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Belfast
Troubled past to Buzzin’ Booming future
A trip to the wonderfully exciting City of Belfast will be a revelation to many visitors. 30 years ago the city’s main rival for the unenviable tag of the city to avoid was in fact Beirut! The ‘troubles’ as this period of our History was known was a time of extreme violence, as the two sides of the community struggled for supremacy and as is so often in civil unrest, neither faction got the upper hand.
Gradually over a period of time normality returned, Belfast recovered and reconstruction of the city as well as the hearts and minds of people took over.
Belfast people have a wonderful sense of humour which was a major factor in our rejuvenation and today the City is unrecognisable with new hotels, restaurants and of course the number one tourist attraction in Europe - the Titanic experience.
A trip to Belfast will undoubtedly have a lasting effect on all tourists young and old alike.
Top Notch Restaurants
Belfast has a wealth of famous restaurants, many within a short walk of the Big Fish holiday homes. There is the award winning Deanes restaurant in the city centre but Michael Deane has various other eateries in the city including the very popular Deanes at Queens.
It is impossible to list all the top restaurants and new and exciting places to eat are popping up all the time.
Big Fish homes personal favourites include CoCo,Ox, NuDelhi, French Village, Shu, James Street South and Howard Street.
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World Famous Attractions, Titanic experience to ‘The Murals’
Belfast has so many top visitor attractions.
The unique and amazing Ulster Museum, beside it is the recently transformed Botanic Gardens and Queens University is 200 m away. All these attractions are free and well worth a visit.
The Belfast City Hall has a wealth of history within its iconic walls and beautiful gardens. It is possible to book free tours.
The Crumlin Road Gaol is one must see attraction; a tour of this prison is moving and revealing about so much of our past.
No trip to our city would be complete without a black cab tour to visit many of the areas made ‘famous’ during the troubles. This is a very emotional experience which narrates our past through world famous murals and ‘peace walls’.
Finally, on the list of Belfast attractions is the Titanic experience - one of the most famous attractions in Europe, if not in the world - you can’t visit Belfast and not visit the Titanic!
World Famous Bars
In Belfast City Centre you’re never very far from a bar. Great Victoria Street is home to the world famous Crown Bar, Robinson’s bars and Europa hotel.
Venture into the Cathedral Quarter and list of top class bars is endless - well known are ‘The Thirsty Goat’ and the ‘The Dirty Onion’ but there are many many more.
The ‘Harp Bar’ is renowned for its live music.
Exciting/Designer Shopping
In every group of tourists to Belfast there will be at least one shopping addict. We’ve got your back, from the Victoria Centre where designer shops abound (with Ireland’s only Apple shop!) to the many shopping malls including Castle Court - Belfast is a shopper’s paradise.