To ask if you would visit Northern Ireland?

[BlueFlamingoes]

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 :)

So did I until I first went there. It was 1998 and my mum thought I was going to Beirut! My bloke comes from Belfast and we’ve visited numerous times in the last 20 odd years.

It’s not dangerous any more and it’s cleaner and better kept than a lot of England on the whole. Belfast is a very pretty, welcoming city and the Antrim coast is breathtakingly beautiful.

I went to Belfast six years ago and absolutely loved it. Wouldn't hesitate to go back!

For those that are looking for an alternative to the giants causeway/antrim coast, head down the Ards peninsula towards Portaferry. Catch the ferry to Strangford. You can head down to Newcastle and The Mournes. Me and DH live here and went to Newcastle on Saturday.
We haven't been for a while and Id forgotten just how stunning it is, and the sun shone all day 😄

I should really go, to challenge my pre conceived ideas, as I'll admit I've still got leftover thoughts of it being a bit rough and dangerous.
I'm only basing this on what I saw on the news as a kid in the 80s
I'd love to visit the Titanic Museum.

Yes I went to Belfast for work and had no expectations and thought it was a fabulous city

You have to fly or get a ferry though, it's a hit of an undertaking for somewhere not much different to a city in the rest of the UK. Much nicer places in Scotland imo.

Lived there for a few years. As an English person (with Irish roots), I was always othered. Too English to be Irish and too Irish to be English. And beyond the surface level friendliness in pubs, people weren't overly welcoming. Felt like a really insular community (no offense to anyone from NI). I'd imagine people who don't look like they are from there probably suffer from regular discrimination.

Great for a weekend away, fantastic pubs, amazing restaurants and some beautiful scenery but the secreterianism remains strong on a day to day basis. I wasn't even able to sit on an interview panel as I had a Catholic surname!

When I revisited recently, I felt a definitely "undercurrent" when out in town, lots of junkies and feral kids about. But it's the same case in most UK cities TBF.

Donegal is in ROI and not actually in Northern Ireland though.
You’re right, it is beautiful.
I haven’t seen the Antrim coast yet unfortunately.

Yes, went to a wedding on the Antrim coast about 10 years ago, had a day in Belfast on the way home and have always wanted to go back!

My sister used to live there so I visited a few times and did enjoy it but I've never felt any compulsion to return. It's OK but overall I felt it was a bit like a down-at-heel Scotland with a lot more overt sectarian bigotry, so not really worth the ferry trip without family there.

No, I’ve been to Belfast for work for a few days and couldn’t wait to get out.

It would be interesting if you could expand?

Absolutely the same.

It cost me £36 return to fly into Belfast international from Manchester airport last year and about 7 quid on the bus into Belfast. It costs me about £100 return on get the train to London and about the same if not more to get the train into Scotland! It’s far far cheaper and no more of undertaking!

I've been twice and loved it - the first time was a general holiday and the second time a short break in Belfast (and we went to Carrickfergus too). I actually think Belfast is really well kept - has loads of shops where most GB cities would have lots of empty units (this was in 2022 so I don't know if things have changed since). I think it feels more affluent than Scotland but there again it's a while since I was last in Scotland as well. There's clearly been a lot of investment in Belfast.

I don’t think it’s marmite is it? I much prefer Belfast to Dublin.

Northern Ireland is amazing. I was expecting it to be grim but I have had a lovely time when I have been - a couple of times now. The Causeway Coast is gorgeous and I liked Belfast much better than Dublin. So, yes, I would go back and plan to.

We have relatives there, so we visit i find Belfast a bit strange there is a weird vibe i can't put my finger on, so we rarely go in.. where relatives live is nice i like the area.

I’d love to go round the docks and titanic museum in Belfast. However, I love history and that of NI just feels too raw still. I hope over time that will settle!

I would love to visit NI. My dad is from there but I have never been because of issues to do with the troubles when I was younger. I’m in my 50s and really want to bring my kids to explore our heritage now that it is safe. Would any of you have any recommendations of where to visit? (Sorry if that seems like a derail!).

Yes definitely 👍👍

Whereabouts is your Dad from? I'm from Portstewart and will always recommend the north coast, it really is stunningly beautiful, the coastline and beaches are incredible, as are the Glens of Antrim, but there are loads of other places worth a visit too - particularly Newcastle/the Mournes and Fermanagh - Cuilcagh, Marble Arch Caves, the Lakelands etc.

I went to uni in Edinburgh and lived away for many years, in Scotland, England and Canada. I moved back with Canadian DH 5 years ago and no regrets, we both love it.

Whereabouts is your dad from? That might be a great place to start. But generally, a lot of the popular places have been mentioned. Belfast (the city centre, St George’s Market, Titanic Experience, City Hall etc), the Antrim coast (Bushmills Distillery, Dunluce Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Carrick-a-reed rope bridge, Ballycastle - the list goes on.) But there so many other beautiful places, like Silent Valley which is a beautiful reservoir in the Mourne Mountains. Breathtaking views on the drive there. Also Slieve Gullion Forest Park in the same general vicinity. Newcastle is a lovely wee town at the foot of the Mournes. The Fermanagh lakes. Seamus Heaney Homeplace. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. You should definitely come!

Thank you so much to both of you. I was a bit obscure for family/historical/troubles reasons. But my dad is actually from right on the border in Donegal. I can’t visit Eire for reasons I can’t really go into here so would love to visit NI instead as it feels as close as I can get. Sorry for not being totally upfront to start with! But you’ve both been super helpful!

I do, regularly. It helps that I live within easy driving distance of Cairnryan. I feel quite at home in Belfast and am enjoying discovering other places in the country.