Unique floating museum, HMS Caroline, open for boarding

Moored in Alexandra Dock in Belfast’s famous Titanic Quarter, HMS Caroline is the last known surviving warship from one of the largest and most important naval battles, the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

The ship, which was transformed into an interactive museum in 2016, recently reopened to visitors after being closed for three years due to the Covid pandemic.

HMS Caroline offers a unique opportunity to experience what life was like aboard a warship 100 years ago.

Visitors can view the beautifully restored living quarters, the signal school, engine room, sick bay and galley. Interactive displays offer the opportunity to learn to crack codes, launch torpedoes and take virtual control of the ship.

Delivering a totally immersive experience, large multi-screen videos reproduce the sounds and drama of the battle against the mighty German Imperial Fleet.

During the closure, all the artefacts on display in the ship had to be dismantled and removed for safekeeping. They have now been put back on display together with new items from the archives such as the christening bell.

HMS Caroline is moored close to the multi-award-winning Titanic Belfast, which tells the story of the famous liner from building to sinking. Titanic Belfast has recently reopened after a major refurbishment that added four new galleries and a host of important and extremely rare artefacts to the exhibition.

The centrepiece of the new exhibition is a fabulous illuminated replica model of RMS Titanic, which is suspended from the ceiling.

Titanic Belfast and HMS Caroline are part of Belfast’s important maritime heritage, which is celebrated along the city’s Maritime Mile.

Passing the huge dry docks where many ships were constructed during Belfast’s shipbuilding heyday, and passing Titanic’s tender – the SS Nomadic, the Maritime Mile has a wealth of historic sights to explore. They include several pieces of public art including the innovative SoundYard, which replicates the sounds that would once have been heard in the shipyards.

The route ends at the Great Light, which is one of the largest lighthouse optics of its kind ever built. It is around 130 years old, weighs 10 tonnes and is 7m tall. The Great Light served two lighthouses in its time, shining with one of the strongest lighthouse beams in the world.

www.ireland.com