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10 best things to do in Belfast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Here are 10 things to add to your Belfast itinerary... 1. Tour Belfast City Hall The city's first civic building opened in 1906 and it's one of Belfast's most opulent buildings. Sign up for a guided tour to marvel at the beautiful stained glass windows (designed to highlight key chapters in the city's history), marble staircases and ornate sculptures. Its grounds include the Titanic Memorial Garden which has a nine-metre plinth bearing the names of those who died when the ship sank. The city's first civic building opened in 1906 2. Board HMS Caroline HMS Caroline is a decommissioned navy ship which set sail in 1914. She was used in combat during WWI and as an administrative base during WWII. She now resides in Alexandra Dock in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, and visitors can check out her engine rooms, drill halls and captain's quarters (which make even the smallest cruise ship 3. Pick up gardening tips Established in 1828, Belfast's Botanic Gardens are stuffed with species from the southern hemisphere. One of the most striking buildings is Charles Lanyon's Palm House, which was built in 1839, while the Tropical Ravine greenhouse's tropical plants include orchids, bananas and lilies. Charles Lanyon's Palm House 4. Celebrate Narnia CS Lewis Square, on Newtownards Road, has seven bronze sculptures depicting characters from The Chronicles of Narnia, and pays tribute to the Belfast-born author. Afterwards, pop into the EastSide Visitor Centre, next to the square, to learn about the history of East Belfast, or to feast on delicious cakes at its JACK Coffee Bar (C.S. Lewis was known as Jack to his close friends). 5. Visit Titanic Belfast 'No trip is complete without a visit to Titanic Belfast, an interactive museum built on the shipyard,' says The museum is one of the city's most popular attractions, and has 10 galleries where visitors can immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells connected with the ship, learning not only about HMS Titanic but the people who built her. Expect plenty of tech – interactive screens display passenger lists and visitors can board rollercoaster-style cars to travel through a replica of the ship. Sunset over Titanic Belfast 6. Shop at the market The covered St George's Market was built in the late 1800s, and it's a fantastic option for rainy days. There's little you won't find here, whether it's second-hand books or delicious food. Head for the bakery section to admire types of bread you never knew existed (we're particularly keen on fadge, made with potatoes) or to the seafood section to check out stalls piled with still-twitching prawns, crabs and clams. 7. Admire Belfast Castle Belfast Castle isn't actually that old – it was built in the 1860s – but it's still worthy of your radar. Architectural masterpieces include a gorgeous Italianate Renaissance spiral staircase and the grand Jacobean-style portico, although the grounds are just as wonderful, with beautifully manicured gardens incorporating fountains. Belfast Castle was built in the 1860s 8. Hike through Cave Hill Cave Hill Country Park, on the city's outskirts, is a brilliant place to soak up views over Belfast. Its numerous archaeological sites include an ancient ráth (or fort) and there are several picnic spots. It's a nature lover's paradise – don't be surprised to spot peregrines soaring above the park's fragrant wildflower meadows. 9. Sip Guinness Belfast is famous for its cosy pubs. Take Great Victoria Street's The Crown, which opened in the 1920s and is now owned by the National Trust. The historic pub is packed with original features, including brocaded walls, mosaics and etched glass windows, and the most sought after spots are the cosy wooden snugs, complete with gunmetal plates that were once used for striking matches. Belfast is famous for its cosy pubs 10. Try an Ulster Fry A great way to fuel your exploration of Northern Ireland's capital, an Ulster Fry breakfast typically includes bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, soda bread and potato bread. Perhaps try it at Newtonards Road's Lamppost Cafe, where your hearty meal will be served on Insta-friendly vintage crockery. Originally published as 10 best things to do in Belfast
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Contrasting fortunes of two listed Victorian buildings on same street
On a street in north Belfast, two Victorian buildings with colourful histories sit facing each other. The Crumlin Road Courthouse and the Crumlin Road Gaol have had very contrasting fortunes since they both closed in the 1990s. The jail, which is owned by the Department for Infrastructure, has been transformed into a popular tourist attraction, a conference and wedding venue and is also now home to a whiskey distillery. Meanwhile on the other side of the road the courthouse lies empty and derelict. It has suffered numerous arson attacks and is a shell of its former self, with weeds and trees growing where its roof once was. However, new plans have now been submitted for a mixed-use development which could turn it into a hospitality, tourism, educational and commercial space. Both buildings were constructed in the mid-19th Century and designed by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon. The courthouse has changed hands a number of times since it closed in 1998 but various development plans have failed to get off the ground. Its new owners are hoping their proposals will prove more successful. Their plans include the restoration of the Victorian front of the building and the recreation of one of its courtrooms. A tunnel beneath the road, which connected the courthouse to the jail, would be reinstated and there would be a partial demolition and new build to the rear. Johann Muldoon, from Manor Architects, is involved in the new scheme. "For most of our heritage in Northern Ireland, we see all these proposals, but they really struggle to find a sustainable use that is economically viable," she said. "That is why I think a lot of our heritage seems to degrade." She hopes the mixed use plan for the site might improve its chances. "Why we have those proposed uses is to balance what we've got in terms of heritage offering, in terms of a tourism, against the commercial viability and the sustainability of it all." The sorry state of the courthouse stands in contrast to Crumlin Road Gaol on the other side of the road. Its former inmates included the likes of former Irish taoiseach (prime minister) Eamon De Valera, former Northern Ireland first minister Ian Paisley and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. It closed as a working prison in 1996 and is now a popular tourist attraction where the public can visit the cells and learn about its history. Local historian Tom Liggett, who used to give tours of the jail, thinks it is essential that its past is never forgotten. "While there are people who take a stance that all this should be destroyed and you should forget about it, I wouldn't agree with that," he said. "I think local history is told from our perspective - a working-class perspective - and it's hidden and it shouldn't be hidden." Last year a whiskey distillery opened in one of the wings. John Kelly, chief executive of McConnell's Irish Whisky Distillery, was among those behind the development. "A wing lay derelict for many, many years, and we saw the opportunity of bringing the McConnell's story, dating back to 1776, into a wonderful heritage listed building," he said. "For us, it's three parts of the business: it's the brand, it's the distillery and it's a wonderful tourist attraction." So can the courthouse learn anything from its opposite neighbour and should we as a society do more to protect our built heritage? Rita Harkin, the Architectural Heritage Fund's development manager for Northern Ireland, said: "We have to be able to use these buildings to tell our stories. "And that's a reflection of a city and a place that it's grown in confidence, to be able to look honestly at our past to use that to move forward." You can hear more on this story by listening to the latest episode of Red Lines. Belfast's Crumlin Road courthouse fire 'deliberate' The Crum: From conflict to concerts
