Royal Yacht Britannia

Royal Yacht Britannia review

Launched in 1953, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, the Royal Yacht Britannia was used by the Royal Family for state visits, holidays and diplomatic functions for more than four decades. It was decommissioned at the end of 1997 and now resides permanently in Leith, where it has consistently drawn big crowds; in autumn 2005 the old girl clocked up her two millionth visitor since opening to the public in late 1998.

Although the ship's exterior has an art deco beauty, stepping on board - enter from the second floor of Ocean Terminal, via the Britannia Experience - is like regressing into a 1950s nightmare of suburban taste. The chintzy drawing room is perhaps the worst offender in this regard. However, visitors do get to see the state dining room, which has entertained everyone from Rajiv Gandhi to Reagan, and the engine room, favoured more by grease monkeys. The price of admission includes an audio guide that's packed with anecdotes and points of reference.