Holidays to Belfast

Sitting on the banks of the Lagan River in Belfast, the Waterfront Hall is a landmark of the city and ranks as one of the world’s leading conference venues, hosting a huge array of events from concerts and shows to exhibitions and competitions.

Located on the banks of the River Lagan, which runs through the city, the Lyric Theatre –more commonly known as the Lyric – is the foremost full-time production theatre in Belfast.

Ulster Hall is at the heart of Belfast and at the heart of some of Northern Ireland’s key cultural and political events. The music venue, nicknamed the Grand Dame of Bedford Street by locals, has hosted some of Ireland’s and Britain’s most famous names ever since it opened in 1862.

Belfast’s majestic Grand Opera House opened its doors in 1895 and since then has played host to some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment. Located in the heart of Belfast’s bustling city centre, this magnificent Victorian building has provided enchanting theatre for over 100 years as well as engaging with the local community and igniting a love of the stage in the city.

Malone House in Belfast is a prime example of what a historic country house should be in the modern day. This 19th century gem of Northern Irish architecture is no dusty museum, but is still regularly used as an events venue. A range of modern sculptures complement its 19th century landscaped gardens and the demesne is commonly used for walking and biking. A mansion steeped in history, Malone House is historically austere but still full of life.

Northern Ireland’s lush foliage and rolling hills make this the perfect country for a golfing getaway. However, if you’re visiting Belfast and want to practise your swing without venturing deep into the countryside to do so, why not pay a visit to the historic Balmoral Golf Club?

The Ulster Museum stands in the Botanic Gardens on the south side of Belfast. Northern Ireland’s largest museum and part of National Museums Northern Ireland, it’s home to a vast trove of treasures spanning archaeology, history, art and the natural sciences.

An annual audience in excess of 72,000 is testament to the sense of loyalty that has been inspired by this superb Belfast cinema over the past 40 years. Catching a movie here is far from what you’d get at your standard multiplex, with two screens between them seating more than 3,000 people allowing for an intimate film-going experience. The Queen’s Film Theatre shows a healthy mix of recent films and classics from the past, but a refined ambience doesn’t mean it takes itself too seriously - the programme organisers take care to present fun crowd pleasers such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show on a regular basis too.

Windsor Park is Ulster’s biggest football stadium and home to the Northern Ireland national football team. The ground has seen some of the greatest players in the province’s history, and is also used by local club Linfield FC.

A truly unique institution in Northern Ireland, Linen Hall Library is the country’s oldest, having been founded in Belfast way back in 1788. It’s renowned for its incredible collection of Irish and local studies that’s unparalleled anywhere else in the country.

Formed in 1891, Fortwilliam Golf Club is Belfast’s oldest, and certainly one of its most beloved, golf clubs. Located just off the Antrim Road, easily accessible from the north of the city, the course has a par of 70 spread over around 6,000 yards. Yes, it is a short course, relatively speaking, but it packs plenty of punch. Expect tricky greens and fairways lined with trees that pose substantial hazards to even the most experienced of golfers.

A stunning parkland course, Knock Golf Club in Belfast combines tree-lined fairways with tricky bunkers, demanding inclines and pristine greens, making this a first-class course to visit if you like a challenge.

Although it was closed to the public in 2001, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is still one of the most talked about places of worship in Northern Ireland.

A great choice for a round any day of the week when staying in Belfast, Dunmurry Golf Club is only a 10-minute drive from the city centre, superbly convenient just off the M1. Founded back in 1905, the club has a proud history, with many well-known victories. Residing on Dunmurry Lane since 1983, when road improvements forced the club to uproot from its previous course a mile or so away, both the present course and clubhouse have won awards.

Majestically beautiful, with a rich pedigree and proving a challenge for first-timers and old hands alike, it is surprising that Malone Golf Club is still relatively unknown, since this is clearly one of Northern Ireland’s premier parkland courses. Founded back in 1895, the club has actually moved four times since then, arriving in Dunmurry, five miles to the south of Belfast, in the early 1960s. Malone has played host to many amateur and professional competitions over the years - it was here, for instance, that the legendary Tony Jacklin won his first professional victory.

Dramatically located on a steep headland that plunges straight into the sea off the North Antrim coast, Dunluce Castle is the ruined former home of the legendary MacDonnell clan.

The Crumlin Road Jail (or Gaol) is a former prison situated on the Crumlin Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Housing its first inmates back in 1846, for 150 years it was a fully operational prison.

The city of Belfast in Northern Ireland is steeped in history and the impressive Belfast Castle is a significant part of this heritage. Built in the early 19th Century to replace the original Norman fortification that once stood in the centre of the city, Belfast Castle is an opulent structure built in the grandiose Scottish Baronial style.

The Giant’s Causeway is one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic and most photographed beauty spots, instantly recognisable the world over. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in all of Ireland, having earned this rare distinction back in 1986. Yet only through personally experiencing the many moods and overlooked facets of the wild north-east coast’s ancient volcanic bays, cliffs and beaches is it possible to appreciate their true splendour as wonders of the natural world.

A visit to Northern Ireland would not be complete without sampling some of the Irish whiskey produced in the country. Old Bushmills Distillery takes you back through time and lets you see first-hand how this well-known whiskey is hand-crafted and produced in small batches.

Not far from Northern Ireland’s capital city, Antrim is situated on the shores of the UK’s largest lake, Logh Neagh. A popular alternative to Belfast, Antrim is ideal for those seeking a getaway that blends vibrant urban energy with the leafy landscape of the Emerald Isle.

The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum has two wings, as the name suggests – one showing the traditions and way of life of the people of Northern Ireland, while the other is a collection of cars, locomotives, trams, horse-drawn carriages, planes, bicycles and even pogo sticks. There are no prizes for guessing which is more popular with young children.