Today, Tuesday 24 June 2025, the Wellington Trust is excited to announce the re-opening of HMS WELLINGTON to the general public with the launch of a new, immersive experience and ship’s tours.
Launched in 1934, HMS WELLINGTON is the last surviving dedicated Battle of the Atlantic convoy escort in Europe, and is credited with escorting 103 Allied convoys. Now moored at Temple Stairs between the Cities of London and Westminster, she stands today as a testament to the courage of those who defended Britain’s seaways during the Battle of the Atlantic – the longest fought battle of the Second World War.
Our new immersive wartime experience will enable visitors to HMS WELLINGTON to relive pivotal moments in her wartime history, from the tense and perilous missions escorting Atlantic convoys through German u-boat packed waters, through to her participation in the high-stakes Allied evacuation of northern France during Operation Cycle in June 1940.
Visitors will feel the thunder of distant guns. Hear orders given across stormy waters. Witness the bravery, tension, and sacrifice that shaped the course of the war. Combining hyper-realistic Virtual Reality (VR) with interactive exploration of the ship herself, the HMS Wellington VR Experience doesn’t just tell history — it puts you at the heart of it.
To accompany our new, 30-minute immersive VR experience, visitors this summer will also be offered tours of HMS WELLINGTON, and an opportunity to find out more about her extraordinary history, first with the Royal Navy New Zealand division patrolling the British Crown Colonies in the South Pacific, then on Battle of the Atlantic escort duties, and most recently as London’s only floating, livery hall.
Chairman of the Wellington Trust, Dominic Tweddle commented:
“A visit to HMS WELLINGTON gives people a chance to step into our rich maritime history. Our new immersive VR experience is designed to engage visitors with HMS 2
WELLINGTON’s extraordinary wartime stories. We aim to honour the bravery of merchant seafarers and naval personnel, educate new generations, and celebrate this important vessel’s role in national resilience during one of the greatest challenges to our nation – the Second World War.”
This immersive experience and the re-opening of HMS WELLINGTON this summer is made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
HMS WELLINGTON re-opens to the public on Saturday 19 July and will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, through to Sunday 31 August. Opening hours are from 10:00 and 17:00 (last entry 16.30). Tickets are £20 for the wartime VR experience only, and £32 for both the VR experience and a guided ship’s tour. Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.thewellingtontrust.org/visit/ or onboard, subject to availability. The nearest tube station is Temple. Please note due to the historic nature of the ship, it offers limited accessibility.