We’ve not taken as many little trips as we usually do this last year, and so for our friend (James’) birthday, his girlfriend (Nicki) decided to surprise him with a trip away. Looking for somewhere that we could see in a weekend we decided on Belfast.
Sam has always loved Titanic, and so after a little research, we learned that the Titanic Hotel, situated right outside the Titanic Museum, had opened in September 2017. We decided to book an overnight stay which including breakfast.
I feel the hotel itself deserves a review in its own right, it was simply amazing! So I’ll link that once live.
So, onto 24 hours in Belfast and the key places to visit whilst you’re here.
Titanic Belfast
The Titanic Belfast opened as an attraction in 2012 and offers an interactive walking tour around the building taking a detailed look into the history of the Harland and Wolf Shipyard, the production of Titanic, and some exciting rides and exhibits inside! The building itself is beautiful and lends itself to a photograph. We spent a good 3/4 hours walking around the many floors learning all about the history of Titanic, a fantastic experience!
SS Nomadic
Again, situated on the shipyard you can board the SS Nomadic which is the only White Star Line vessel still in existence. The ship itself has some of the most inspiring stories of its history, used to ferry first passengers to the Titanic, and later repurposed as a Nightclub in Paris! During your visit dress up as a passenger, listen to the guides tell you all about the history, and relive life as a first-class member.
The Peace Wall
The Peace Wall is a made up of 4 miles long barriers between Protestant and Catholic communities, these barriers were erected in 1969 as a temporary measure during the troubles but still stand today. Along these walls, you’ll find ever-evolving messages of peace written by visitors from around the world and reading messages of peace and hope is a really humbling experience. We walked along the wall but a number of taxi firms will take tourists for a tour of the wall. Taxi firms include Paddy Campbell’s Famous Black Cab Tours, Harper Taxi Tours and Official Black Taxi Tours.
Belfast City Hall
The City Hall is a stunning building which stands at the centre of Donegall Square and is a free attraction. The hall is home to 16 rooms which each tell a story of the history of Belfast and features a number of sculptures and memorials including the Titanic Memorial Garden, the Garden of Remembrance and the Peace Room which is dedicated to moving quotes from people who have lived through the troubles. Whilst visiting you can take a free 45min guided tour for a behind the scenes glimpse at the iconic building, or your welcome to go it alone!
There really is so much to see and do in Belfast and is definitely a trip to add to your itinerary for 2019.
Rebekah x