Went to the Crumlin road jail as it's the top ranked attraction on trip advisor. It was…read moreinteresting that the site is owned by the Govt but run by a private company. It cost £6.50 (had a £2 discount coupon). The last tour of the day is at 4:30pm but it's also cool that the main building is open till late because of the restaurant located inside. Hearing about what went on was truly horrific but overall this was an okay experience for me. I think I was expecting more info about the troubles and the political prisoners but that wasn't really our tour guide's focus. He also started the tour by asking for volunteers but nothing was done involving a volunteer! It's an hour's tour and the visit to the tunnel plus the hangman info was the most interesting bits of the tour for me. Another tip - Don't miss checking out the beautiful but now derelict courthouse opposite the street. The govt sold it for £1 but it's going to take a fair bit of bob to put it back to rights! So overall it was interesting tour but maybe Note: #222 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

I had been meaning to come here for absolutely years, and just never got around to it…read more I am a huge fan of anything of historical interest, however my first visit, surprisingly, was for the Ghost tour this Halloween! I booked the tickets online and came along this October hoping for a spooky experience. We were greeted at the gates by security who explained how to get around into the car park, and got parked up with no issues. We waited in the coffee shop 'The Crum' - and had a wine and beer each prior to the tour. When the tour started, we were initially taken into a holding area, and then began by being taken into the tunnel linking the jail to the courthouse, where allegedly, paranormal activity has taken place! Unfortunately (or thankfully, maybe) we experienced no such activity on our trip. We were then taken into a side room where an employee was said to have met a grisly end, and we were instructed to record audio on our phones. Next, we were taken to one of the wings where we could see the cells (and inside the cells) and last but not least, we were shown to the condemned man's cell, and behind the book case to the gallows, before being taken down into the basement. We didn't experience any ghostly going's on in our trip, but I would definitely come back again, this time during the day, so I can get a proper look at the inside of the jail, since the tour I did was in the dark or low light. Recommended!

This was a beautiful building, inside and out. I loved the stained glass windows and…read morearchitecture! There were many different rooms to explore, with museum-like pictures and information to view. The toilets are free!

Belfast City Hall is the city center district and located in a business area, but with expanding…read moreresidential and entertainment. Plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, churches, and historical locations surrounding the city hall. Inside is very beautiful layout architecture with a beautiful dome plus plenty of glass windows artwork. Inside the surrounding garden within, there are: Titanic Memorial Garden, Korea War Memorial, Victoria Memorial, Boer War Memorial Royal Irish Riffles, and couple statues on the other side plus city ground for you to seat and admire the city hall.

Nicknamed 'the balls on the falls' is a very impressive structure, you get a great view of it…read morewhilst on the hop on hop off bus. Be great to see it at night.

In Belfast, where dreams rise high, Two spheres embrace the…read moresky, A dance of peace in metal's gleam, Reflecting hopes, a city's dream. The Irish love to give nicknames and the Belfast Rise Sculpture has not managed to avoid that fate. Affectionately known as "The Balls on the Falls," it symbolizes hope and renewal. This massive geodesic dome structure is located at the Broadway Roundabout and I spotted it while driving south on the Westlink. It was designed by Wolfgang Buttress and is a geodesic sphere suspended inside a larger sphere. It is a beacon of peace and progress, composed of thousands of metal bars forming two interlocking spheres, and it's mesmerizing. It's also the largest public art sculpture in the city. [Review 1916* of 2024 - 893 in United Kingdom - 22938 overall] *1916 was the year of the Easter Rising, the most significant uprising of Irish revolutionaries since 1798.

The legend of the Titanic lives on because of the famous movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate…read moreWinslet. It is a real story that is held dear in the UK. This is a nice memorial in Belfast. I was really struck by the long list of names in the plaques. I was reading the names one by one and these names seemed so real. There's a also a statue and sign in stone. This is right at City Hall. The legend of the sinking of the Titanic is a sad story that makes you ponder the wonder of human existence.

We were very pleased with the experience. We bought the "white star line" tour and it was worth…read moreevery penny. We got an hour long guided tour that not only gave us information about Titanic, but also about the building and the surrounding property. The exhibit showed every step of the process of shipbuilding in Belfast but I wished it would've shown more from the views of the passengers. What they would've seen on Titanic and her sisters. Overall, I would definately recommend people to go. It shows a part of history that is almost lost.

It looks like a jewelry box but it's actually the Jaffe Memorial Fountain. Striking and brightly…read morecolorful it was originally erected in 1874 by Sir Otto Jaffe to honor his father, Daniel Jaffe. It was initially placed in Victoria Square but was later moved to the Botanic Gardens, where it remained until 2008 It is intricate and elegant, made of Portland stone with each of the smaller columns featuring a female figure that represents each of the four seasons. It stands at the Victoria Street entrance to the Victoria Square shopping center. The original yellow and white were apparently selected to reflect the aesthetic preferences of the Victorian era, as these were popular colors to symbolize purity and light and optimism. It is indeed a fountain but in September it was dry. I'm not sure if it is ever filled with water. [Review 1883 of 2024 - 866 in United Kingdom - 22905 overall]

I bet you've walked past this wee gem hundreds of times but never given it a second look, I'm right…read morearen't I? Well now it's time to be enlightened. This is the Jaffa Fountain, not named after everyone's favourite cake/biscuit but actually named after Belfast's first Lord Mayor Otto Jaffa. The fountain itself was actually built in 1879 and it was erected in its current location, but here's the strange part. As industrial and commercial Belfast grew it was moved out to Botanic Gardens - mature students might recognise it from those days. Once Victoria Square was commissioned the decision was made to bring the old fellow back to its rightful place. I for one am glad they did as I think it provides a welcome nod to Belfast's past in the centre of its current commercial renaissance.

CS Lewis Square is not much more than a small park. However, it is free to enter and roam as well…read moreas filled with a handful of statues which bring figures of his Chronicles of Narnia to life. I came in the morning and was effectively the only person around. I spent about 15-20 minutes in total walking around, attempting to take the perfect pictures, and otherwise admiring the work. If I knew folks heading to Belfast, I would recommend they try to work in a visit, especially if they were already in the area. I would not advise drastically changing your schedule to incorporate nor spending heavy for transit to get there if it were significantly out of the way. Hopefully that guidance helps in planning if you should or should not plan a visit!

We stopped by CS Lewis Square during our vacation. It is a nice dedication to CS Lewis. There are a…read morefew unique art/statue pieces dedicated to his different stories. There isn't a lot here but it's cool to get some really nice pictures. It doesn't cost anything and takes no more than 15 minutes to see each of the statues. Well worth getting off the bus walking over to it taking a look and waiting for the next bus. Especially if you are a CS Lewis fan.

Like something out of a macabre horror movie complete with ancient slopping headstones, hawthorn…read moretrees and spooky atmosphere, Friar's Bush Graveyard is a perfect Tim Burton style dream. I had the chance to visit with a few friends for a guided lunchtime tour on Tuesday 5 July 2016. Our tour guide Adrienne was fantastic, walking and talking us around the cemetery which is the oldest Christian burial site in Belfast. From her we heard about the history of Friar's Bush and its residents which span the wealthy and influential through to victims of cholera, plagues and the potato famine. Tales of Grave Robbers and the various superstitions, strange activities and events which have occurred over the centuries ensued. We were all enthralled. This cemetery's a fascinating historical site to visit and definitely one of the best things to do in Belfast. Late night/ ghost tours can be arranged as well which would be wonderful at Halloween. Friar's Bush is usually locked off to the public so you need to book a tour well in advance by contacting Belfast City Council via telephone on 029 9027 0296. A fantastic and interesting place to visit which makes a refreshing change from the norm.

This iconic mural of Bobby Sands who was a member of the IRA and died while on a hunger strike in…read moreprison aged just 27 years old. It is a must see whilst in Belfast. It is a fantastic detailed grand memorial to Bobby and a very fitting tribute.

Located by the side of the Sinn Finn political party HQ building, our wonderful Belfast Black Cab…read moreTour Guide, Paul, took us to this mural as the second stop of our tour. He mentioned that this mural was painted in 1998, and it depicts what is now an iconic image of IRA leader Bobby Sands. The smiling pose is based upon a photograph taken of him during his imprisonment. Sands led a hunger strike while imprisoned in prison and was actually voted in as a Member of the UK Parliament. The hope was that the British Govt would let a member of their parliament die. However it was a forlorn hope and Sands died in prison less than a month later, at the young age of 27, without ever having taken his seat in the Commons. The mural displays two phrases "Everyone A Republican or Otherwise, has their Own Particular Role to Play," and "Our Revenge Will Be The Laughter Of Our Children." Very moving! Yelp 130/ 2019

The Sheep Herder and his seven sheep are located outside the Waterfront Hall, this statue was…read morecommissioned by the Cultural Council to mark the location of Belfast's Farmers Market. This farmers market is of course no longer present but I feel that this statue is a fitting tribute to Belfast's rich agricultural background. It is also very poignant that this statue is located outside the Waterfront Hall, a building that represents Belfast's future whilst the farmer is ever present in its shadow herding his sheep. IT is also very in keeping with the themes in surrounding themes like the Ulster Brewer and The Bronze Speaker in the nearby Custom House Square. This is another statue that will attract plenty of tourists and I turn highlight the City's cultural, agricultural and industrial background.