no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Nicola Brady

There’s an undeniable sense of spookiness to Belfast’s Crumlin Road Gaol, from the haunting cells to the underground tunnel, linking the old Courthouse to the jail. Open for 150 years and closed in 1996, the prison is steeped in history, and a guided tour around its halls and cells offers a unique insight into the story of Belfast.  

 Some of the prisoners who lived within the imposing walls played key roles in the history of Northern Ireland, from Ian Paisley to the suffragettes who were imprisoned in 1914.  

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price from: £12
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Crumlin Road Gaol is around a mile from the city centre. The walk isn’t too exciting, so it’s probably best to get a taxi, though buses do run from the city centre to the main entrance. As tours are booked in advance and visitor numbers capped at a certain amount, it’s never too overcrowded. Tickets for weekends and summer holiday slots do book up, so plan ahead if you’re going then. Keep an eye out for atmospheric twilight tours, which are held periodically.  

When to do it

It’s open all year round, seven days a week.

 

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

The Merchant Hotel

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]

A nod to traditional luxury, this lavish city-centre hotel is one of Belfast’s favourite hangouts.

Official star rating:

Bullitt Hotel

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]

An artsy, lively hotel in the heart of the city, where vibrant style meets excellent value.

Official star rating:

Malmaison Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]

Sultry, chic and quietly opulent, this boutique hotel is the perfect base for a romantic getaway.

Official star rating:

Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]

Elegant and glamorous yet laid back, this charming hotel pairs suave, retro-feeling interiors with a central location.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Belfast

Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)

Northern Ireland’s capital makes for a surprisingly arty city break, with convivial and cosy pubs, elegant architecture and cutting-edge cuisine.

Website >
Overview >

Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Belfast’s Street Art

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]

Discover Belfast’s vibrant and fascinating street art, and the stories behind them, on tours led by local artists.

Best for ages: 8+ | £15 | 1 hour

Website >
Overview >

Titanic Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[2.1 miles]

Standing where the Titanic was built, this moving, interactive exhibition tells the story of the giant cruiser’s construction and sinking.

Best for ages: 4+ | £20

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

External view of the cathedral during the daytime
Experience

Belfast Cathedral

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]

This Romanesque cathedral is one of the city’s finest architectural feats – take a tour to admire the stained glass, and the 40-foot glass spire, named the ‘Spire of Hope’.

Best for ages: 18+ | £5

Website >
Overview >
Duke of York Pub
Experience

Duke of York Pub

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]

One of the oldest pubs in Belfast, the Duke of York is a traditional boozer found down a cobbled alleyway, with well-worn seats, antique memorabilia and an old printing press in the corner. On sunny days, people take their drinks out to the flower-lined courtyard.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Website >
Overview >
Side view of the city hall during the day
Experience

Belfast City Hall

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.6 miles]

Take a free tour of Belfast’s baroque City Hall, dating back to 1906, with impressive interiors to match the elegant, Edwardian frontage.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Website >
Overview >
Street view of the colourful Crown Bar decorated in full colour
Experience

Crown Bar

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK)[1.7 miles]

A Victorian ‘Gin Palace’, restored to its original glory by the National Trust and now a Belfast landmark. The elaborate interiors feature colourful mosaics, stained-glass windows, decorative ceilings, and snugs lit by gas lamps.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Website >
Overview >