HMS Caroline (National Museum of the Royal Navy)
Alexandra Dock, Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT
HMS Caroline is a historic light cruiser that has been preserved as a museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Launched in 1914, the ship served in both World Wars before being decommissioned.
Today, it offers a fascinating glimpse into naval history, with interactive exhibits, original wartime artifacts, and carefully restored rooms that reflect life aboard a ship during the early 20th century.
Visitors can explore the ship’s various decks, learn about its role in the Battle of Jutland, and discover how the vessel played a key part in British naval strategy.
The HMS Caroline museum offers a unique, immersive experience for history enthusiasts and families alike.
Facilities:
Accessibility information from HMS Caroline
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.
Visitors should be aware that the Captain’s Quarters and Engine Room are not accessible to pushchairs or wheelchairs, and due to the historic nature of this vessel the corridors on the ship are original and are narrow. If required, visitors can leave pushchairs in our drill hall at the beginning of your tour and collect these at the end.
There are two accessible toilets on-board, next to the Drill Hall and Historic Galley.
There are wheelchairs on site that may be borrowed free of charge.
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.
HMS Caroline
