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Short trip to Belfast - looking for suggestions

41 replies

dancerdog · 16/08/2023 22:06

I'm going on a short trip to Belfast Fri - Sun with my husband and 22 year old son.

We have planned the Titanic, the St George Market, the bus tour, botanic gardens.

Does anyone have any suggestions of other things to do? Not the Game of Thrones tour though, I would like to do it, but it would take up the entire Saturday, so not an option for now.

Museums, exhibitions, quirky stuff to see do? All I can seem to find is the Titanic and GOT stuff!

There seems to be a cocktail bar in a high rooftop building - is it quite central?

And any good live music pubs?

Thanks!

OP posts:
dancerdog · 17/08/2023 00:12

continentallentil Sounds good, thanks for this.* *

OP posts:
lovewoola · 17/08/2023 00:16

black taxi tour

there's a rope bridge you can cross - might be too GOT or too far.

there's a nice pub with individual booths - can't remember the name

implantsandaDyson · 17/08/2023 00:17

dancerdog thank you - it's my talent Grin.

If you're up at Botanic Gardens, nip through to Queens University, walk through to the quad it's nice, takes 2 seconds. You can also nip up to the CS Lewis reading room on the Ist floor of the McClay Library. I think it's still open to the general public. It's just a room but it's not Titanic or GOT related 😅 and there's a big door there <I'm not really selling it but I like it>.

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PRosie · 18/08/2023 13:48

I don't know how to tag people but continentallentil there is a big difference in the Ulster fry and full English - potato and soda bread and the Ulster fry is much nicer!!!

BitOutOfPractice · 18/08/2023 13:58

@dancerdog if you went to see Dela Amitri you are my kinda woman!

I also recommend Crumlin Road Gaol and a black cab tour. I LOVE Belfast for a weekend!

BitOutOfPractice · 18/08/2023 14:00

The bar with booths is The Crown Car opposite the Europa Hotel. Also well worth a visit

cariadlet · 18/08/2023 14:29

We went to the Custom House Square gig a couple of years ago (it's an annual thing). DP and I would have been in our early 50s and dd about 17.

Most of the crowd looked to be 50s or 60s with some younger ones.

The square was very busy but only packed tight towards the front - plenty of room elsewhere if you wanted more space.

I was up at the front for most of the gig. I wouldn't do that for most punk gigs because I'm too old to put up with the aggressive men you get in mosh pits but it was absolute fine. A bit of jigging about to the music but nobody pushing anyone about. I didn't even spill my pint.

PS DP had previously gone to Belfast for a short break on our own.
Crumlin gaol was really interesting. We went to the Giant's Causeway because I have always wanted to see it but it sounds as though you might not have time for that.

Cleebope2 · 22/08/2023 19:51

Wondering how dancerdog got on at the weekend despite storm Betty! Where did you go and what turned out well?

dancerdog · 03/09/2023 20:21

@Cleebope2 We had a lovely time!

We were in a great Air BnB in the 'Titanic Quarter', and at first thought we were way outside the city centre. However, it was a pleasant 20? min walk along the Maritime Mile then over the footbridge at the squinty Albert memorial clock tower. There are 6 stained glass depictions of memorable Game of Thrones events along the mile . In fact, one of them is at the far end of the slips of the Titanic, we walked away along and got a pleasant surprise that it was the Iron Throne one, which incorporated a seat where you could pose for a pic as sitting on the throne!

The Titanic exhibition was better than remembered, husband and son also impressed, that took a good 3 hours including the Nomadic as well. Something seemed different about it but not sure if was just some bits I missed before. It is a good industrial history of the city. Also had cocktails in the Drawing Room no 2, very swanky.

We strolled around the lanes where there is a lot of pubs and restaurants, looks like a really good place for night life. For anyone planning to eat out though you really need to book, we finally found a pub to eat in - The Morning Star, an old horse racing sports pub, not much to look at but really tasty food, and the best chips I think I have ever had.

Went to the Crumlin Road gaol - a great experience, although the last part is a bit too vivid for children I think ( silhouette of an execution by hanging) which can be skipped, Very interesting. Noticed too late that there was an Immersive Monet exhibition on the way back , would have gone in if I had the time.

Popped into the Crown to meet my son, who used the bikes available. Couldn't get a seat in the booths but some guys offered their booth to us as they crushed in with some other people so we offered some American ladies some space in ours and have a good chat. There was a mela on at the City Hall, strolled around that, went in to see their exhibition, - a good read. Went to St Malachy's chapel to light a candle. I've been in it before, quite unusual, side-on layout inside. Then ate in the Chubby Cherub restaurant which was very tasty (remembered to book!).

Passed by the Stiff Little Fingers gig the way home, paused for a moment when my husband pointed out that we were hearing Glen Matlock singing 'Pretty Vacant' so am now claiming to have seen the Sex Pistols after all. (We had done a lot of walking, would have been too tired for the gig to be honest. )

Did did a murals taxi tour. Very interesting, very informative. Although we had a good understanding of things, my son found it very interesting - he said it was his favourite part of the trip.

Saw the peace wall., and the gates that get closed. Hard to imagine.

Then the St George's market, and the Ulster fry in a bap, which someone suggested...... nearly caused a family fight as it is so popular, we got a beeper to tell us when it would be ready - in our case, nearly 90 mins. So they just horsed it when it arrived. Good, apparently.

Had drinks in a lot of the pubs suggested, saw more than I have written above but will stop here. You get the gist ,we had a good weekend, hope to go again to to the GOT and Giants causeway tour.

Thanks for everyone's input, all very helpful!

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 03/09/2023 20:27

Do the political tour of the murals and main sites

Taytocrisps · 03/09/2023 20:34

Noodlehen · 16/08/2023 22:32

Black taxi tour of political murals, brilliant!

I was just going to mention this - it's excellent.

Chattygirl123 · 03/09/2023 20:35

PRosie · 18/08/2023 13:48

I don't know how to tag people but continentallentil there is a big difference in the Ulster fry and full English - potato and soda bread and the Ulster fry is much nicer!!!

I was going to say the same thing!

Meadowflower2023 · 03/09/2023 20:51

This thread has really made me want to go back to Belfast! I love the city but haven't been since pre covid. Have had many a good night in the Duke of York where they have really good live music then onto The Northern Whig for a dance 🤦🏼‍♀️ Oh and Kelly's Cellar in the winter with the fires going, soup on the bar, amazing Guinness and really good live music. I do the tour every time too as it fascinates me. Belfast is amazing.

Pleased you enjoyed it OP. Sounds like you had a great time.

AriannasGuitarCase · 03/09/2023 21:02

Sounds like you made the most of your time here! Glad you enjoyed it, I always love to hear positive stuff about Belfast

LimeTreeGrove · 03/09/2023 21:06

My dds had a great time too. The first day they went round on a double decker tour bus and got off at the stops. The second day they went on a tour to Giants Causeway, which also took in 2 castles, a coastal village and the Dark Hedges. They really enjoyed it

Cleebope2 · 03/09/2023 21:24

Crikey dancerdog you fitted so much in in a short time. I have lived here 52 years and still never seen the peace walls and gate! I was at that gig and glad it stayed dry most of the wknd for you. My taxi failed me and I walked home on my own for an hour and I must say Belfast feels much safer than a lot of cities these days in the dark.

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