Access Guide
Multimedia Guides
- Handheld Multimedia Guides are available to collect at the ship's pavilion upon arrival. There are multiple Guide Points throughout the ship. There is no set route around the ship, but the Detailed Access Guide provides an example of a route to follow. British Sign Language is also available. For more information, please contact IWM customer services on 020 7091 3067.
Getting to HMS Belfast and Getting Help and Assistance
- For information about getting to HMS Belfast and getting help and assistance please click here (opens in new tab).
HMS Belfast - Decks 2 and 1
- For information about Decks 2 and 1 please click here (opens in new tab).
Multimedia Guide Points ‘Welcome Aboard’, ‘A Floating City’, ‘Feeding the Crew’
- After collecting your Multimedia Guide from the ticket office in the Pavilion, Multimedia Guide Point ‘Welcome Aboard’ is located along the gangway to the ship, the gradient of the gangway slope depends on the level of the tide.
- There is a platform lift which overcomes the steps onto the outer deck.
- Multimedia Guide Point ‘Welcome Aboard’ lasts for the duration of the gangway, and the rest of the outer deck. There is step-free access across this area of the deck.
- There is a hatch which leads from the outer deck to the inner deck.
- The hatch is permanently held open and is 75cm wide.
- Multimedia Guide Point ‘A Floating City’ is located ahead after you enter, after the Regulating Office.
- The route then moves along the inner deck corridor.
- There is step-free access along the corridor.
- There is clear signage along the corridor.
- The narrowest width of the corridor is 85cm.
- Along the route there is a D Day information board and a torpedo.
- Ahead and on the right is the Mail Room, which is part of Multimedia Guide Point ‘A Floating City’.
- There is no access into the Mail Room, and it is viewed from the corridor.
- There is a metal barrier in the doorway.
- The height of barrier is 85cm.
- The route then moves along the deck corridor.
- There is step-free access along the corridor.
- Along the corridor the route passes another room which cannot be entered, which can be viewed from the Hatchway.
- The next Multimedia Guide Point is ‘Feeding the Crew’.
- Along the walkway for this Multimedia Guide Point is the Bakery, The Senior Rating Mess Desk and The Galley.
- The access into the Bakery is a hatch with a seal which must be stepped over, the height of the seal is 14cm. The Bakery can be seen from the outside.
- The access into the Senior Rating Mess Desk is accessed via a permanently held open door, which is 65cm wide. There is a seal in the door which has to be stepped over, the height of the seal is 14cm.
- There is an information video played in the room with bench seating.
- The access into the Galley is via a hatch with a seal which has to be stepped over, the hatch is permanently held open and has an opening of 60cm. The height of the seal is 16cm.
- There is seal between the first gallery and second galley area, which must be stepped over, the height of the seal is 11cm.
- There are 4 information touchscreens located within the galley, the height of the touchscreen controls ranges from 90cm to 100cm.
- There are background noises of a working ships Galley.
- There is a separate exit from the galley, the exit is like the entrance, with a seal that needs to be stepped over.
- Multimedia Guide Point ‘Raising Steam and Full Speed Ahead’ is located to the right after exiting the galley.
- The step free route between these Multimedia Guide Points moves back along the deck corridor.
- There is step-free access along the corridor.
- The tour continues in the Engine Room which is ladder only access.
Multimedia Guide Points 'Fighting Fit' and 'Simple Pleasures'
- The route then moves along the deck corridor. There is step free access along the corridor.
- The next Multimedia Guide Point is ‘Fighting Fit’.
- The Sickbay is located on the right of the corridor.
- There is a hatch into the Sickbay.
- The hatch is permanently held open and has an opening of 135cm.
- There is a 10cm seal in the hatchway which must be stepped over to enter the Sickbay.
- Some of the Sickbay can be seen from the outside.
- There are background noises of a working ships Sickbay.
- The exit from the Sickbay is via the entrance.
- The next Multimedia Guide Point is ‘Simple Pleasures’, which begins at the NAAFI Canteen, on your right after exiting the Sickbay.
- There is no access into the room, and it is viewed from the corridor.
- There is a window to look into the room.
- The height of the window is 85cm.
- The route continues along the corridor turning left at the sign for ‘Simple Pleasures’.
- Continue towards the end of the corridor, past the World of Warships and Sailing the Seven Seas exhibitions, in order to continue with the Multimedia Guide Points.
- The next Multimedia Guide Point is ‘The Armoured Box’.
- There are two ladders leading down to this Multimedia Guide Point which is located on the lower decks.
Multimedia Guide Point 'The Armoured Box' - Deck 4 via Ladders
- There are only ladders down to Deck 4. If this area is not accessible, please return along the corridor to ‘Simple Pleasures’.
- The ladders to access Deck 4 are located just after the World of Warships and Sailing the Seven Seas exhibitions.
- This is the start of Multimedia Guide Point ‘The Armoured Box’.
- There are two sets of ladders leading down to Deck 4.
- The ladder has handrails on both sides.
- There are gaps between each step.
- The ladder must be used facing forwards.
- There are seals located along the corridor in places that must be stepped over.
- On this deck, you will find the Transmitting Station, Soap and Tobacco Store and ‘Ripped Open By a Mine’ exhibits.
- The tour then continues into a wide open room which has information videos with subtitles, information boards and an interactive attraction of steering the ship.
- ‘The Lower Steering Position’ can be seen after this wide open room.
- After The Lower Steering Position there are two sets of ladders leading back to Deck 2.
- The ladder has handrails on both sides.
- There are gaps between each step.
- The ladder must be used facing forwards.
Multimedia Guide Point 'Home from Home'
- The Multimedia Tour moves along the deck corridor.
- There is step-free access along the corridor.
- Upon entering the next room, you will find the East Asia Mess Decks and Arctic Mess Decks.
- There are long tables here with bench seating in both of the Mess Decks areas.
- The height from the floor to the underside of the tables is 71cm.
- There are information boards on the tables and information videos.
- There is an information video with subtitles located on the opposite side of the room to the Arctic Mess Decks.
- At the end of this room you will find the Capstan Flat and Punishment Cells. These are located at the rear of the Mess Decks.
- The room is accessed via a permanently held open 90cm wide hatch.
- The hatch is 76cm from the floor.
- There are handrails at the top of the hatch.
- There is a step up on to the hatch which is 35cm from the floor.
- There is a walkway through the room.
- The height of the metal barrier is 100cm.
- The exit from the room is back through the hatch.
Multimedia Guide Point 'Firepower' - Deck 4 via Ladders
- The "B" Shell Room and Hoist are located on Deck 4. There are only ladders down to Deck 4.
- The ladders to access Deck 4 are located along the corridor.
- There are two sets of ladders leading down to Deck 4.
- The ladder has handrails on both sides.
- There are gaps between each step.
- The ladder must be used facing forwards.
- There is step-free access along the Deck 4 corridor to the "B" Shell Room and Hoist.
- The walkways around the Shell Room are narrow.
- There are two permanently held open hatchways leading between the two shell rooms.
- There are 30cm and 20cm seals in the hatch ways which must be stepped over.
- There is a video with subtitles in the second shell room.
- After the second shell room there are two sets of ladders leading back to Deck 2.
- The ladder has handrails on both sides.
- There are gaps between each step.
- The ladder must be used facing forwards.
Ladder - Deck 2 to Deck 1
- The ladder to access between Deck 2 and 1 is located along the ship’s corridor near the 'Home from Home' area.
- The ladder has handrails on both sides and there are gaps between each step.
- The ladder must be used facing forwards.
- There are also ladders located on the outer deck.
Lift (Deck 2 to Deck 1)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located along the Deck 1 internal ship corridor near the 'Feeding the Crew' area.
- Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
- The lift is a platform lift.
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are Deck 1 to Deck 01.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
- There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
- Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
- The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is low.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is High.
- The clear door width is 85cm (2ft 9in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 84cm x 125cm (2ft 9in x 4ft 1in).
- There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
- There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
- The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.
- The lift does not have an audible announcer.
- The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- There is not a hearing loop system.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does not have tactile markings.
- The lighting levels in the lift are low to moderate.
Multimedia Guide Point 'All Hands on Deck'
- The route from the lift moves along the Deck 1 walkways.
- This is the beginning of the Multimedia Guide Point ‘All Hands on Deck’.
- This part of the ship is not sheltered so the surface of the deck may be slippery if it is raining.
- There are some raised metal works in places along the deck, but these can be bypassed.
- There are paths on both the portside and starboard side.
- The first exhibit is the A Turret.
- Access to the Turret is via a permanently held open hatch which has a 53cm opening.
- There are two steps without handrails leading up to the Hatch.
- There is 27cm seal in the hatch opening which must be stepped over.
- There is step-free access once inside the Turret.
- The exit from the Turret is via the entrance hatch.
- The route then moves along the deck corridor.
- There is step-free access along the deck.
- You will then reach the Fo'c'sle, where the Multimedia Guide Point ‘All Hands on Deck’ continues.
- The Fo'c'sle is located at the front of the ship.
- There is a short steep ramp onto the Fo'c'sle.
- There is step-free access onto the Fo'c'sle.
- The exit from the Fo'c'sle is via the same ramp.
HMS Belfast Decks - 01, 02, 03 and 04 - Multimedia Guide Points 'Command and Control' & 'Communications'
- After viewing the Fo'c'sle, the tour moves up to Decks 01 to 04. There is only ladder access to these decks. For more information about this part of the multimedia guide tour please click here (opens in new tab).
Multimedia Guide Points 'All Hands on Deck' and 'Back to Shore'
- There is a ladder leading down from the Admiral’s and Captain’s Sea Cabins area down from Deck 01 to Deck 1.
- Alternatively, the access to the rest of the Multimedia Tour from Deck 1 is via a hatch located off of the main deck.
- The hatch is permanently held open and has an opening of 75cm.
- There is a 10cm step located along the internal corridor leading to point 26.
- The narrowest width along the corridor is 65cm.
- The Multimedia Guide Point ‘All Hands on Deck’ continues with the Walrus Hangar and is located along the corridor.
- There is no access into the room, and it is viewed from the corridor.
- There is a metal barrier in the doorway.
- The height of barrier is 110cm.
- The exit is via the entrance.
- The Multimedia Guide continues along the main deck. There is step-free access.
- ‘All Hands on Deck’ continues at the Boat Deck.
- The Multimedia Guide continues along the deck. There is step-free access.
- You will then reach the 4-inch HA/LA Guns. There is step-free access near the guns.
- There is seating available on the boat deck.
- The Multimedia Guide continues along the deck. There is step-free access.
- There is then a ladder back down to Deck 2.
- Here, the final part of the Multimedia Tour ‘Back to Shore’ begins, which completes your route around the HMS Belfast.