Belfast

[RonnieTodger]

It’s a tremendous place. If you do the titanic tour, I’d recommend doing it in the morning.

 

We did it around lunchtime and it was absolutely heaving. 
 

Agreed on the black cab tours too.

[Blueman1967]

Had a look myself, looks loads to do, get the Visit Belfast emails, when you go on their website, and keep youself update with what is going on.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

I'm sure these mural tours are very interesting, but something doesn't quite feel right.
 
Many of them are incredibly artistic, beautiful even.  But at the end of the day, many of them are glorifying people who murdered others going about their lawful business.   Yeah, I know "one person's terrorist is another person's freedom-fighter", and all that.
 
But It's not even like all the underlying issues have fully resolved yet.   So we're not talking about old historical events, that have passed into warm nostalgic folklore.  There are 1000's of people still living with the scars of what went on for near on 30 years.

 

As I say, I'm sure they're very interesting.   But I think I'd be concentrating more on the great current things going on in the city.

[ramboacdc]

21 hours ago, Vowels said:

Where is good to stay?

 

Good to go?

 

Should I go solo (business to do out there so possible) or take wife and kids ? Age of kids is 13/14. Will they find value?

 

Any input hugely appreciated. Any foxes out there, happy to come find you and buy you a beer.

 

1. Don't look at anything AirBNB. There are some very Father Ted Caravan sort of style places out there you don't want to get into. My rule when I go is hotel chain I know with parking. It will still cost a fortune to park the car, but you get a discount in some places so it's only just a rip off. 

2. If you are driving, every multi-story car park was designed to fit cars that appear to be 2 foot high by 3 foot wide. Our rental car looked like it went through The Troubles itself when we picked it up, but it was apparently "one of the good ones."

3. Drinking wise, Duke of York is good but touristy in Belfast. Kelly Cellars is good too. I haven't been to Crown Liquor, but walked past it many a time and wish I had gone in now looking at the pic @Stuntman_Mike has put up. If you are staying in Belfast, Titanic Quarter will be good for a day out. Crumlin Road Gaol is good too, but only for half a day. They do drives round Shanklin and Falls Road in black cabs with tours in black cabs if you want to learn about The Troubles. 

4. I go with my wife, but she is half Northern Irish so she loves going. My daughter wants to go, but mostly for Titanic and a drive to Giants Causeway (there are coach tours from Belfast to the causeway if you want to see it and aren't driving). She is 15. 

5. Sod all opens in the country on a Sunday until the afternoon. We thought getting an early flight in on a Sunday would give us a whole day of stuff...nope. Think it was 12-1pm everything opened and everything but restraunts and pubs closed again at 4. 

I have never visited Derry but I would love to. My father in law left during The Troubles and never spoke to my wife about it, so sometimes it is strange going there with someone with a slight Belfast twinge of an accent who knows nothing about the history. 

Feel free to DM me if you want any more info. We usually go October time, but havent the past few years due to having a baby, but happy to help. 

[Leicesterpool]

It's in better part of Ireland 

[Wymsey]

Genuinely thought that there was some sort of terror incident there..

[HighPeakFox]

1 hour ago, Wymsey said:

Genuinely thought that there was some sort of terror incident there..

How unlike you.   

[Out Foxed]

The City Hibernian Club

[kenny]

There is a game of thrones northern Ireland ap for those that like the show. Some great places to visit, particularly the king's road and the beaches on the northern coast.

[Voll Blau]

12 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

The Crown Liquor Saloon is worth the trip on it's own.

 

Hundred per cent. Duke of York a great boozer too.

 

 

4 hours ago, worth_the_wait said:

I'm sure these mural tours are very interesting, but something doesn't quite feel right.
 
Many of them are incredibly artistic, beautiful even.  But at the end of the day, many of them are glorifying people who murdered others going about their lawful business.   Yeah, I know "one person's terrorist is another person's freedom-fighter", and all that.
 
But It's not even like all the underlying issues have fully resolved yet.   So we're not talking about old historical events, that have passed into warm nostalgic folklore.  There are 1000's of people still living with the scars of what went on for near on 30 years.

 

As I say, I'm sure they're very interesting.   But I think I'd be concentrating more on the great current things going on in the city.

I'd defy you to actually go on one and still hold the same opinion afterwards. The tour I linked to was brilliant in terms of helping outsiders to see the human impact in both communities, plus focus on some of the more positive art coming from both sides of the wall.

 

They give a decent living to plenty of working-class blokes who can give you a first-hand account of the history they're telling.

 

37 minutes ago, kenny said:

There is a game of thrones northern Ireland ap for those that like the show. Some great places to visit, particularly the king's road and the beaches on the northern coast.

Did this as a present for my missus a few years ago and it was great. Took in the Giant's Causeway too.

 

Can't wait to get back and explore more of the countryside someday.

Edited 13 October 2025 by Voll Blau

[Guest worth_the_wait]

9 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

I'd defy you to actually go on one and still hold the same opinion afterwards. The tour I linked to was brilliant in terms of helping outsiders to see the human impact in both communities, plus focus on some of the more positive art coming from both sides of the wall.

 

They give a decent living to plenty of working-class blokes who can give you a first-hand account of the history they're telling.

 

ok, I'll take your word for it.

 

Mind you, in terms of "helping outsiders see the human impact in both communities," .... if you can't imagine the impact that 30 years of bombs, and bullets has on people, without someone actually telling it to your face ... then that's a poor situation.

[Voll Blau]

18 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

ok, I'll take your word for it.

 

Mind you, in terms of "helping outsiders see the human impact in both communities," .... if you can't imagine the impact that 30 years of bombs, and bullets has on people, without someone actually telling it to your face ... then that's a poor situation.

Well, of course you can imagine it. But seeing it up close does give you extra understanding on whatever you understood about The Troubles before.

 

I've never been to Auschwitz, but I can imagine it's a similar feeling.

[Greg2607]

yeah you are basically safe in the crown and kelly cellars. 

[Qwerty]

My kids loved it at that age.

Titanic Museum, open top bus tour, and this https://prisonislandbelfast.com/

We were going to go to Giants Causeway which was just over an hour away, but the weather was awful so we didn't go. 

We stayed at the Premier Inn near the Titanic Museum. 

Edited 14 October 2025 by Qwerty

[One Arm Babba]

I live in the North, about 30 miles from Belfast. Like Dublin in the south, the best places are away from the city. Having said that I prefer Belfast to Dublin, as it’s a bit more real. No silly temple bar fake Ireland nonsense.
 

There are some excellent restaurants in the city, particularly if you like steak, Northern irish beef is the best within the British Isles, in my opinion. Like others have said before the museums and Game of Thrones tourism is fantastic…. If you are a fan. 
 

if you are golfer there are many great courses, although be prepared to pay top dollar for the likes of Royal County Down or Portrush, but worth it for the experience.

 

if you are coming with the missus why not “Bangor for a week”… just outside Belfast 😜 

[BenTheFox]

Taxi tour is a must. 

 

Best Guinness in the city centre is Maddens or Bittles in my experience. 

 

If you have the chance to have a pint on the Falls or the Shankill, I'd recommend that too. Much cheaper than the city centre and the pints are still great.