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Belfast for weekend?

17 replies

Elvanseshortage · 28/10/2023 19:40

I am thinking of having a weekend break in Belfast, travelling from London.

Anyone who has done this, would you recommend it and do you have tips for good places to go, or to avoid?

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Elvanseshortage · 28/10/2023 22:20

Bump!

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Fordian · 28/10/2023 22:27

Flying in, staying where?

We went to the Titanic thing/ the Museum (with a great, thoughtful, 'troubles' section); the town hall, a walk through the Falls Rd/Anderson town, Crumlin Rd Gaol, peace walls, and a couple of amazing pubs.

Fordian · 28/10/2023 22:29

I don't think you need to avoid anywhere, apart from the usual 'woman alone at night' stuff.

Wrongsideofpennines · 28/10/2023 22:29

Would definitely recommend. The Titanic experience and dry Dock are worth doing. As are the murals and peace walls. I wouldn't normally recommend them but the open top bus tour was really good for getting us places and telling us stuff about the places we wanted to see but didn't want to get off.

DinaofCloud9 · 28/10/2023 22:30

I loved Belfast. We enjoyed the Crumlin Rd jail, the Titanic museum, St Anne's Cathedral, the bus tour.

It's a lovely, friendly place.

BelfastSmile · 28/10/2023 22:43

It depends what sort of things you're interested in - the Titanic Museum is good, as is the nearby Nomadic. You could probably fill most of a day with those two if you were interested. There's also HMS Caroline, which isn't too far from Titanic, and is also worth a visit.

The Ulster Museum is interesting, and it's within Botanic Gardens, which is nice for a walk around. It has a palm house and a tropical ravine which are worth calling in to (neither is very big). The gardens are beside Queens University, which you might like to see.

Crumlin Road Jail is worth a visit if you want some Troubles history.

The open top bus tour is good for getting your bearings and seeing lots of the sights (things like the peace walls, which are basically just big walls - I've never seen the point of going out of your way to see them, but you drive past on the bus tour and get the general idea).

If you're more into shopping, Victoria Square is your best bet, but the whole city centre is walkable and has some nice shops.

City Hall is quite interesting.

If I was spending a weekend, I'd probably do Titanic, Nomadic & HMS Caroline on the Saturday, and then on the Sunday id take the open top bus tour, and get off at Botanic Gardens to do the Ulster Museum and Queens; then in getting back to the city centre I'd do City Hall.

It's a small city, and fairly easy to get around. If you plan to stay near the city centre there are a few hotels which are good. There's a new one called Room 2 which has just opened and calls itself a "hometel" - you can cook/bring in your own food, or go to the bar to eat. It looks nice from the outside at least!

SisterMichaelsHabit · 28/10/2023 22:46

Yes do it, Belfast is brilliant! Definitely recommend the Titanic quarter and also CS Lewis Square in Strandtown (it's a quick one but still interesting and celebrates our literary heritage).
Are you hiring a car? If so, beyond the city itself, I'd recommend going to the beach at Holywood and getting lunch in one of the little cafes (or pop to Bangor), a wee trip to Stormont/Stormont park to see the interesting sculptures in the park, and a drive down to Winterfell castle. Or if you really want to go off the beaten path, try Mahee Castle and the nearby monastery which are on an island nature reserve accessed by a long causeway.

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/10/2023 22:48

Love Belfast - recommend it. Really friendly place with lots to see - you have some good ideas here. Enjoy.

Danielle9891 · 28/10/2023 23:09

I like Belfast. We've been a few times to watch the ice hockey at the SSE. It's actually really fun. The Titanic centre is great as well as the Christmas markets but if I'm honest I liked Derry better. We don't really like drinking or shopping and enjoyed going to Granny Annie's bar to watch the live music and have a few drinks. There's one in Belfast too but the one in Derry is better.

Elvanseshortage · 29/10/2023 07:26

Thanks so much for the responses. I’m looking forward to going now!

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PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 29/10/2023 07:28

A timely thread - I’m going tomorrow 😀

AuntieMarys · 29/10/2023 07:31

We've been several times..always stay at Titanic Hotel which is a museum in its own right.
Shanklin Road and Falls Road area worth visiting, as is Crumlin Road Gaol. We've also hired a car and done the GOT stuff up the coast.
Beautiful place.

Elvanseshortage · 29/10/2023 12:05

@PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister have a great time and please report back!

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Hobnobswantshernameback · 29/10/2023 12:24

Edo is a fab restaurant.
open top bus tour is brilliant,
pint in the crown is a must.

WeeDove · 29/10/2023 12:30

I got the train from Dublin and stayed a couple of nights in The Culloden which is a txi ride out of centre but a really beautiful hotel with spa, view of lake et cetera.

WeeDove · 29/10/2023 12:33

When I was there, they were in the process of turning the old redbrick skylighted draftsman's Hall beside the titanic into a boutique hotel. If I go agai , maybe with my daughter, I'd love to stay in that hotel.

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