In 1918 Ceres joined the 6th, Light Cruiser Squadron, the following year she was operating in the Mediterranean as a member of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. During 1920 the cruiser spent some time deployed in the Black Sea. In 1927 Ceres was in the U.K. for deployment with the Home Fleet. During 1929-1931 was spent refitting and in reserve. In 1932 Ceres was once more brought forward from reserve and joined the Mediterranean Fleet. In November she was however once again reduced to reserve.

In 1939 Ceres recommissioned from the Reserve Fleet and was sent on Northern Patrol in the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland. In January 1940, Ceres was refitted by Harland & Wolff at Belfast, Northern Ireland. On February 15th she sailed from Devonport to Gibraltar. During March while based at Malta, she took part in contraband patrols in the Ionian Sea, Straits of Otranto and off the coast of Greece. During April-May 1940, the old cruiser was now based at Singapore and carried out patrols off the Dutch East Indies coast. In June she went to Colombo and later to Bombay when Ceres convoyed tankers from the Arabian Gulf to Aden. She spent several months off the east coast of Africa, based at Mombassa. Whilst on patrol off the coast of Somaliland she was called upon to assist in the evacuation of troops and civilians from British Somaliland to Aden bombarding the various enemy positions with shellfire. After this incident she was involved in convoy duties between Durban and Cape Town. Later that year she was sent to the Seychelles and other islands to search for German commerce raiders. From 4 until 9 August 1940 the cruiser assisted with the evacuation of civilians and sick personnel from British Somaliland, which was occupied by the Italians. She also assisted in the evacuation of Commonwealth soldiers from Berbera. (British Somaliland).

In February 1941 Ceres blockaded Kisimayu in support of the offensive against Italian Somaliland, in company with the British cruisers HMS Hawkins and HMS Capetown and the British destroyer HMS Kandahar. She was also responsible for rescuing merchant navy prisoners of war from Brava and taking them to Mombassa. After this she proceeded to Colombo for repairs, and a well deserved rest for the crew at Diyatalawa.

On New Years day 1942, convoy WS-14 arrived in South Africa from the U.K. with reinforcements for the Middle East, The convoy consisted of 18 ships, Ceres and the sloop HMS Bridgewater provided the escort. Ceres spent two months in the Persian Gulf, and then arrived at Simonstown for a three month refit, where she was dry-docked. She was also fitted with six 20 mm single AA weapons. She was then based at Aden and she also participated in the fall of Djibouti. She completed that year employed on convoy duties to Durban.

In October 1943, Ceres returned to Devonport having steamed 235,000 miles since the outbreak of war.

In April 1944, Ceres received radars type 290 and 273, the 3 inch 2 pounders were landed and replaced by eight 20 mm singles. On June 6th, Operation "Neptune" the amphibious landings on Normandy, Ceres was employed as a depot ship to the Eastern Task Force. The following October it was decided to reduce her to reserve and use her as an accommodation/base ship at Portsmouth.

In July 1946, the old cruiser was broken up for scrap at Bolckow, Blyth.

Commanding Officers:
Capt. Edmund Geoffrey Abbott, AM, RN
31 July 1939 – February 1941

Capt. Douglas Mortimer Lewis Neame, DSO, RN
February 1941 – 15 July 1941

Capt. Henry Hastings McWilliam, RN
15 July 1941 – 22 April 1942

Capt. Cecil Charles Acland Allen, RN
22 April 1942 – 31 March 1943

A/Capt. Roy Carlton Harry, RN
31 March 1943 – ca. late 1943

Lt.Cdr. Wilmot Pynson Bennitt, DSC, RN (retired)
Ca. late 1943- 14 April 1944

A/Capt. Roland Charlton Allen, RN
14 April 1944 - ???

???

Cdr. Charles Richard Garrett, RN (retired)
4 December 1944 – still in command in July 1945 according to the Navy List