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Visit HMS Caroline

Plan a visit

Step aboard and discover one ship, 100 years of history, and 1000 incredible stories

Ready to set sail on a maritime adventure? Immerse yourself in our new guided tours, which are limited to an exclusive 15 guests per tour. 

There are 8 tours scheduled throughout the day, from 10am until 3.15pm. While spontaneity is welcomed, we recommend booking your place in advance to ensure a seamless visit and to mitigate against a lack of availability of tour spots on the day.

Want to come back and experience HMS Caroline again?

For returning visitors with a valid Museum ticket, please see booking details on the link tab at the bottom of the page in our FAQ section.


 



 

 

Museum Open
Friday to Sunday | 8 guided tours throughout the day from 10am until 3.15pm

Free flow Wednesday - Sunday during Northern Ireland School Holidays

Alexandra Dock, Queens Rd, Belfast, BT3 9DT
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Step aboard and witness a story 100 years in the making

HMS Caroline's incredible story doesn't end at the First World War, becoming the headquarters for Belfast Naval Base during the Battle of the Atlantic, in the Second World War, and a Cold-War era minesweeping school. She was finally decommissioned in 2011, making HMS Caroline the longest-serving warship after HMS Victory

Having been a part of Belfast's history for almost 100 years, HMS Caroline is an iconic fixture of the Titantic Quarter, merging thousands of hours of painstaking restoration and state-of-the-art interpretation into one incredible experience that you'll never forget!

What to see

Mother and daughter next to the captain's desk in his quarters aboard HMS Caroline

Captain’s Quarters

Walk into the authentic historical spaces on board HMS Caroline and it’ll feel like the crew never left! Could you have slept in a hammock like the marines and seamen? Or would only the Captain’s Quarter have done for you?

Engine room of HMS Caroline

Engine Room

Dive down below the waterline of HMS Caroline and see her incredible engine room, preserved just as it was when she was an active warship. Experience the sights, hear the rumble of her turbines, and maybe even catch the faint whiff of oil as you explore the very heart of HMS Caroline. 

Drill Hall

The first stop onboard HMS Caroline is the Drill Hall, where you can see the Battle of Jutland brought to life. This impressive, cinema-style experience, puts you right in the middle of the action

Plan a visit

HMS Caroline is located at Alexandra Dock, Queens Rd, Belfast in the heart of Titanic Quarter. We are only 2.8 miles away from Belfast City Hall - 10-15 minutes by car. 

We offer free parking on site, including disabled parking.

By public transport: Take the G2 Glider bus from Belfast City Hall to the first Catalyst Inc. stop. Walk through Catalyst car park to reach us at Alexandra Dock.  

By car: Take the car and park in our free car park. We are only five minutes up Queens Road from SSE Arena, or a two minute drive from the Titanic Hotel. 

By Bicycle: Take advantage of the Belfast Bike scheme and enjoy a leisurely cycle up Maritime Mile.

On foot: HMS Caroline is just a 30 minute walk from the iconic Big Fish in Belfast City Centre. Walk the Maritime Mile and see the Belfast Marina and the Great Light on your way.  

A coach drop off point and coach parking facilities are available.
 

Over the next few weeks we will be making some changes to our opening hours. 

HMS Caroline remains open and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors on board this historic ship. Like many visitor attractions, we are regularly reviewing our opening hours and tour model in order to provide the most effective and efficient way of providing public access to the ship for many years to come.

As we move towards our new operating model, there will be a period of short-term disruption and as a result our opening hours may vary from week to week. Therefore we will be announcing our opening hours and timeslots at the start of each week on our social media. Tickets will also be available to pre-book at the start of each week.

During this time, we will be running our guided tours, tickets can be pre-booked online or purchased on the day. When visiting the ship any purchases will be cashless payments only.

All of our tours are subject to change, so please check our social media pages regularly to keep updated with our latest opening hours and tour times.

We hope to welcome you on board HMS Caroline soon.

HMS Caroline is a restored First World War ship that has been converted into a museum and visitor attraction. Due to the historic nature of the vessel, there are some accessibility considerations to be aware of when planning your visit.
 
The ship is accessed via a ramp from the dockside. As the vessel is afloat, the gradient of the ramp changes due to the tidal nature of Belfast Lough; the ramp can be particularly steep at high tide. 
 
There are steep steps and uneven surfaces on board. The majority of the ship is accessible for wheelchair users and our guided tour route has been designed with this mobility in mind.

There are three lifts on board HMS Caroline:

  • One external lift at the aft end of the ship, which provides access between the upper and lower decks.
  • One internal lift in the café at the forward end of the ship, which provides access between the lower and upper decks.
  • One external lift at the forward end of the ship, which provides access between the upper deck and the Fo’c’sle.

There are two accessible toilets on-board, next to the Drill Hall and Historic Galley.
 
We have wheelchairs on site that may be borrowed free of charge.
 
There is a hearing loop system available in the Pump House and onboard the ship.
 
Light levels vary throughout the ship; there are also loud soundscapes and interactives on board. The Battle of Jutland film is loud, dark and contains images that may be upsetting to some visitors.

Please note, high heels with a diameter smaller than a 2p coin (2.5cm) cannot be worn on board the ship. Heel caps that can be fitted should be purchased in advance

We are delighted to offer a discounted price to groups of 15 people and above. Groups of up to 30 are welcome (although we would need two concurrent tours – 2 x 15).

With ample parking for coaches and cars, on board refreshments and the choice of an exclusive guided tour, HMS Caroline is a great day out for groups of all ages. 

 

HMS Caroline Group Rates*

Adult

£8

Child

£6

Concessions (65+)

£7

*Prices valid for visit dates up to and including 31/03/25.

To qualify for group rates, a minimum of 12 persons is required and a group leader goes for free. There is no maximum group number but larger groups may be required to split into smaller numbers.

There is a café on board HMS Caroline which seats approximately 30 people. It serves light refreshments such as soup, sandwiches and cake along with tea/coffee etc.
 

Group bookings must be made in advance with a minimum of 7 days notice. Bookings for the winter season are subject to staffing availability so please enquire with as much notice as possible.
 

To enquire about our group visits please contact us on 028 9045 4484.
To book your group call 023 9283 9766 (opt. 3) or email groups@nmrn.org.uk
 

Based in Belfast’s famous Titanic Quarter, HMS Caroline is a First World War-era ship now restored as a floating museum with an amazing story to tell.  Pupils will be immersed in life on board this unique vessel and discover stories of the people who served during one of history’s greatest naval engagements, the Battle of Jutland. 

Our onsite and outreach sessions combine hand-on activities with an opportunity to engage with collections and innovative technology, providing unforgettable learning experiences that bring the curriculum to life.

For more information email our Learning Team.
 

Want to come back and experience HMS Caroline again? Tours are scheduled throughout the day at 10 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, and 3 pm. While spontaneity is welcomed, we recommend booking your place in advance to ensure a seamless visit and to mitigate against a lack of availability of tour spots on the day.

Book your return visit today?

if you require any assistance pre-booking a guided tour please contact us by emailing enquiries@nmrn.org.uk or call 023 9289 1370 and select option 4.

During the months spanning November to May, HMS Caroline adopts a guided tours model, hosting tours at 10am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3pm. 

The Mess Deck Café at HMS Caroline is currently closed. HMS Caroline stocks a very basic range of cold drinks and snacks on board, these are available to purchase from the Museum Shop.

Visitors are also welcome to bring their own snacks to enjoy at our on-site picnic area. 
 

Guidelines for visitors (2024)

To ensure all visitors to HMS Caroline have a safe and rewarding experience we have compiled these brief safety notes.

All buildings and the ship are assessed regularly and maintained to a high standard, as are equipment and procedures (e.g. fire evacuation). Due to the nature of our attractions, some hazards cannot be avoided but they can be mitigated. Buildings and the ship may have raised areas and step / stair access, sharp edges, electrical hazards, fire hazards, trip/fall/slip hazards and rusty/dusty artefacts. First aid trained staff are available at all sites. Please approach the nearest members of staff if any assistance is required or an emergency occurs.

All Front of house staff are trained in evacuation procedures; in the event of an alarm, please follow the instructions given by the staff. Do not stop to collect your belongings. The muster point for each attraction is listed in the corresponding sections below.

The General Environment

HMS Caroline is a restored First World War ship that has been converted into a museum and visitor attraction. Due to the historic nature of the vessel, there are some accessibility considerations to be aware of when planning your visit. Light levels vary throughout the ship. There are also loud soundscapes and interactives on board. The Battle of Jutland film is loud, dark and contains images that may be upsetting to some visitors.

The ship is accessed via a ramp from the dockside. As the vessel is afloat, the gradient of the ramp changes due to the tidal nature of Belfast Lough; the ramp can be particularly steep at high tide. The ship can be inaccessible to some i.e. mobility issues or in wheelchairs, when the tide is high.

Due to the historic nature of the ship, we recommend you wear sturdy shoes and dress for the outdoors i.e. warm coats and layers.

The site and all activities are fully risk assessed and subject to safeguarding, and health and safety policies.

Security

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is protected by 24 hour CCTV and security. All visitors entering HMS Caroline are responsible for the conduct and health and safety of your group at all times. Although our staff are trained to take the highest care of the health and safety of your group, they are not legally responsible for them. In the event of an emergency evacuation please follow the instructions of staff who are trained to evacuate the building quickly.

Fire Assembly Point

HMS Caroline has two designated safe assembly points located away from the ship.

The primary safe assembly point is at the entrance to the HMS Caroline car park, beside the car park of the Northern Ireland Science Park.

The secondary safe assembly point is located next to the entrance to Café Krem behind the Pumphouse, and should only be used when the primary safe assembly point is unsafe to use.

Conservation and Maintenance Work

There is always work happening across all our sites to keep our historic ships and related galleries safe and well maintained. You may come across areas barriered off during your visit. Please ensure that members of your group do not enter any of these areas.

Other Hazard Information

  • Very cold temperatures during winter months.
  • Low light levels in some gallery areas.
  • Various Stairs and Lifts linking different decks aboard the ship.
  • Trip hazards
  • Close proximity to water

Hire HMS Caroline for your event

Host your next private or corporate event at HMS Caroline. A truly unique venue, blending history, elegance, and nautical charm. 

Find out more

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School visits

Find out how to plan a visit for your school and see our learning resources

Find out about school visits
Three curators from the National Museum of the Royal Navy look over some fine art from the collection.

Support Us

As a charity we rely on funding from many sources to preserve the rich history of the Royal Navy

See how you can support us

View our collection online

Discover our incredible range of items across the key branches of the Royal Navy with our online Collections Portal

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Gift shop

All profits from our online shop go towards preserving Naval heritage. Thank you for your support.

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