
here to find out what special events are taking place on HMS Belfast.
HMS Belfast holds a special place in the UK's maritime heritage, being the only surviving ship of its type that served in WWII. It also took part in peacekeeping duties in later years.
