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Belfast City Guide, Including Belfast Hotels
By: Maria Williams
Nestled in a valley and bordered to the east by the Irish Sea, thecapital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is a vibrant and lively Celticcity that lives up to its nickname of “The Hibernian Rio.” Situated onthe River Lagan, the pedestrian-friendly city enjoys a focal point inDonegal Square where the architecturally stunning City Hall dominatesthe skyline, and elsewhere Victorian and Edwardian architecture can beenjoyed by visitors on foot.
Places of interest:
Belfast’s glorious seafaring history and place at the forefront of theindustrial revolution is evident in the greatest shipyard in GreatBritain, where the Titanic was built. The city’s name is derived fromthe Irish “beal feirste” which means “at the mouth of the sandpit” andnightlife, arts, festivals, dining and shopping are all in abundance inthe city. The sea front in particular is now pedestrianised andvisitors can enjoy the best of Irish culture in street musicians andtheatre against the backdrop of the Irish Sea.
Standing 120 metres above sea level, Belfast Castle offersbreathtaking and panoramic views of the city, bay and surroundingareas. Belfast Castle was the ancestral home of the Chichester, laterDonegall, family who were descendants of Arthur Chichester who plantedthe land that was to become the city in the 1600s. The history of thecastle, and city, are celebrated in the Cave Hill Visitor Centre in thecastle grounds.Ulster Museum, set over 8000 square metres of grounds, is likely totake up a full day, so extensive and fascinating are its archaeology,ethnography, art, history and natural sciences exhibits. Thecollections portray and celebrate the history, culture, artistic,scientific and industrial achievements: in short, the story of theIrish people from their ancient roots up until modern day. The museumhouses both permanent and temporary collections, and regular,creatively planned tours are offered to distil some of the wonders ofthe museum into palatable chunks.For stunning hiberno-romanesque architecture, the Belfast Cathedralis worth a visit, and the exciting, interactive and interpretive St.Patrick Centre tells the story of Ireland’s patron saint, in his ownwords.The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of BelfastInternational Rose Garden, in the southern outskirts of Belfastfeatures an International Rose Exhibition, as well as gardens, walks, achildren’s playground and live music concerts.The Linen Hall Library was established in 1788 and boasts acollection of over 20,000 volumes of Irish literature and an enviableRobert Burns collection.
Things to do:
Belfast will never leave tourists wondering how to entertainthemselves! Plenty of things to do and see exist in Belfast.
The world class Belfast Zoo features plenty of don’t-missattractions, including the monkey park, reptile house and children’splayground.Walking Tours of Belfast include The Old Town, Titanic Trail andthe City Centre Walk.The oldest covered market in Ireland, St George’s Market offers arange of fish and speciality foods that are unrivalled in Europe.The world’s largest dry dock, Haarland and Wolfe, is where theTitanic was built and its famous cranes, Samson and Goliath, can beseen from all over the city.At the The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum a fascinating insightinto the history and the daily lives of Ulster people can be found.The Home Front Heritage Centre features collections that portraythe Belfast experience of the Second World War, and is also home to themuseum of the Royal Ulster Rifles.W5 is a world renowned innovative and interactive centre of scienceand technology exploration, with activities, exhibits anddemonstrations to expand and intrigue minds of all ages.
Food & Drink:
If it is excellent food the tourist seeks, they won’t have to look farin Belfast.
Traditional pub fare in a historical atmosphere is to be found atBelfast’s most famous pub, the Crown Liquor Saloon in the heart of thehistorical district.Altos was rated number one by Yahoo travel for stylish andcontemporary cuisine, serving cutting-edge Mediterranean food andfeaturing an extensive wine list and speciality coffee choices.The Gypsy Queen Vegetarian Restaurant is on of Europe’s premiervegetarian dining destinations. All dishes are GMO approved, andorganic wherever possible.For the cuisine enthusiast, Deane’s Restaurant is a high end,luxurious dining experience, featuring dishes created by one ofIreland’s top chefs.Live music pubs are a staple of Belfast nightlife, including theDuke of York, Morrisons and at the docks, Pat’s Bar Princes.
Belfast Hotels & Accommodation:
As befitting a major European destination, a full range ofaccommodation options are available in Belfast. Visitors can chose fromcosy, family run bed and breakfast establishments, a variety of selfcatering options and luxury five star hotels to suit every taste, setof requirements and budget.
Ravenhill Guest HouseThe Crescent TownhouseEuropa HotelThe Malone Lodge HotelTara LodgeThe Park Avenue HotelThe Stormont HotelThe Chimney Corner HotelCulloden HotelDays HotelJurys Inn BelfastRamada BelfastParkview LodgeTen Square
Entertainment
Nightlife is one of Belfast’s main attractions, with revellers enjoyingeverything from world class dance clubs to traditional pubs. ThePotthouse, opened in November 2004 was built on the site of Belfast’sfirst pottery factory and comprises The Potthouse Bar & Grill,Sugar Nighclub, which plays Top 40, House and classic Disco, and theSoap Bar guestroom. The Fly and The Grill Room and Bar are also notableBelfast nightspots. The Movie House Cinema on the Golden Mile offersthe latest cinema releases, as well as arthouse and independent films,and Ireland’s only 3D and 2D large format cinema, the SheridanIMAX islocated on Queen’s Quay. Fantastic shopping is available in the citycentre Donegall Place and the Waterfront Concert Hall hosts concertsand music tours from all over the world.
Belfast enjoys an enviable position at the forefront of Hibernianculture, scenery and history. With an ideal and unique combination ofCeltic culture and British industrial influence, Belfast is an idealseaside for family friendly events, educational andhistorical attractions and a nightlife that is second to nonethroughout Europe. In common with much of the British Isles, Belfastexperiences a temperate and often wet climate, but is protected by thesurrounding mountains of Divis Mountain, Black Mountain and Cave Hill.
Biography
Name: Maria Williams
Website: http://www.sleepuk.comBiography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of hotels in Belfast.
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