Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you would visit Northern Ireland?

240 replies

BlueFlamingoes · 10/08/2025 20:21

Would you visit NI? Why/why not? I always find it interesting how marmite of a place my home is - keen to hear some opinions and maybe dispel a rumour or two :)

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueFlamingoes · 10/08/2025 20:55

DollydaydreamTheThird · 10/08/2025 20:49

Unpopular opinion but I didn't really like Australia and my family live there too. I thought it was just like anywhere. I'd been travelling in Asia before I went so maybe doing Australia after such a culturally rich experience was a bit of an anti climax. I'll probably get flamed for this but at least it is anonymous. 🤣

Show quote history

I think it fitted me/DD well as we both like our home comforts! I loved that it felt quite familiar in terms of culture etc yet obviously has a wildly different landscape, attractions etc. So much to see and do in one country. It was the perfect balance for us. DD did broach the idea of travelling south east Asia but quickly realised it wouldn’t be for her🤣

OP posts:
user2848502016 · 10/08/2025 20:55

Yes I have done twice, it’s beautiful and I would go again

Mumofmarauders · 10/08/2025 20:55

My best friend from uni is from, and went back to NI to live after we graduated, so i and my family go about once a year to visit (and vice versa). We love it! (Mind you, we are not sun seekers, so we’re not put off by drizzle/rain).

Judiezones · 10/08/2025 20:55

I visited NI for the first time two years ago. We loved it. The beautiful coastline and countryside, extremely friendly people, lovely and interesting places to visit. It was one of our favourite holidays.

NightPuffins · 10/08/2025 20:56

I went recently for a long weekend in Belfast and also saw the giant’s causeway. I’m not sure what else I would visit if I went again so I’d love to hear from you OP as a “local” what you recommend for a second trip? It was so easy to fly over from London and I enjoyed what I saw, I just don’t know what else there is.

Original poster
BlueFlamingoes · 10/08/2025 20:56

Letsgodancing · 10/08/2025 20:49

I have always heard NI, you are never more than an hour from a city, countryside, beach or mountains (I cannot say how true that is ) I went to visit a relative at uni there around 2010, I was only young at the time but it appeared that they had put so much money into improving the city of Belfast and there were some great places in belfast.

Edited

This is what I really enjoy. We live in the suburbs of Belfast - 15 mins from the city centre, 5 mins from forest/countryside and 20 mins from the beach. It’s brilliant! We have relatives in England and I always struggle with how driving hours to get to the beach etc is normal there.

OP posts:
hepsitemiz · 10/08/2025 20:57

Didn’t know how to vote, but I’ve loved my two previous visits and would happily go again should the occasion arise.

Mumofmarauders · 10/08/2025 20:59

evtheria · 10/08/2025 20:37

Yes! But I have distant relatives there, and have been many times before since young. I think even if I didn’t know anyone there I’d like to go, do some walks or a cottage stay… Most of the people I know who’ve gone as tourists only go to Belfast for just a couple days, seeing the Titanic museum and pubs, which is a shame considering the lovely, blustery coast. I do struggle to think of ‘visitor attractions’ - I think they could do a music museum, a bit like the one in Seattle, covering things from traditional folk music to the more modern, famous Irish, and having special spaces to hold small gigs or larger shows. I guess there’s that GoT thing which I wouldn’t be bothered with, though I do love a ruin or creepy forest.

Dunluce castle is an absolutely cracking ruin with amazing views (we love Narnia and it’s apparently an inspiration for Caer Paravel too). We had it almost to ourselves when we went!

RIPMTV · 10/08/2025 21:00

It’s a shame Ireland and NI are seen as racist. I think England is much worse in places,

Having said that, I think like everywhere in Europe, the anti immigration rhetoric has been whipped up a lot recently, so I can understand why black or Asian people might not want to visit,

My DH of many years is black and our kids (now grown up) are mixed. They’ve always felt completely fine and had no issues, whether in rural Ireland, cities or the north.

My DH had one hairy moment in the early 90s when he was mistaken for a British soldier in west Belfast (the only black men you’d see round there in those days).

TheDogsMother · 10/08/2025 21:00

MumOfManyAliases · 10/08/2025 20:23

Yes I would visit NI. Would I visit London? No.

Why wouldn’t you visit London ? It’s a great city with so many different areas so you couldn’t really say you don’t like it.

CrickityCrickets · 10/08/2025 21:00

I have, it's beautiful and the people I met are lovely. I don't have any family there, I go purely because it's great!

Mustbethat · 10/08/2025 21:03

DollydaydreamTheThird · 10/08/2025 20:49

Unpopular opinion but I didn't really like Australia and my family live there too. I thought it was just like anywhere. I'd been travelling in Asia before I went so maybe doing Australia after such a culturally rich experience was a bit of an anti climax. I'll probably get flamed for this but at least it is anonymous. 🤣

Show quote history

Same.

I did like some parts- being able to drive from place to place, stop in motel type places and go kayaking, walking, see nature etc.

But generally not a place that’s on my list to revisit.

wolleywool · 10/08/2025 21:04

Dunluce castle is an absolutely cracking ruin

it's amazing

Bambamhoohoo · 10/08/2025 21:05

peepsypops · 10/08/2025 20:50

Based on?

Show quote history

Are you seriously demanding a black person justify that to you?

Becs258 · 10/08/2025 21:07

Years back I would have been wary, but I visited last year and loved it. Can’t wait to explore more. My eldest worked on Rathlin Island for a bit and we’ve loved hearing all the stories.

CrystalSingerFan · 10/08/2025 21:08

I visited NI for the millenium New Year, with a NI boyfriend, to go to one of his friend's party. It was OK. Weather was as you would expect for that time of the year. Nothing made me want to return.

I would have enjoyed it more, probs, if I wasn't taking Larium for an imminent trip to Kenya.

GonnaeNoDaeThatJustGonnaeNo · 10/08/2025 21:08

Yes. I’ve been a few times

JustFrustrated · 10/08/2025 21:08

Ive been twice in the last 4 months. Is there a reason it's Marmite? I travel there frequently for work....

TheTwitcher11 · 10/08/2025 21:09

BlueFlamingoes · 10/08/2025 20:21

Would you visit NI? Why/why not? I always find it interesting how marmite of a place my home is - keen to hear some opinions and maybe dispel a rumour or two :)

Yes and have been many times :)

Pregnancyquestion · 10/08/2025 21:10

Yes planned to a few years ago as went to Dublin and wanted to go to Belfast and the giants causeway but the car hire we had got cancelled and so we never made it. Would love to go some day

evtheria · 10/08/2025 21:10

Mumofmarauders · 10/08/2025 20:59

Dunluce castle is an absolutely cracking ruin with amazing views (we love Narnia and it’s apparently an inspiration for Caer Paravel too). We had it almost to ourselves when we went!

Show quote history

Ooh, bookmarking that! When I’ve been it’s mostly to spend time with elderly family in a small town so I miss all the sightseeing stuff.

x2boys · 10/08/2025 21:11

BlueFlamingoes · 10/08/2025 20:21

Would you visit NI? Why/why not? I always find it interesting how marmite of a place my home is - keen to hear some opinions and maybe dispel a rumour or two :)

Yes I would love too infact i would love to tour the whole of Ireland properly my Dad is from skibereen in the Republic of Ireland and I have never been there either
But those of us of a certain age remember the Troubles which might be off putting to so e.

EmeraldLove · 10/08/2025 21:11

Went for the first time earlier this year. Would really love to return some time and explore more.

mathanxiety · 10/08/2025 21:11

Absolutely, yes.

wolleywool · 10/08/2025 21:13

I was surprised by the Peace walls, the houses with the cages over their gardens & some of the more scary murals. And then how a short distance away you were in a city that looked vastly different with lovely housing stock.