Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
A fantastic immersion into Belfast history, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum offers a truly unique experience. Discover 100 year old heritage as you explore cottages, farms, schools, shops, and beautiful parkland, with costumed visitor guides providing demonstrations of traditional crafts. Browse steam locomotives, horse carriages, motorbikes, vintage cars, and more at the impressive Transport Museum, offering an exciting day out for all ages and interests. The museum also hosts are range of events, exhibitions (temporary & permanent), talks, lectures, and workshops, as well as tours.
A little outside the city centre, the Ulster Folk & Transport museum is a twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Belfast.
Belfast Castle & Cave Hill Country Park
Explore Belfast's famous Cave Hill Country Park. Offering one of the highest spots in Belfast (Cave Hill), the country park and castle estate is home to a range of natural, archaeological, and historical features. Discover the ‘Napolean’s Nose’ famous landmark, explore the beautiful garden, try orienteering courses, or take the kids to the adventure playground - this Belfast attraction is bursting with things to see and do, surrounded by breath-taking views.
Admission is £2.50 and the castle estate is a short thirteen-minute drive from our Belfast hotel.
Belfast City Hall & Titanic Memorial Gardens
In 1888, Queen Victoria gave Belfast ‘City status’ and with it, this magnificent City Hall was built to manage its industrial growth. Belfast City Hall runs free tours which includes the history of the hall, as well as showing you its ‘finest features’. Tours run Monday- Friday at 11am, 2pm & 3pm (additional tours at 10am & 4pm in summer), at weekends they run noon, 2pm & 3pm (an additional tour at 4pm in summer).
The Titanic Memorial Gardens can also be found on the eastern side of the hall. The gardens are home to the Titanic monument (unveiled in 1920), and the plinth from the garden opening in 2012 - the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. The plinth is the first monument listing in one place all 1,512 names of the people who perished.
Belfast City Hall is a short five-minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Belfast.
Ulster Museum
Bursting with dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, and ‘modern masterpieces’, the Ulster Museum is home to an array of human history, natural sciences, and art collections for visitors to explore, learn, and immerse. Perfect for a cultural and educational outing with the kids, the museum is open daily with free admission.
Situated a little south of the city, the Ulster Museum is a brief twenty-minute walk from our Belfast hotel.
Albert Memorial Clock
A quick stop at the Albert Memorial Clock is a Belfast ‘must’. An iconic landmark of the city at 113ft, the Gothic style clock offers an impressive and striking structure, dating back to 1865. Featuring carved lions, floral decorations, and a statue of Prince Albert found just above the base, this tower provides a fascinating example of Victorian architecture.
Situated in the heart of the city, the Albert Memorial Clock is a brief thirteen –minute walk from Leonardo Hotels.
Crumlin Road Gaol
Until its closure in 1996, Crumlin Road Gaol was the oldest working prison in Northern Ireland. After a major restoration, the gaol is now open to the public, allowing visitors to embark on a historical journey of political segregation and loyalist prisoners. Dating back to 1845, the gaol is bursting at the seams with rich Irish history – take a guided tour to discover its secrets, from the holding cells to the C-wing.
Tours run seven days a week and admission costs £8.50 for adults, £6.50 for children (5-15) or £25 for a family of 2 adults & 2 children. Tickets are available on the day but booking is advised. Crumlin Road Gaol is a 25-minute walk from our Belfast hotel.
Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum is a true treasure-trove, with everything from Egyptian mummies to dinosaurs, artwork and even a ship from the Spanish Armada. The museum is free, and ideal if you’re visiting Belfast with the little ones in tow.
We recommend: combining your trip with a visit to the Botanic Gardens, which are right next door.
