Travel Guides: Northern Ireland
General Information
Once forming the ancient kingdom of Ulster, Northern Ireland has been home to Gaelic kings, ancient Irish clans and seafaring Vikings. It is the Land of St Patrick and the giant Finn McCool, and is steeped in myths and legends of a mysterious and heroic past. Its appeal encompasses beautiful scenery, historic forts and castles and a rich legacy of Celtic Christianity, as well as the Ulster people who are welcoming and genuine, with an impetuous sense of humour. Another attraction is the small size of the country - its sights are all within a short, scenic drive of each other along mostly rural roads whose only traffic jams are caused by flocks of sheep and cattle crossings.
To the south east lies some of Ireland's loveliest landscapes in the Kingdoms of Down, an area recognised worldwide as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - it combines miles of spectacular coastline with fishing villages, seaside resorts, loughs, forests and the Mountains of Mourne. To the north is the dramatic Antrim coastline with its soaring cliffs, unblemished beaches and the magnificent glacier-carved Glens of Antrim. Among the unusual rock formations glimpsed from the coastal road, none is stranger or more memorable than the famous Giant's Causeway, the legendary tourist attraction that is fabled to be the highway built by giant Finn McCool, to bring his lady love to Ulster from an island in the Hebrides. This World Heritage Site is a mass of thousands of basalt columns tightly packed together to form stepping stones leading from the foot of the cliffs into the sea.
The gateway to the northwest is the historic walled city of Londonderry, or Derry, a city that encompasses poets, storytellers, music and festivals, and is a centre of culture and creativity. Across the Sperrins is the city of Belfast, surrounded by hills and a wealth of industrial sites, such as old linen and corn mills that are a reminder of Northern Ireland's industrial heritage. Belfast played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution and the development of its manufacturing businesses quickly turned the 17th-century village into a robust metropolis that today is home to a third of the country's population and some wonderful architecture.
With its green hills, rivers and lakes, mountains and spectacular coastline, Northern Ireland is the perfect setting for most outdoor activities, while in the towns and villages visitors will undoubtedly be invited to join in the 'craic' or good fun, centred on a traditional Irish music session and a pint or two of the black stuff.
Activities
St George's Market, Belfast
Built between 1890 and 1896, St George's Market is one of the city's oldest attractions, and the last remaining Victorian covered market in the region. After painstaking (and expensive) restoration, the market has reopened. On Fridays, the Variety Market, as the name suggests, offers a range of different items from antiques to clothes; while the City Food and Garden Market is on Saturdays, and offers the freshest local, international and speciality foods.
Getting There:
Free market shuttle-bus runs every 20 minutes between
the city centre and the market
Opening Times:
Variety Market: Fridays from 6am to 2pm; City Food
and Garden Market: Saturdays from 9am to 3pm; Sunday Market:
Sundays from 10am to 4pm
Admission:
Free
Belfast Zoo, Belfast
The Belfast Zoo is packed with animals from all over the world - from sea lions to giraffes - housed in a range of habitats, and offers a fun-filled day out for the whole family to enjoy. The zoo also hosts a number of exciting events throughout the year, such as reptile displays, birds of prey exhibitions and more, and has active breeding and conservation projects. There is also cafe and gift shop to be found on site.
Getting There:
From the City Centre, Metro buses 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e,
1f, 1g and 2a all stop at the Zoo
Opening Times:
Daily from 10am to 7pm (1 April to 30 September),
closing at 4pm in winter (1 October to 31 March)
Admission:
Winter: £7.45 (adults), £3.80 (children under 18).
Increased rates in summer, check the website. Concessions and
packages are available
Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum, Belfast
The Belfast Botanic Gardens date back to 1828, but were only opened to the public in 1895. The Gardens boast the Palm House, a cast iron and glass house built in 1852, rose gardens, green walkways and the Tropical Ravine greenhouse, which was built in 1889. The Gardens are popular with office workers, students, locals and tourists alike, and at the main entrance to the Gardens is the fascinating Ulster Museum. Founded in 1821, the Ulster Museum is a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits on a range of subjects (including Irish and local history), as well as being home to an excellent art collection.
Getting There:
Citybus 69
Opening Times:
Open from 10am to 5pm, from Tuesday to Sunday and on
bank holiday Mondays
Admission:
Free
Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Once the city's centre for trade and its warehouse district, the heart of Belfast's cultural and tourist hub is Cathedral Quarter, so named because of the presence of St Anne's Cathedral. There are some lovely examples of Victorian and Art Deco architecture, several galleries, dedicated performing arts venues, good restaurants and bars, and the area plays host to the Belfast Film Festival and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival annually. Given some time, the Quarter could rival Dublin's Temple Bar district for a good time in Ireland.
Giant's Causeway, Belfast
The pride of Northern Ireland's tourist attractions, the Giant's Causeway is a must-see sight for visitors to the northern half of the Emerald Isle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant's Causeway is a series of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a wondrous geological feature caused by ancient volcanic eruptions along the Antrim coastline. The hexagonal columns, the tallest of which are about 39 feet (12m) high, were formed over 60 million years ago, and today, present visitors with a terrain that truly does look like it must've been the handiwork of superhuman beings. As you walk along the one mile (1.6km) causeway, you'll notice a few famous formations among the columns, that have been given names such as The Chimney Stacks, The Harp, The Organ and The Camel's Hump. An on-site Visitors' Centre is open every day of the year, and provides some interesting information about the origins and myths surrounding the incredible columns that make up the Giant's Causeway.
Opening Times:
The Visitors' Centre is open daily throughout the
year, always opening at 9.30am and closing at either 4pm, 5pm or
6pm depending on the season.
Admission:
Free admission
St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast
The focal-point of Belfast's trendy Cathedral Quarter district, St Anne's Cathedral is a gorgeous monument, and a proud symbol of all the best that the beleaguered nation of Northern Ireland has to offer. With its foundation stone laid at the turn of the 20th century, the Cathedral was constructed around an old parish church - of which, only the Good Samaritan window still remains, viewable in the sanctuary of St Anne's. In 1924, the west front of St Anne's Cathedral was built in memoriam of the Ulster men and women who lost their lives in World War I, and in 1932, mosaics of St Patrick were inlaid to celebrate the 1,500-year anniversary of the Saint's arrival in Ireland. However, the most intriguing sight for present-day visitors to Belfast is the 130-foot (40m) stainless steel spire that was added to the Cathedral in 2007. Known as the 'Spire of Hope', the structure is illuminated at night, and stands as a symbol for the rejuvenation of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, and for the new hope and optimism that is beginning to flourish in Northern Ireland's historically troubled capital.
Opening Times:
Open for visitors from 8am to 4pm, on weekdays and on
Sundays
Admission:
Free admission, though donations are
appreciated
Ulster American Folk Park, Belfast
The Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum that focuses on the large-scale emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and is the biggest of its kind in Europe. Displays illustrate the everyday life of the emigrants through reconstructed original and replica buildings, a full-size replica of a sailing ship and daily demonstrations of printing, cooking, spinning and blacksmithing practices. There is also a fascinating indoor museum and a dockside gallery. The park also hosts a number of events, including popular music festivals such as the Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival.
Opening Times:
October to February: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to
4pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. March to September:
Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays (except
Northern Ireland Bank Holidays).
Admission:
£7.15 (adults), £4.40 (children). Concessions are
available
Giant's Ring, Belfast
The fascinating and mysterious Giant's Ring, near Shaw's Bridge, is made up of a circular enclosure nearly 656 feet (200m) in diameter with five entrances, and an older Neolithic passage tomb dating back to roughly 3,000 BC. Although the exact purpose of the henge is not known, some say that it served as a meeting point and ritual area, and several packages and urns full of bones have been excavated in the surroundings. There are beautiful views across the Lagan Valley, and the Ring is a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike to relax, picnic, cycle or walk.
Admission:
Free
Crown Liquor Saloon,
One of the best-known bars in Northern Ireland, the Crown Liquor Saloon stands proudly in Belfast's trendy Cathedral Quarter district, delighting all comers with its 'olde world' charms and inimitable atmosphere. A classic example of a Victorian 'gin palace', the Crown has undergone several restorations and refurbishments in its 130-year history, and today stands as beautifully finished as ever before. Used as a setting in many films, the Crown Liquor Saloon is an aesthetically pleasing place to load up on some liquid refreshments or traditional pub fare, its interior featuring mosaic tiles, gas lamps, a granite-topped bar, carved ceilings and stained-glass windows. A must for visitors to Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon is a great place to unwind after a heavy day's sightseeing in the Cathedral Quarter.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Belfast
Situated in an area of significant natural beauty - with views of Rathlin Island and Scotland stretching out in the distance - the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is one of Northern Ireland's newest and most popular tourist attractions. The rope bridge, which connects tiny Carrick Island with the mainland on the Antrim Coast, is the latest in a 350-year series of bridges between the two points, and offers a thrilling walk along the 66-foot (20m) divide, with visitors suspended 100 feet (30m) above the rocks below. Carrick-a-Rede has only been a tourist attraction for about five years, but already boasts about a quarter of a million annual visitors. Despite being quite scary, especially in high winds, Carrick-a-Rede has an impeccable safety record, and the extreme beauty of the rugged coastline on which it is built makes for a highly worthwhile day trip for visitors to Northern Ireland.
Admission:
Crossings: £5.40
