HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge

Yesterday I took a day off of work as some time ago I had purchased tickets for me and the boys to go and see the England Vs Netherlands football match at Wembley Stadium. As it was the school holidays I figured that if I am going to buy a train ticket to Wembley then we might as well make a day out of it and do some fun stuff in London. I was really excited about the football match as Netherlands have always been my back up team for when ever England inevitably get knocked out of the tournaments.

 

Anyway we had a really good day out in London and spent most of our day visiting the HMS Belfast which is now over 70 years old and moored up in the Thames as a naval museum. The ship is pretty amazing at over 600ft long and with 6 or 7 floors to explore. As it was the school holidays we also stumbled across a kids activity where they could design their own tattoo t-shirt on the ship. We ended up spending so long exploring the ship that we also ended up having lunch on it. Some of the ship is very confined in space and the steep ladders to get from floor to floor can be challenging. The boys did so well as the must have walked miles and climbed hundreds of steps over the course of the day.

 

After the HMS Belfast we decided to visit the Tower Bridge and the climb inside it and experience the glass bottomed floors on the upper galley ways. Yet again the boys had more steps to climb as we counted something like 193 steps to get up the North Tower just to get to the 42m high galley ways. The boys absolutely loved looking down through the glass floor at all the traffic on the bridge and the river boats crossing underneath. It was really funny to watch most people being too scared to go anywhere near the glass and yet Josh and Brandon were laying on it doing some boat spotting. To keep the kids entertained they also had some stickers to collect throughout the tour and put them on their Tower Bridge passport.

 

We arrived at Tower Hill and get a picture of the boys wearing their England shirts outside the Tower of London.

Joshua and Brandon in front of the Tower Bridge.

First on our agenda was to go and explore HMS Belfast moored up on the Thames.

St Georges cross on the Tower Bridge.

On the other side of the river we got some stunning photos of the Tower Bridge.

Joshua and Brandon settle on to HMS Belfast using the electronic radio's to punch in the various numbers scattered around the ship to learn about it.



The HMS Belfast bell.

Brandon in front of one of the little rescue boats on board with the Shard in the background (or cheese grater as he kept calling it).

Inside the ship the boys got to design and colour their own tattoo t-shirt (free of charge as well, bonus).

Brandon looking a bit nervous touching a bomb, he was worried it was going to blow up!

Joshua and Brandon in front of some of the heavy artillery on the ship.

The boys couldn't believe just how big the ships anchor was.

The Union Jack flying proudly at the bow of the ship.

Joshua takes to the Admirals chair. Amazingly the steering room is deep down in the hull and the driver cannot see anything outside and is completely dependant on communications from here.

Admiral Brandon using the ships compass.

The on board hospital had some mannequins showing a simulated operation. Brandon in particular didn't like this and was a bit scared of the blood from the cut open stomach.

Anyone recognise this sailor?

How about this one?

As if Brandon was worried about that small shell blowing up earlier. You can imagine his thought process when I told him to sit on this torpedo for a photo!

Me and my boys having a lads day out on HMS Belfast in front of Tower Bridge.

A farewell picture as we head off for our exploration of Tower Bridge.

Incredibly the ship seems so much bigger inside than out, yet cramped and confined at the same time.

Next on our agenda, the iconic Tower Bridge, and just look at those beautiful blue skies.

Joshua and Brandon laying on the 3" thick glass floor looking down over the Tower Bridge road and the Thames river.

A view looking down through mine, Joshua and Brandon's feet.

Quite spectacular views of the London skyline from on top of Tower Bridge.

My boys were fearless on the glass floor.

Now that's what I call a good selfie!

Both galley ways have a glass floor which is maybe 30ft long. Notice Joshua and Brandon laying all over the glass floor watching out for boats going under the bridge.

Me and my boys.

We even went down to the boiler room to see the engines that used to power the Tower Bridge.

Beautifully maintained hydraulic / steam engines to operate the bridge.