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 :)

I went a few years ago when my son was going to an event and invited me to go with him. I wasn't going to go at first because I grew up in the 1970s and just associated NI with the troubles. Well I went and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to go back one day.

North Antrim Coast/Giants Causeway/Dunluce Castle/Game of Thrones Tour/Carrickfergus Castle. Belfast: Crumlin Road Gaol; Titanic Museum. Might be worth your while to see if the Ulster Museum have any exhibitions on, and have a stroll in the Botanic Gardens. The Folk and Transport Museum is great too. The Grand Opera House is stunning, tickets sell out though so book in advance. Victoria Square is good for shopping. Where to eat in Belfast: Deanes, The Ivy… There’s loads of places to eat around the Town, we like Top Blade for the steak. Cathedral Quarter is brilliant craic for a night out. We like the Spaniard (order a dark and stormy), the dirty onion, the thirsty goat. You could take a train to Portrush, the beaches are beautiful… There’s loads of National Trusts Houses, but if you’re on the North Antrim coast, you could stop at Glenarm Castle. It’s not National Trust, but there’s a lovely cafe in it and the gardens are lovely. Hillsborough Castle is nice and we like the cafe there too… you could do a red bus tour, or a black cab tour to check out the murals..Im sure others can think of plenty of other places, I’ve lived here most of my life and I’m still discovering places! Don’t let the flags/murals etc intimidate you. The vast majority of people here are really lovely and friendly regardless of community background. It’s not something that bothers me tbh…There’s premier inns etc and then there’s swanky places to stay like the Merchant Hotel. Up to you what you’d like… The Fermanagh Lakes are gorgeous, you could visit Beleek Pottery, the Marble Arch caves… I could go on. Sure c’mon and visit and see for yourself xx

In 2022 I had one of my best ever UK holidays in Co Antrim. We stayed in Portrush and saw all the wonderful coastline. They have vast, wide, sandy beaches and gorgeous colour seas. The mountains of Mourne are beautiful too,

I felt similar, I went to South Africa on the way which totally blew my mind. I did have a good time and absolutely loved the barrier reef, but it was so weird arriving in Sydney after such a long journey and it feeling a bit like I'd arrived back in London but with better weather and easier access to the beach.

@BlueFlamingoesI am southern Irish descent so spend lots of time there but finally went to the north around 10 years ago - mum was still worried by the stories she was brought up on that she’d not be welcome (born in 1940’s). Anyway no stopping us now we’re back off again next week. I actually prefer it to the south!!!

any insider tips? We are staying up near bushmills this time.

The Causeway is ruined by the same thing that all popular tourists attractions are ruined by - too many visitors!!

The first time I went was late in the evening one summer when most people had gone home and it was absolutely stunning.

I would still recommend the other National Trust bits of the North Coast though, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge (although I expect it's more popular than when I first went so may suffer from a similar problem). Whitepark bay (it sometimes has cows!), Portstewart Strand, Mussenden Temple and Cushenden are all lovely.

I love Northern Ireland - the landscape, the food, the lakes, the mythology. Armagh is the most underrated city in the British Isles.

Yes, of course.
I lived there for a couple of years, lonely part of the world.

@babasaclover What type of things are you keen to do?

Dunluce castle is lovely and the views are stunning.

If you're in Bushmills do pop in here https://www.thecourthousebushmills.com it has an amazing shop and resident creatives. It also has a cafe although I haven't eaten in it yet, so can't comment although I haven't heard anything negative. There is also an amazing cheese toastie place https://cheesemaegden.com which is also a cheese mongers/ deli.

If you like walks there is a lovely walk over the dunes between Bushmills/ Portballintrae and the Causeway, and if you skip the visitor centre you can walk on to the causeway. The walk between East Strand in Portrush and Whiterocks along the beach is also lovely.

Also randomly, if you're self-catering there is an egg vending machine in Portballintrae which sells the nicest eggs I've eaten in a while.

Yes, have done. I also seriously considered it for uni (Queen's) but ended up in Durham

True! I came to live here over 30 years ago my children now grown up had the very best childhoods roaming free on the beach across the road. They would come home from school straight in their wetsuits grabbed the body boards when they came back it was straight into pjs. All of them worked from a young age and developed great work ethics. The education here is fab and cities are very near for concerts and theatre

I wouldn’t have any aversion to going, but the NI tourism office really needs to publicise the good bits a bit more! Beyond the Titanic museum, I don’t really know what there is for tourists to do there. I know what is in Scotland, Yorkshire, Northumbria and Wales because we see the scenery on TV and in films. NI is a long way from where I live and I’m not aware enough of what is there to plan a special trip. Same is true for Norfolk, if that is any consolation!

I’d be very keen to have a proper look around if I was there for another reason though - wedding or work conference or whatever. I’m sure there is loads of stuff to do there, I just don’t know about it.

Yes I would, and hope to do so before long. For reasons of natural beauty, also DP has been to Belfast a few times and really liked it, plus it shouldn’t be incredibly hot!

I didn’t feel at all safe and found the people unfriendly.

Thank you so much :)

Been to Belfast twice - loved it. The people are awesome! Very like Glasgow/Scotland I thought, in that they were open and welcoming and we had a great time in the pubs just getting chatting to people. Would defo come again and see more of NI.

Yes exactly how I felt. It was a bit meh in comparison to the sights, sounds and smells of Asia. I also found some Aussies rather racist at times as well which was not what I had expected. Considering it is such a multicultural society I was rather shocked my this. I did have a fab time and I have great memories but I wouldn't rush back.

The view from Mussenden temple is amazing. I really don't think you can beat the beaches.

Have been a few times as DH is from there and still lots of family over there. I don't know if it would've been high on my travel list if I hadn't met DH though

Yes, we have just been. Giants Causeway was amazing. easyJet cancelled our flight so we missed a day. We are looking forward to going back to do the things that we missed.

NI is a great and very affordable place to visit. It's an undiscovered part of these islands for most people. I'm biased, but I'd recommend the whole coast from Down through Antrim. Lots of nice beaches, scenery, towns, great coastal walks, nice tee/coffee shops, etc. There is also an incredible variety when you think about the mountains in south part of Down, the flatter coaster paths in the north, the Antrim glens, Rathlin and so on.

It's also much more accessible for a short trip than other trips that people take to west coast of Scotland (which is amazing!) or Cornwall (not a big fan! too busy).

Belfast is one of the most welcoming cities I’ve ever been to in Europe. Amazing people and it’s stee r in really interesting history.

And a lovely 1-day walk if you want to get outside Belfast https://walkni.com/walks/north-down-coastal-path/

I felt the same as previous posters in Australia. It's a long way to go to feel like you're in England

NI feels less English to me than Australia TBH (I don't mean that in a "not BRITISH" way or related to republican/unionist stuff, I mean specifically English-ey, same as how Scotland is not "English-ey")

I feel it's much more refreshing in its differences from England, and therefore a better holiday, than Australia is.

@Mustbethat I LOVED Beirut. It was a very sobering experience, but such a beautiful country, lovely people and great food.