WWI cruiser museum opens in Belfast

One of the most eagerly anticipated First World War museums in the world, the HMS Caroline, has opened. A World War 1 Light Battle Cruiser, HMS Caroline was built in 1914 and is the last surviving ship from the infamous Battle of Jutland in 1916 and the most accessible historic ship in the UK. Having undergone extensive restoration, the new visitor experience in Belfast's Titanic Quarter has been refurbished to its former glory with new decking, guns and a total renovation from bridge to engine rooms.

Visitors are being offered a unique experience to journey back 100 years to a dangerous life at sea during the First World War. On-board they can discover a range of historic spaces including Captain Crookes Cabin, engine room, sick bay and galley kitchen which they can explore, through a mixture of historic restoration, state-of-the-art special effects and hands-on interactive exhibits.

Moored in Belfast since 1924, HMS Caroline has been restored and fitted out with exhibition areas and exciting interactive suites to provide the visitor with a stark sense of what it will be like to be in the middle of a naval battle against the mightiest floating army in the world, the German Imperial Fleet.

Clare McCoy, Tourism Northern Ireland’s ROI PR Officer, said: “The HMS Caroline is a world class heritage asset and offers both naval historians and the general public a fascinating insight into what life was at sea during the First World War. The complex restoration has resulted in many areas of the ship being largely intact since the day the ship was completed in 1914, making it a fantastic addition to the range of attractions marking the rich maritime heritage in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter”.

HMS Caroline’s key features

Historic Spaces: The historic spaces on HMS Caroline include the Captain’s Quarters, Marines’ Mess and Engine Rooms, as well as the very important Bathroom Flat, Sick Bay and Galley. All of these spaces have been recreated to look as they did in 1916, the year that Caroline was part of one of the largest naval battles in history – the Battle of Jutland.

Signal School: Learn about communication at sea during the 20th and 21st centuries on state of the art exhibits within this gallery inspired by the 1924 Wireless Telegraphy School. Try your hand at using a First World War signal lamp and see if you can crack a code using techniques like semaphore and flags.

Torpedo School: Ascend into the Torpedo School to explore naval weaponry and dazzle camouflage. Learn all about war at sea, create your own dazzle design and see if you can evade an enemy attack.

Virtual Access Suite: The Virtual Access Suite provides access to remote and hidden areas of HMS Caroline. Learn how the ship works with interactive exhibits and take control of HMS Caroline in the Virtual Bridge. Here you will also learn about Caroline’s impact in Belfast – her home for 90 years.

Outside spaces: Walk along the decks and see the ship’s 6-inch and 4-inch guns. Don’t forget to head up to the Navigating Bridge where you can visit the Captain’s Sea Cabin.

Mess Deck Café: Here you can enjoy a hearty and wholesome drink and snack before you continue your journey through HMS Caroline. The café also showcases a historic recreation of a Light Cruiser’s mess table, ready for the crew to enjoy a meal.

Shop: Mark your visit to HMS Caroline with a special memento from the on board shop. Browse for gifts, clothing and posters inspired by HMS Caroline and Royal Naval Heritage.

The Titanic Quarter is steeped in maritime history and the perfect place to start your Belfast short break and explore attractions such as Titanic Belfast, the SS Nomadic, Titanic’s Dock Pumphouse and the Odyssey Pavilion which is home to W5, Odyssey Cinemas alongside numerous restaurants, bars and eateries.

The HMS Caroline is open Monday- Sunday (10am-5pm) and self-guided tours can be booked online. Tickets started from £5.00 for children and £12 for adult with family and concession rates available.