The ship that brought Isabel II to Portugal is one of the best tourist attractions in the world – NiT
The ship that brought Isabel II to Portugal is one of the best tourist attractions in the world
The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in a port in Edinburgh and can be visited.
Queen Isabel II, the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom, came to Portugal for the first time in 1957. It was, without a doubt, one of the events of the century. For months and months there was no talk of anything other than the first official visit of the British monarch, like her husband, Duke Philip of Edinburgh.
The sober from England, February 8, 1957, arrived aboard one of the most famous. in the world, which served the royal family in 968 officers: the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Launched in Scotland in 1953, it sailed over a million nautical miles, called at 600 ports and passed through more than 135 countries. In addition to official travel, it was also used for leisure trips, holidays and even during the honeymoon of the current British King, Charles III, and Princess Diana. On board are many personalities from all over the world, such as Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, Rajiv Gandhi or Dwight Eisenhower.
In 1997, after serving 44 years in service, the ship stopped sailing the seas and has since been anchored in the port of Leith, Edinburgh. — and can be visited. After all, who doesn’t like to see what the interior of this floating royal residence looks like, what more than a palace?
The visit to the Britannia begins on the second floor of the Ocean Terminal shopping center, in the area dedicated to visitors to the Royal Yacht Britannia. It is there that they take a tour through the past of the incredible ship, through an exhibition full of historical photographs.
Even before boarding the ship, each tourist receives an audio guide to learn about all the details of life on board. The tour starts in the control room, goes to the official rooms, then to the dormitories where the crew slept, the queen’s bedroom and the engine room.
Although the queen’s division surprises tourists with its simplicity (everyone expects to see a luxurious room), one of the most striking details is that one of the Rolls-Royce cars used by Elizabeth II remains in the ship’s nave.
Even for those with no particular interest in ships, it is an unmissable visit where tourists can satisfy their curiosity and discover the Britannia’s most impressive secrets. Recently, the royal family’s yacht was considered as the UK’s best tourist attraction.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is open every day from 10 am to 3.30 pm and tickets cost €22.50 (adults), €11.60 (from 5 to 197 years old) and €19.50 (over 65).
how to get there
To visit the royal family’s historic yacht, you first need to head to Edinburgh. If you depart from Lisbon, you will find yea one way from 25€. If you take the plane in Porto, the prices of yea start at €34.
When arriving at Edinburgh Airport, in Scotland, you only need to take the bus line 200 and, in less than an hour, you will arrive at the port of Leith, where the ship is docked.
Then click on the gallery to learn more about this incredible tourist attraction in Scotland.
see gallery
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Royal Yacht Britannia