Some attractions ask you to travel across a city. The Royal Yacht Britannia is not one of them, at least not if you are staying with us. Berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, a short walk from Ocean Serviced Apartments in Western Harbour, Britannia is one of Scotland’s most visited and most highly rated attractions, and it sits practically on your doorstep. This guide covers what she is, what you will see on board, how long to allow and how to make the most of a visit when you are staying nearby.
A floating royal home with a remarkable history
Britannia was the Royal Family’s floating residence for more than 40 years, serving the British Royal Family from 1954 until she was decommissioned in 1997. In that time she sailed over 1 million nautical miles, carrying Queen Elizabeth II and the family on state visits, official tours and family holidays around the world. She also hosted numerous world leaders and celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, which adds to the sense of royalty that still surrounds the ship. She was, in effect, a royal home, an office of state and a working ship all at once.
Since 1998 she has been berthed permanently at Ocean Terminal, cared for by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and opened to the public as a visitor attraction. She has been voted among the best attractions in the UK many times over, and holds TripAdvisor recognition year after year. What makes her special is not grandeur for its own sake. It is the sense that the Royal Family stepped off yesterday, with the tea things still laid out and the ship kept exactly as it was.
What you will see on board
Visits are self-guided with a complimentary audio guide, included with entry and available in over 30 languages, so you can explore at your own pace. The visit typically takes about 2 hours and follows a clear tour route through five decks, giving you a genuinely intimate look at royal life at sea.
Highlights that tend to stay with visitors include these key exhibits along the route:
• The State Apartments, where the Royal Family entertained heads of state, kept surprisingly understated and personal rather than opulent
• The Queen’s Bedroom, one of very few royal bedrooms anywhere open to the public
• The Bridge, where you can stand where the ship was commanded
• The gleaming Engine Room, giving a sense of the effort behind every voyage
• The Crew’s Quarters, showing the lives of the hundreds of Royal Yachtsmen who served aboard
• The gleaming Rolls-Royce carried on board for official duties
It is the small human details that land hardest: the family photographs, the sun loungers on deck, the notes about the crew’s traditions. You come away with a more complete picture of the Royal Family than you might expect, and admission also includes a children’s activity trail for families.
The Royal Deck Tea Room
Set aside time for the Royal Deck Tea Room, also known as the Royal Deck Tearoom. This onboard venue sits on the top deck with views out over the Firth of Forth, and it is a lovely place to pause with one of the afternoon teas, a pot of tea and a slice of cake, or food and drinks if you want something more substantial. On a clear day the fantastic outlook across the water towards Fife is worth the visit on its own. It is a fitting way to round off a couple of hours on board.
How long to allow
Most visits take around 2 hours aboard, though it is easy to linger longer, especially if you stop for tea. Because you set your own pace with the audio tour, you can move quickly through the parts that interest you less and take your time over the parts that draw you in. There is no rush and no fixed group to keep up with.
Britannia is more accessible than you might imagine for a ship of her age, with lifts and ramps to all decks, and accessible tour materials including braille script for visitors who need them. If anyone in your party has specific access needs, it is worth checking the current arrangements with the attraction before you go.
Planning your visit
Tickets, opening times and seasonal hours are best checked on the official Royal Yacht Britannia website before you set off, as they change through the year and it is worth booking ahead in the busy summer months. Entry is through Ocean Terminal, so you walk in through the shopping centre to reach the visitor entrance.
A few practical tips from hosting guests who visit regularly:
• Go earlier in the day if you can, particularly in summer, to enjoy the ship before it gets busy
• Build in the tea room, so allow closer to three hours overall
• Combine it with Ocean Terminal, which has shops, places to eat and a cinema right there, making an easy half-day out. Our guide to Ocean Terminal and Western Harbour has the full picture
• Bring a jacket, as the top deck catches the breeze off the Forth even on a warm day
Getting there when you stay with Ocean
This is where being based in Western Harbour pays off. Ocean Terminal, and Britannia with it, is only a short walk from our apartments, so you can visit without touching a bus or a car. Our location page shows just how close the waterfront attractions are in Leith Edinburgh.
If you are staying further into your Edinburgh trip and want to reach the city centre before or after, Leith is about two miles from the centre, with Leith Walk linking the two, so you can head in easily. Trams run directly from the city centre to Leith, the number 11 bus stops near the door, and public transport to the yacht is straightforward. Full details are on our transport page. And with complimentary parking on site, day trips further afield are easy to arrange around a morning on Britannia.
Make a day of it in Leith
Britannia pairs naturally with the rest of Leith, an area that was once Scotland’s main gateway for global trade. After your visit, the restaurants and cafés of The Shore and Ocean Terminal are close by. Leith has quietly become one of Edinburgh’s best places to eat and is home to three Michelin-star restaurants, and our guide to the best restaurants and cafés near Ocean is a good place to plan lunch or dinner.
The Water of Leith walkway offers a scenic way to explore more of the area, stretching from the Pentland Hills to Leith. For something sweet, mimi’s bakehouse is known for towering cakes. The Pitt street food market runs Friday to Sunday, while Heron offers farm-to-table fine dining in Leith. Teuchter’s Landing is a popular pub with a beer garden overlooking the Water of Leith. Ocean Terminal is also a popular stop for cruise ships, and Leith Festival brings eight days of theatre, music, and arts.
If Britannia is one stop on a first trip to the city, our roundup of the top 10 things to do in Edinburgh for first-time visitors will help you fill the rest of your days, from the Castle and the Royal Mile to Arthur’s Seat.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia? She is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, on the Edinburgh waterfront, a short walk from Ocean Serviced Apartments in Western Harbour.
How long does a visit take? Allow around two to two and a half hours for the self-guided tour, or closer to three if you stop at the Royal Deck Tea Room.
Is it suitable for children? Yes. The audio tour includes content aimed at younger visitors, and children tend to enjoy the bridge, the engine room and the sense of exploring a real ship.
Can I walk there from Ocean Serviced Apartments? Yes. Ocean Terminal is close enough to reach on foot from our apartments, which is one of the quiet pleasures of staying in Western Harbour.
When is the best time to visit?
Britannia is open year round, and each season has its own appeal. Summer brings the warmest weather for the top deck and the tea room, but it is also the busiest, so an early slot is worth booking. Spring and autumn are quieter and just as rewarding, with softer light over the Forth and fewer crowds on board. Winter has a certain charm too: the ship is warm and dry throughout, which makes it a perfect choice on a cold or wet Edinburgh day when outdoor sights are less inviting.
Whenever you come, mornings tend to be calmer than afternoons, and weekdays quieter than weekends. If your stay coincides with a festival period, when the whole city is busy, Britannia and the wider Leith waterfront can feel like a welcome escape from the crowds around the Royal Mile.
A gentle introduction to Leith
For many visitors, a trip to Britannia is their first proper look at Leith, and it often changes how they see this part of Edinburgh. Once the city’s historic port, with landmarks such as Trinity House reflecting its maritime past, Leith has kept its character while becoming one of the most enjoyable neighbourhoods in the capital. It now also includes cultural venues such as a former biscuit factory repurposed as an art space, alongside a lively mix of places to eat, a distinctive shop or two, and flexible creative space. Britannia is the perfect starting point for discovering it, and staying in Western Harbour means you are already here rather than visiting for the day.
Stay a short walk from Britannia
A visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can do in Leith, and it is even easier when it is a short stroll from where you are staying. Our two-bedroom and executive apartments put you right by the waterfront, with the ship, the shops and the sea all close at hand. Have a look at the two-bedroom and executive apartments, then request a quote with your dates and we will do the rest.
