The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over one million miles on nearly a thousand official visits for the British Royal Family. An iconic symbol of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty The Queen’s former floating palace was built in Clydebank at John Brown & Company’s shipyard in 1953-54, creating strong links with Scotland. Britannia returned to the Western Isles of Scotland each summer for the Royal Family’s annual holiday. The privacy that Britannia offered allowed the Royal Family to truly relax with family picnics on stunning remote beaches such as Skye, Eigg and Colonsay.

Now berthed in Edinburgh’s historic port of Leith, Britannia is a fascinating visitor attraction featured in TripAdvisor’s UK Top 5 (2018-19) and has been rated Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction for 12 years running by national tourism agency, VisitScotland. Visitors can tour this magnificent Royal Yacht with a captivating handset tour, available in 30 languages, British Sign Language tablet, Braille script or audio tour for the visually impaired. The tour offers a rare glimpse into the public and private lives of the British Royal Family. Step aboard and follow in the footsteps of Royalty to see where Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned and where celebrities, Liz Taylor and Frank Sinatra, and presidents Reagan, Mandela and Gorbachev were entertained. Highlights of the tour include the State Apartments, the Engine Room and The Queen’s favourite, the Sun Lounge.

Come along to Britannia in December when the State Apartments will be adorned with glittering Christmas decorations. Our Christmas weekend, this year taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December, is a wonderful time to enjoy a tour with mulled wine and handmade shortbread in the Chief Petty Officers’ Mess.

Join us for a visit in 2020 when, for the first time, visitors will be able to pose for photographs next to the Rolls Royce Phantom V, located along the quayside with the impressive backdrop of The Royal Yacht Britannia! Visitors can also take their place at the Royal Brow, the entrance previously reserved for the Royal Family and their guests.

Located only a five-minute walk away, Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal, is a former Northern Lighthouse Board ship which has now been transformed into Scotland’s first luxury floating hotel, with 23 exquisite cabins.

In the stunning, Art Deco-inspired Lighthouse Bar, guests can enjoy Fingal’s decadent Afternoon Tea: sandwiches cut to mouth-watering perfection balanced with sweet delicacies and a range of the finest teas. Sample spectacular cocktails including the unmissable signature drink, The Lighthouse Martini, served from a frozen lighthouse-shaped bottle. Book a table in the evening and enjoy a light evening supper including Fingal’s smoked salmon, smoked on board, as well as innovative, seasonally inspired dishes.

To book your group visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia, call 0131 555 8800.
tryb.co.uk/groups

For more information about Fingal, call 0131 357 5000.
www.fingal.co.uk/