
Belfast has a lot of notable peace walls but this is the most well known Peace Wall in the city – a memorable stop on the famous Black Cab Tours.
Black Cab Tour
If you want to learn about Belfast’s recent history, take a Black Cab tour as early in your visit to Belfast as possible. You’ll be provided with a hugely informative and unbiased account of Belfast’s troubled past and can choose from a variety of sites to see or leave it completely up to your driver to guide you. From the building of the Albert Clock to the Political Murals and Peace Lines, there’s so much to see and learn, and a Black Cab tour will provide the perfect backdrop to your stay.
The Entries
This series of historic narrow alleyways in Belfast’s City Centre date back to the 16th century and give us an insight into the city’s earliest commercial developments. The most most notable – still in existence today – are Pottinger’s Entry, Joy’s Entry, Crown Entry, Winecellar Entry and Castle Arcade. Down each alleyway, you will be able to glimpse into the oldest parts of Belfast – for example, White’s Tavern in Winecellar Entry was founded in 1630. Each entry can credit its name to an influential character for their role in connecting different areas together. Joy’s Entry takes its name from the Joy family – Francis Joy, founder of the Belfast News Letter and his grandson Henry Joy McCracken, Irish republican and industrialist. It was in the Crown Entry, within Peggy Barclay’s Tavern, that rebels Wolfe Tone, Henry Joy McCracken and a group of others first met on October 14th 1791, later founding the United Irishmen.
Turas
The East Belfast Mission are making waves by delving into their Gaelic past, offering classes in Irish and one-of-a-kind bus tours – The Conn O’Neill Bus Tour and the Gaelic Bus Tour of East Belfast. With a skilled local tour guide, you will visit the ancient lands that were once ruled by the last Gaelic Lord of Belfast, Conn O’Neill. You also have the opportunity to uncover the lesser known Gaelic history of East Belfast, focusing on the place-names and notable Irish speakers from the area in times gone by. Turas operates from the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road and are within walking distance of CS Lewis Square, named in honour of the Belfast-born fantasy writer.
St George’s Market
Dating back to the Victorian era (much like Queen’s University and the Botanic Gardens’ Palm House), St George’s Market is a fantastic food and crafts market in downtown Belfast. Established in 1896 and the only surviving Victorian market in Belfast, today it is home to many local craftsmen who continue to sell their wares. Here you can buy things like fresh fruit & veg, or grab lunch from one of the numerous food stalls boasting a variety of homemade local & global dishes.