Thank you for booking your school visit to HMS Belfast

IWM is committed to ensuring all school visits are supported as best as possible. Please review the information on this page ahead of your booked school visit and ensure you have completed the necessary preparations to help us make your experience a success. Our Public Engagement and Learning team look forward to welcoming you!

HMS Belfast

Schools Code of Conduct

IWM expects school groups visiting HMS Belfast to behave in line with our code of conduct.

Prepare for your Visit: Essential Information and Checklist

In advance of your visit, please check and follow the steps below:
  1. Read the Terms and Conditions for your booking, particularly our Cancellations Policy. If you wish to cancel your booking must you must do so in writing to [email protected]. If there are any charged elements to your visit please be aware that cancellations made 28 days or less before the visit date will incur a 100% administration fee for which you will be invoiced.
  2. Please check our Payment Options below and make suitable arrangements for payment.
  3. Check the schedule and timings sent on your Booking Confirmation email are correct. Any amendments should be requested by emailing [email protected]
  4. Teachers are advised to carry out a preliminary visit to complete their own Risk Assessment. To do this you may find the Risk Identification information useful.
  5. Ensure you have shared with us during your booking any important information on access needs for your group so we can best support your visit. You may find this additional information on Accessibility useful.
  6. Plan your journey to HMS Belfast to allow sufficient time – further information on parking, public transport and arrival instructions can be found below.
  7. Read the What to See information below and create a plan for your day to meet your students needs. We recommend that large classes are broken into smaller groups on board to ensure that students and other visitors all get the most out of their visit safely. Please ensure that your students are supervised in line with our Code of Conduct.

Information to help you plan your visit

All reservations must be paid in full at least 21 days before the visit date. Group visits that are requested via the IWM website less than 21 days in advance of the visit will need to be paid in full at the time of receipt of your confirmation email.

Groups will not be admitted at the Group Entrance if payment has not been made in full in advance.

We can take payment Monday-Friday between 9.00am-4.00pm (UK time). The direct call number to make payment is 0207 416 5399

Please note once payment has been taken, the group numbers cannot be reduced, the date cannot be changed and payment cannot be refunded.

Visiting us by train or underground

The nearest train station, less than 0.5 miles away is London Bridge.

This is served by Thameslink, Southern Trains and South East Train services, as well as the Jubilee and Northern Underground lines. 

We are also a short walk from the following London stations:

  • Waterloo - 2 miles
  • Charing Cross - 2.3 miles
  • Victoria - 3.5 miles
  • Kings’ Cross - 3.5 miles 
  • Euston - 3.5 miles 

Visiting us by bus

The closest bus stops are Abbots Lane and Hay's Galleria. These stops are served by the 47, 343, 381.

Visiting us by bike 

There are bike racks outside London Bridge station.

There is a Santander Cycle docking station 0.3 miles from HMS Belfast on Tooley Street.  

Visit the Sustrans website for more information on London Cycle Routes.

Visiting us by car

There is no car park at HMS Belfast

There are a variety of private car parks and metered parking bays in the area. Please note HMS Belfast is in the Congestion Zone. 

For further information on planning your journey, timetables and prices visit the TFL website

Visiting us by coach

There are no designated coach parking spaces for coaches visiting HMS Belfast, but there are drop-off points just off Tooley Street. Maximum stay is 20 minutes. Visit the Transport for London website for a coach parking map and more information.

Visiting us by boat

The nearest Thames Clipper pier is London Bridge City, 0.2 miles from the ship. 

You can also get to Tower Bridge Pier by the regular boat tours operating throughout the day on the River Thames. Visit the About River Bus pages on the Transport for London website for more information.

All members of the party must arrive and enter the museum together as one group. We make every effort to ensure that groups are booked at reasonable intervals. If you know that your group will not arrive at the allotted time please try to let us know in advance.

Groups must enter HMS Belfast via the Group Entrance, in the pavilion building located on the riverside walk. The School Visit Leader will be asked to sign in and must provide an emergency contact number. Contact Details will be securely disposed of at the end of each day.

Self-guided visits for schools include free audio guides and a printed resources for teachers and group leaders to support your exploration of the ship. 

We recommend that your leave at least 90 minutes in your day to look around HMS Belfast. However, with the amount of information to be found on board, lots of people come for half a day or more.

Two decks on HMS Belfast can be accessed on board without needing to climb up or down ladders. However, there are other areas below deck that may be unsuitable for those with restricted mobility, wheelchair users and prams. We have provisions in place for SEN students.

As part of your self-guided visit to HMS Belfast you can explore:

  • The Gun Turret Experience - Find out what it was like to be in the heart of battle, during the sinking of the Scharnhorst
  • The Operations Room - Simulated radars, equipment lights and a touchscreen plotting table bring a naval operation to life
  • The Arctic Mess Deck - Where men slept and spent their spare time during the Second World War Arctic Convoys
  • Below the Water line – descend to huge boiler and engine rooms
  • Climb to the uppermost decks for amazing views across the Thames

Exhibitions may display material relating to the consequences of conflict. Teachers should consider what is age-appropriate for their students.

For further information visit our What's Here page.

For safety reasons and to give children the best possible visit, all groups must follow the adult-to-child ratio as stated in our Code of Conduct as below. We reserve the right to refuse admission to groups that do not meet the minimum ratio.

  • For Primary and Secondary-aged students, there should be one teacher per ten students (1:10 ratio). Primary-aged students are required to be always within sight of an accompanying adult whilst at an IWM branch. A 1:10 ratio is required for all youth/schools groups at HMS Belfast. 

Please note, as a condition of your booking, your organisation will be liable for the cost of any damage to property resulting from reckless behaviour by members of your group, or from the negligence of responsible adults in regard to their supervision of the group. This property is not exclusive to, but includes, items in our collection or in our care (including large vehicles and aircraft), and those of our partners. It also includes buildings and other property belonging to IWM or our partners.

Regrettably we have no cloakroom and as our corridors are narrow we ask visitors not to bring in rucksacks or other large items, such as suitcases.

We do not have a packed lunch room at HMS Belfast. There is a café onboard serving hot drinks and food throughout the day, and other outlets in the local are such as those found in Hay's Galleria.

Please note, IWM cafés are cashless, and therefore will not take cash as payment.

  • You are welcome to visit our museum shop, which is open throughout your visit. If you are interested in reserving gift bags to collect on the day, please let us know. 
  • Our museum shop offers a wide choice of books, clothing and accessories, posters, prints, stationary, souvenirs and gift ideas. 
  • For our younger visitors we have an exciting range of pocket money toys and souvenirs as well as a selection of children’s books. There are also educational resource material and replica printed items for sale. 

PLEASE NOTE: The gift shop is not always able to accept cash so please ask one of our volunteers or retail staff upon your arrival if you plan to visit the shop.

To make any changes to your booking or request specific information not available on our website, please contact our Customer Services team at [email protected] or on 0207 416 5000.

Gift bags

Gift bags are available from the IWM HMS Belfast shop. 

They cost £5 each and can be reserved and paid for in advance or invoiced after your visit. 

  • Contents of the HMS Belfast Souvenir gift bag

    Souvenir gift bag

    • HMS Belfast in front of Tower Bridge postcard
    • HMS Belfast notebook
    • HMS Belfast recycled pen
    • HMS Belfast recycled pencil
    • HMS Belfast magnet

Please contact h[email protected] or telephone the HMS Belfast shop on 020 7940 6373 for further details.

Every purchase helps their stories to be retold. 

Gift bag contents may vary from the pictures shown. If an item is not available, a suitable alternative will be offered. 

On the Day of Your Visit

Late Arrival: If you are running late please call 020 7416 5000. We will endeavour to accommodate late arrivals, but this will be subject to availability, and it may be necessary for your group to join the general admissions queue at the main entrance to the museum.

On Arrival

All members of the party must arrive and enter the museum together as one group. We make every effort to ensure that groups are booked at reasonable intervals. If you know that your group will not arrive at the allotted time please try to let us know in advance.

Groups must enter HMS Belfast via the Group Entrance, in the pavilion building located on the riverside walk. The School Visit Leader will be asked to sign in and must provide an emergency contact number. Contact Details will be securely disposed of at the end of each day.

Health and Safety

You will be given key information on Health and Safety upon arrival, including Fire Evacuation. Additional information is included in our Risk Identification which we recommend you read as part of your preparation. Please note that responsibility for group members remains with your group leaders at all times. Please ensure the group leader keeps their mobile phone on and audible at all times in case of emergency. 

Please note that HMS Belfast has outdoor deck areas, so extra supervision is essential outdoors and suitable clothing and footwear is recommended.

Supervision

For safety reasons and to give children the best possible visit, all groups must follow the adult to child ratio in our Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse admission to groups that do not meet the minimum ratio. 

  • For Primary and Secondary-aged students, there should be one teacher per ten students (1:10 ratio). Primary-aged students are required to be always within sight of an accompanying adult whilst at an IWM branch. A 1:10 ratio is required for all youth/schools groups at HMS Belfast. 

Please note, as a condition of your booking, your organisation will be liable for the cost of any damage to property resulting from reckless behaviour by members of your group, or from the negligence of responsible adults in regard to their supervision of the group. This property is not exclusive to, but includes, items in our collection or in our care (including large vehicles and aircraft), and those of our partners. It also includes buildings and other property belonging to IWM or our partners.