The river Thames flows through central London and provides a captivating backdrop to several of the top tourist attractions in London, including Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Tower of London. The Thames is intertwined with London’s history and continues to inspire artists, musicians and writers. London’s main waterway is a tidal river, rising and falling as much as eight metres (26ft) between high and low tides. Although it was once the source of London’s “Great Stink” (1858), today the Thames is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe. HMS Belfast is a Town-class light cruiser that was built for the Royal Navy. She is now permanently moored as a museum ship on the River Thames in London and is operated by the Imperial War Museum.