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.
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Crumlin Road Gaol
Last updated: 10 February, 2024
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.
Logistics
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.
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