This magnificent city has sprung from very humble beginnings indeed. Starting out as nothing more than a small hamlet with fertile land along the mouth of the Lagan. In no time at all, marauders and pirates realised this lough was deep and it's shores were a welcome safe haven from the North Atlantic storms. The perfect place for repairing sea ravaged ships. From these early beginnings the locals developed a boat building trade, and the rest, as they say, is history. Of course over the years there have been many changes, submissions and additions to this wonderful city, and that includes many car parks that will look after your hire car whilst you explore some of the areas by foot.
Belfast Castle is a historical building renowned for its beautiful Scottish baronial architectural style and charming interior design. The castle was the 9th Earl of Shaftesbury's present to the city and is now a sought after venue for wedding receptions, corporate events and dining. Its antique shop and restaurant are both locals and tourists favourite.
Belfast Botanic Gardens is located within College Park along the Botanic Avenue. It is of Victorian heritage and is one of the tourists, students and workers favourite places to meet up. It occupies 28 acres of land and features a wonderful collection of plants. Its facilities to date include the Palm House, the Tropical Ravine, giant bird feeders, flower beds, rose garden, rockery, alpine garden, sculptures, specimen trees, shrub borders, bowling green and pavilion.
City Hall is a civic building in Belfast City renowned for its magnificent Baroque Revival architectural style. It is located in Donegall Square and is open for tours from Monday to Saturday. The City Hall's gardens are popular with children, teenagers, tourists and local workers especially during summers as a good place to unwind. The celebrated Belfast Wheel is located within the eastern grounds of the City Hall. There are many connections with the Titanic and The City Hall. The Lord Mayor at the time of its opening, Sir Daniel Dixon, credited William Pirrie, the man who created Titanic, as having 'the big ideas' for City Hall. Pirrie, Lord Mayor in 1896/7, is said to have referred to it as 'the stone Titanic'. In its grounds, the Titanic Memorial, sculpted by Thomas Brock, pays tribute to 22 men who lost their lives on the ship. Another statue by Brock depicts Sir Edward Harland, ship's plan in hand, who was Lord Mayor in 1885/6.
Crumlin Road Gaol or Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) was a prison built during the Victorian era and is situated in Crumlin Road. Its history of imprisonment and execution lasted for one hundred fifty years. The former prison facility was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and built sometime in between the years 1843 and 1845. The site now serves as one of the city's major tourist attractions.
Titanic Belfast opens in March 2012 and will be the world's largest Titanic exhibition. Located in Queen's Road, Queen's Island, Belfast BT3 9DT this huge, informative exhibition houses nine galleries that use a range of interactive media to explore the full story of the Titanic from it's design and building right through to the discovery of the wreck as well as continuing into the present day with a live undersea exploration centre. The Titanic Belfast exhibition's facilities include a restaurant, cafe, gift shop and plenty of parking.
Victoria Park is a hidden gem that can be found at the eastern side of the city along Park Avenue. It is a tranquil and charming place to unwind for several hours. Bird watching and swans and duck feeding are the usual favourite activities in the area.
The Crown Liquor Saloon is where you'll find a wealth of knowledge about one of the oldest and most loved landmarks in Belfast. You'll learn more about its illustrious past and how history has shaped the development of this very special saloon.
Ulster Museum allows you to come face to face with various dinosaurs, an Egyptian Mummy and to see modern masterpieces. As Northern Ireland's treasure house of the past and present, the museum houses a rich collection of art, history and natural sciences and free to all visitors. From Ireland to the South Pacific, the museum offers something for everyone.
The Belfast Waterfront is an award-winning, purpose-built conference, arts and entertainment centre offering a variety of facilities.
The Grand Opera House has delivered laughter, tears and applause since 1895 inside its majestic walls. Since throwing open its doors to the public for the first time, more than a century ago, this beloved venue has played host to some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment.
Northern Ireland War Memorial was placed in honour of those who sacrificed their lives in World War One and World War Two. An appeal was launched and the government promised to match donations from the public. The site in Waring Street that had been bombed during the Blitz in May 1941 was chosen for the building.
How great is it to have the freedom of driving a hire car from VroomVroomVroom so you can visit these fantastic places without fear of missing anything!
