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HMS Belfast One of the most powerful large light cruisers ever built, HMS Belfast is now the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War. HMS Belfast played a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. In service with the Royal Navy until 1965, she was saved for the nation in 1971 as a unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage. Launch! Shipbuilding Through the Ages This new family-orientated exhibition will use hands-on and computerised interactive displays and engaging film and footage to demonstrate techniques of shipbuilding, from the ‘age of sail’ to modern prefabrication methods. The exhibition will focus on the science, engineering and social history of shipbuilding in Great Britain, and the interactive elements of the exhibition will allow children of all ages to get involved and experience this history. Explore ‘What shall we give in return for so much?’ One of the most powerful large light cruisers ever built, HMS Belfast is now the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War. Serving Britain for 32 years, she played an important role in both the Second World War and the Korean War as well as performing peacekeeping duties throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Saved from destruction in 1971, HMS Belfast is now part of the Imperial War Museum and is the first ship to be preserved for the nation since Nelson’s Victory. Through its team of staff and volunteers – many of whom are veteran crew – the Imperial War Museum is dedicated to making sure that HMS Belfast still has a role to play in reminding visitors of her unique place in Britain’s maritime heritage. History of HMS Belfast The term 'cruiser' goes back to the days of sailing ships when large frigates could be detached from the main fleet to cruise independently. The sailing cruiser, like her twentieth-century counterpart, was sufficiently powerful and fast to attack and destroy enemy commerce raiders. During the nineteenth century when sail gave way to steam and wooden ships were replaced by those built of iron, and later of steel, the cruiser evolved into a powerful warship which was used to patrol the Empire trade routes and protect friendly merchant shipping. After the First World War (1914-1918) a single category of cruiser emerged whose size was indicated by the size of its guns; thus, HMS Belfast is a 6-inch cruiser, designed for the protection of trade, for offensive action, and as a powerful support for amphibious operations. Please note: children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please allow 1½ - 2 hours for your visit. Tower Bridge Exhibition Walkways & Exhibition: Visitors enter Tower Bridge Exhibition via the North Tower. They are then transported by lift to the top of the Tower (47 metres above the Thames) where they have a unique opportunity to see the Bridge’s steel skeleton from within. A short film explains the history and provenance of the Bridge and then there is the chance to admire the spectacular views – from both covered Walkways. On Monday 1st December, Tower Bridge’s East Walkway will reopen with its own GLASS FLOOR, joining the West Walkway to complete our new-look exhibition. Together with far-reaching views of East London, the walkway will be bolstered with a further 20 revered bridges in the extended popular display, ‘Great Bridges of the World’. On the east Walkway there are fantastic views of the Docklands and from the west Walkway you can see the new GLA building, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, the city, the Pool of London and Big Ben and the London Eye in the distance. Interactive computerised kiosks and graphic panels explain the significance of the views to visitors, as well as providing more information on the history and building of the Bridge. The interactive material and graphic panels are written in seven languages and an audio loop for the hard of hearing is also in place for the video show. There is another film to view in the South Tower before descending for the short walk to the historical Engine Rooms, included in your ticket price. Victorian Engine Rooms: These provide a fascinating insight into late 19th century engineering. Installed for the completion of Tower Bridge in 1894, these huge, and beautifully maintained, coal-driven engines were used to power the thousands of bascule Bridge lifts performed until 1976. Although lifts are now operated by electricity, the original steam engines are still in place. The Engine Rooms give visitors a chance to experiment with models demonstrating the technology behind the Bridge. There are also some amazing photographs of Tower BridgeTthroughout its lifetime – including a revealing picture of the heavy steel structure of the Bridge as the stone cladding was installed over it.
Along the way, explore San Francisco's stunning landmarks like Alcatraz, Coit Tower, the Ferry Building, Transamerica Pyramid, Palace of Fine Arts, and many more. The San Francisco bridge 2 bridge tour gives you the opportunity to learn about this city’s unique natural history, architecture, and Native American culture through our audio tour. Other interesting aspects of the multilingual audio include details about the building of both bridges, the geology of San Francisco Bay and the earthquakes that have shaken San Francisco and require special seismic considerations in the designing of new structures. Sailing under both of San Francisco’s incredible bridges surely will be the highlight of your journey. Bring a boxed luncheon aboard the 12.30 lunch departures or come aboard our 17.45 summer sailings for Happy Hour! A full bar with drinks, snacks and merchandise at reasonable prices is available onboard the San Francisco bridge 2 bridge tours. Departs Pier 43 ½, 2 – 4 times daily. Duration of cruise: 90 minutes
Multi award winning Ocean Rafting visits the “Wild Side” of the Whitsunday Islands, the uninhabited islands with beautiful natural scenery brimming with marine, bird and animal life. There are two exciting tour options, the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights. Each Ocean Rafting day offers three days in one, including an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, pristine snorkelling reefs and guided Whitsunday Island National Parks walks. Ocean Rafting offers the ultimate access to the stunning and iconic Hill Inlet beach and special snorkel sites at Hook Island and Border Island ensure a memorable underwater experience. The semi rigid inflatable vessels are super fast allowing guests to experience a fun ride, adventure and education amongst the natural beauty of the Whitsundays. 32 passengers at most allows for personal snorkelling lessons and the pleasure of a small group. A buffet style lunch is served at the beach with plenty of time to swim in the turquoise ocean or just relax on the silica white sand. Ocean Rafting has been operating since 1997 and is proud to have special permits allowing its vessels to visit protected areas in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Skipper and Eco Host will ensure guests have a fun filled adventure and personalised service with snorkel lessons and a guided National Park walk in the Whitsunday Islands. Tours depart from Abell Point Marina North and courtesy coach pickups are included.
Please note: The River Ouse in York can occasionally rise to levels that can have an impact on this cruise's daily operations after periods of heavy rainfall in the catchment area upstream. The local operators will always attempt to sail for as long as it is safe to do so. There can come a point where their smallest boat can no longer fit underneath the bridges. Depending on the height of the river, they may not be able to sail at all. In this instance, you will either be eligible for a full refund or your ticket(s) will happily accepted on another date during your stay if sailing is possible.
SPECIAL OFFER! Save 23% on Royal Passes for Black Friday! Offer ends 2nd December 2018 Highlights: The Four Palace Pass brings over 900 years of royal history to life in a simple and prestigious package. Enjoy entry to four of London's most visited royal palaces: Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace and Banqueting House. Unbeatable savings from buying tickets individually and a pass that’s valid for two years. Discover the three sites at your own pace. Book in advance and bypass the main entrance lines at each palace. Ticket Includes: Instant ticket delivery. Admission to Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace & Banqueting House. Valid for 2 years from the date of issue. One visit per palace during this time. Voucher can be exchanged at any of the four Palaces. Why Book the Royal Palace Pass? You will save yourself time and hassle by booking these four popular attractions in advance. Plus, the Royal Palace Pass lets you skip the main lines at each site and, because it's valid for a full two years, you can spread out your visits as you wish. What You Can Expect Tower of London The Tower of London has been an essential part of British royal history for almost 1,000 years and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Tower, you can admire the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three British queens and listen to mesmerising myths and legends that have surrounded the Tower for centuries. Hampton Court Palace The oldest remaining English Tudor palace, King Henry VIII developed this majestic palace after acquiring it in the 1520s. Wonder the corridors, enjoy the extensive gardens, discover the sights and smells of Henry VIII's Kitchen, explore the famous 17th-century maze and visit the excellent exhibitions. Kensington Palace Generations of royal women have shaped this stylish palace and elegant gardens, from Queen Mary to Victoria, and more recently, Diana, Princess of Wales. Today, the palace also houses a stunning collection of fashionable formal dress worn for state and royal occasions. Banqueting House The Banqueting House, Whitehall, central London, is the grandest and best known survivor of it's architectural genre. This stunning venue is the only surviving building of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence until it was destroyed by fire over 300 years ago.
Get ready for 30 seconds of free-fall as your tandem jump master throws you out of a plane, plummeting towards the ground before parachuting gently into land. Then head out to Arthurs Point to get dressed in some black rubber wetsuits and take to the skies with a thrilling helicopter flight into Skipper Canyon rafting launch site. Continue your action packed day with a white-water rafting trip down the mighty Shotover River, conquering rapids such as squeeze, toilet, jaws and finishing with a splash at cascade. YOU SHOULD BRING: Swim wear Towel
