Did you know that the World’s Number 1 Tourist Attraction is docked in Edinburgh? The Royal Yacht Britannia now lives in Edinburgh’s most easterly area Leith and was awarded the Number 1 position by Tripadvisor in 2026. Queen Elizabeth II said that the yacht was “the one place where I can truly relax”. It was also where Prince Charles and Diana enjoyed their honeymoon. From 1954 until 1997 the yacht was used by the Royal Family for official state visitors, honeymoons and family occasions. Which you get to learn all about when visiting the attraction. Read on to see more about my experience on the Royal Yacht Britannia, where to get tickets and if it’s worth visiting on your trip to Edinburgh!
The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
In spite of having lived in Edinburgh for over a decade, I had never before taken the opportunity to visit The Royal Yacht Britannia. But when I was going to go down to Leith for an afternoon tea at Fingal, I took the opportunity to combine my visit with an experience at the Britannia. I quite enjoy discovering tourist attractions by myself. So this was a lovely little solo trip for me, myself and I.
How to get here
From Edinburgh’s city centre it’s really easy to reach The Royal Yacht Britannia and where it is docked in Leith. The yacht is about 3.3 miles away from Waverley train station.
- By Tram: You just get the tram down to the Ocean Terminal stop. Which is where the entrance to the yacht is located. Tickets can be bought at the tram stop. Or you can pay by contactless by tapping on and off for your trip. There is only one tram line in Edinburgh and it runs from the airport and down past Leith to Newhaven. So you just need to make sure you take the tram in the right direction.
- By bus: from the city centre you can take bus 10, 16 or 34 and it’s a journey taking around 30 minutes. My recommendation is to download the Edinburgh travel app to plan your journey. Contactless payment is possible onboard the buses and you do not need to tap off, unless you’re travelling by tram.
- By taxi: it is around a 20 minute journey by car down to the yacht and you can get a normal taxi in town or order one through apps like Uber.
- Walking from Waverley train station: It is a straightforward walk downhill to get to the yacht, but it does take about one hour.
- Driving: You can drive to the yacht and get free parking at Ocean Terminal shopping centre, which also has an EV Charging Hub. The entrance to the yacht is also inside Ocean Terminal.
♥ If you wish to enjoy a luxurious stay or an elegant afternoon tea onboard a yacht, which also happens to be the Royal Yacht Britannia’s sister venue, then read my article on Fingal here. It’s docked only a 10 minute walk from the Britannia as well.
– Queen Elizabeth II
Get your tickets to Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia can be very busy, especially in the summer as Edinburgh’s visitor numbers increase drastically, so I would recommend pre-booking tickets to avoid being disappointed when visiting.
Tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh are sold by arrival slot but once you are onboard you can stay as long as you would like within the opening hours. If you are entering at the last available entry time, just bear in mind that the yacht closes two hours after last entry. At the start of the experience you get an audio guide which you use throughout the yacht by pressing the corresponding number. The guide is available in 42 languages including both British Sign Language and American Sign Language by tablet.
I don’t mind audio guides. However I would’ve preferred an option of headphones. Just because it is a little tiring to hold up the audio guide to your ear for such a long time. But it’s absolutely brilliant to see so many languages available, as well as guides for in sign language, the script in braille and a version for children.
Ticket prices
- Adults: from £22 per person
- Young person (16-21): from £11.50 per person
- Children (7-15): from £11.50 per person
- Students (with valid student ID): from £11.50 per person
- Under 6’s: free entry
- The Royal Edinburgh Ticket: combine your visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith with a visit to Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse which also includes the hop-on hop-off buses. Get your tickets in advance here.
Children (7-15) also go free 25th June until 1st September 2026.
Opening hours
- January to March: first entry 10.00, last entry 15.00, closing at 17.00.
- April to October: first entry 10.00, last entry 15.00, closing at 17.00
- November to December: first entry 09.30, last entry 16.00, closing at 18.00
- The yacht is closed on the 25th December and 1st January
- Please note that there are certain dates with exceptions to the opening hours that are all stated on the official website.
Additional information
- Duration: I would recommend at least 2 hours
- For families: Children get the challenge of finding and counting all the corgis onboard the experience for a small reward at the end.
If you buy your ticket through our link you also help support our writing team, at no extra cost to you. We would really appreciate it as it helps us keep writing these articles for you – and thank you in advance for your consideration! ♥
The Royal Deck Tea Room
The Royal Deck Tea Room is only accessible to those with a ticket for the Britannia experience. I took the opportunity to take a seat and enjoy a tea and slice of cake. The waiter suggested the Victoria slice, and I’m glad I took the recommendation. It was really fresh and not dry at all. You can also enjoy a lunch here and I almost chose the Scottish seafood soup Cullen Skink as it’s one of my favourite dishes – and a strong recommendation if you want to try a traditional Scottish dish. The friendly waiters and waitresses take your order and serve all the food, cakes and tea at your table.
The Royal Yacht Britannia Experience: is it worth visiting?
During my visit it was a lot busier than I had anticipated and it was great to see so many people wanting to experience this attraction which encapsulates a piece of British history from the Royal Family. If you’re interested in the royal family, I think The Royal Yacht Britannia is well worth a visit if you are in Edinburgh. It offers a fascinating insight into how the family used the yacht during its heyday.
Throughout the experience you go through the various rooms and learn more about the life onboard. Both for the royal family and their guests, but also the staff. My favourite sections were all about Queen Elizabeth II as I find her fascinating.
At the end of the experience you exit through the gift shop (no surprise it’s there). It’s a well-stocked shop with plenty of gift and souvenir options to browse. Personally I really like the little bagpiper or corgi Christmas ornaments. A really popular souvenir is the branded teacups or tea blends you can find here. There is also a massive corgi at the exit that you get a great photo opportunity with.
Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 — No.1 Attraction in the World
I genuinely didn’t expect the Royal Yacht Britannia to be named Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026 — No.1 Attraction in the World. As I’d never visited before, I had no idea just how popular it was. And to imagine it won this award, head of the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and the Sagrada Família really sparked my curiosity for it. Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings get the Best of the Best award.
♥ Want to stay in style whilst visiting Edinburgh, just like the royals? Find my top recommendations for luxurious hotels in Edinburgh here!
FAQ – The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia now sits permanently docked in Leith, Edinburgh.
Britannia is definitely worth a visit if you want to learn more about the royal family and how they used the yacht when it was in service.
There is the Royal Deck Tearoom which serves lunch, tea and cakes.
The Royal Yacht Britannia served the royal family for 44 years, from January 1954 until December 1997.
Leith has a great food & drink scene, with everything from fantastic cocktail bars like Nauticus to Michelin Star dining like The Kitchin. I can also recommend a visit to Port of Leith Distillery which is next door to the Britannia.
Need more inspiration for your Edinburgh trip?
- The Best Hotels in Edinburgh: My 2026 Guide to the City’s Most Charming Stays
- Things to do in Edinburgh: insider recommendations from a local
- The Best Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh, Scotland: Scones, Sandwiches & City Views
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
