A GROUP of Cumbrian Scouts spent the night on one of Britian’s most famous ships as part of a trip to the nation’s capital.

 44 cubs, scouts and leaders from Dalston Scout Group took the train down to London for a four day trip which included spending a night on the iconic HMS Belfast which is moored on the Thames.

Basing themselves at a youth hostel for the week, the Dalston Scouts had a ‘fantastic’ time seeing the sites of London.

Day one saw a photo call at Buckingham Palace before travelling down the mall for a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The second day of the trip saw the group visit the Science Museum before travelling to have a go on the London Eye which many of the group rated as their favourite moment of the trip.

After two very busy days, day 3 was planned as an easier one.

News and Star: Dalston Scouts at Buckingham PalaceDalston Scouts at Buckingham Palace (Image: Dalston Scouts)After breakfast, bags were packed, and the group boarded a cruise boat for a brief trip up the river to before heading downstream to Tower Bridge.

Afterwards, with rain threatening, the group took refuge in Leaze Street Arches, where the children could admire the graffitti.

The leaders had come prepared and brought a box full of cans of spray paint and the Cubs and Scouts were let loose to leave their own designs in the tunnel after a quick rule check.

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The rest of the day and the evening was spent aboard HMS Belfast. The group had the World War II battleship to themselves and after exploring the vessel, settled down to sleep below deck in bunks.

The final day saw a guided tour of the state rooms of Buckingham Palace before returning to Euston station to get the train home.

Dalston Scout Group said: “Meticulous planning and thorough preparation ensured that our London adventure ran like clockwork.

As the train pulled into Carlisle, our experienced leaders breathed a massive sigh of relief – all back in one piece, well-fed, well looked-after, superb accommodation and a fantastic experience for everyone.”