The Trust operated Bel- fast as a private venture for several years until the British government finally agreed to take her over in 1978. The Imperial War Museum took charge of Belfast later that year. Almost all of Belfast is open to the public today. For the price of admission, the visitor can step back into the world of the Royal Navy of 50 years ago. As much as possible, Belfast has been restored to the way she was during her World War II period.
Visitors can inspect the main gun turrets, the operations room and the bridge.
Since Belfast was a flagship for most of her working career, she carried an admiral's bridge, from which the visitor can see how task forces were controlled. Belowdecks, the sick bay, galley and mess decks give a vivid impression of the daily living conditions of the ship's company of almost 800 officers and men. Farther down into the bowels of the ship are the forward boiler room and the forward engine room. The boiler room contains two boilers, each capable of generating 20,000 shaft horsepower. The forward engine room holds one of the two engines that were capable of propelling Belfast at her maximum speed of 32 knots.