A RECORD number of visitors stepped aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in 2017.
The Edinburgh attraction welcomed 390,482 people last year, a 12% increase on 2016.
It comes as the ship marks its 20th anniversary of being open to the public, having retired from service as The Queen’s floating palace in 1997.
Permanently moored at Leith, her last mission was to convey the final British governor of Hong Kong and Prince Charles home after the handover of the territory to China.
Built on the Clyde at John Brown & Company, she had served the royal family since 1954.
Nowadays, visitors from across the world have access to follow in the footsteps of royalty aboard the grand vessel.
Royal Yacht Britannia named Scotland’s best visitor attraction for twelfth year running
Chief Executive Bob Downie said: “2017 was a phenomenally busy year and it’s a great tribute to the professionalism of our staff that we also retained our position as Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction for a record 12th year in a row.”
In the summer, Britannia’s operators will open former Northern Lighthouse Board tender ship Fingal as a floating hotel and events venue at Leith docks.
The £3.5m development will have 23 bedrooms.
Last week, a number of Tory MPs called for a new royal yacht to be built, funded by a brand new lottery.
They claim a new vessel would “showcase the best of British business and project our humanitarian role across the globe”.
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