Belfast

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit Belfast, before the winter chill hits and with plenty of things to see and do.

Things to see and do

Autumn is festival time throughout Ireland and Belfast is no exception. With the renowned and ever growing Belfast International Arts Festival taking over the city throughout October, Belfast’s legendary hospitality is on show to even more visitors than usual. This means that the buzz throughout the city ensures that you can’t fail to enjoy yourself when out and about. With artists from around the world descending on the city, it is one of Belfast’s local heroes that might just steal the show. Van Morrison is taking up a three day residency in the Europa Hotel alongside Joey De Francesco and featuring songs from his latest album.

Another famous visitor to Belfast is Dippy the Diplodocus, on show at the Ulster Museum from September until January. The 21 metre long skeleton has never been outside of the Natural History Museum in London, and the Belfast leg of his British tour coincides with a series of events showcasing the best natural history throughout Northern Ireland.

A visit to Belfast is not complete without a visit to the award winning Titanic Belfast, regularly voted among the best museums in the world. The museum has become an instant symbol of the rebirth of the city with its iconic design, and inside it tells the story of the famous ship from its creation to its tragic end. The nearby Titanic Hotel is built on the site of the old Harland & Wolff drawing offices where the Titanic was designed.

Read more in the October issue…