Guest blogger Mark Baynes went along to find out more:

Visitors to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are often surprised to see HMS Belfast moored just a stone’s throw away. Those who venture inside this mighty warship are in for another surprise as they can now experience the reality of fighting at sea during World War II with the new Gun Turret Experience.

Step inside the triple gun turret overlooking the Belfast’s quarterdeck and you will see, hear and most certainly feel the central gun being raised and fired. The physical and emotional sensations are certain to be vivid memories to take from a trip to the heart of London.

The Gun Turret Experience: A Sailor’s Story, 1943 has been developed with the help of Royal Navy veterans and eye witness accounts from the archives of the Imperial War Museum.

Exhibitions Manager Cressida Finch said:

“This installation came about because we wanted to find ways of making the experience of working on HMS Belfast more understandable for our visitors especially for families. During our research we looked at a variety of people who worked in the gun turrets, especially in the Battle of the North Cape. In the storyline that you will hear we have woven together the words of the actual people who fought there.”

 HMS Belfast, Morgan’s Lane, Tooley Street, SE1 2JH