Titanic Belfast, Hillsborough Castle and Ulster Museum to give visitors a giant welcome once again
A number of Northern Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions will reopen this week offering even more fantastic options for the perfect day-trip or staycation activity this year.
On Thursday July 30, The Ulster Museum and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens reopened after lockdown while on Saturday August 1, the award-winning Titanic Belfast will give a giant welcome to visitors once again as they immerse in the world-famous story.
There will be even more to explore in the coming weeks, as the Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster American Folk Park will both reopen on August 13 while it’s full steam ahead for the Ulster Transport Museum to reopen its doors on August 20.
Tick these cultural experiences off your bucket list as part of your amazing adventures in the coming months, with plenty of world-class museums and heritage spots to explore:
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, County Down, reopened July 30
- On a 45-minute tour of the elegant Georgian castle, in the charming village of Hillsborough, you follow in the footsteps of world leaders and meander through plush and lovingly restored State Rooms. There are many layers of stories here, and your guide will share hundreds of years’ worth of tales, about celebrations, entertainment, diplomacy and negotiations.You can also enjoy the beautiful craft giftshop and award-winning food from the Yellow Door café. You must pre-book your ticket. Castle and garden tickets: Adult £13.70, Child £6.80. https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/
Ulster Museum, Belfast, reopened July 30
- Everywhere you look in Belfast there is history to be seen and The National Museums are a great place to start. The Ulster Museum, a world to captivate the curious, this treasure house of the past and present offers something for art lovers, history buffs, excited children and the simply curious. Dive into the discovery zones of art, history and science as the museum’s impressive collections take you across Ireland to all corners of the globe. Admission to the Ulster Museum is free. https://www.nmni.com/home.aspx
Titanic Belfast, reopening August 1
- The shimmering star-shaped Titanic Belfast is the biggest and best experience of the most famous ship in the world. Take your time and enjoy the journey over nine interactive galleries featuring special effects, dark rides and full-scale reconstructions. Walk through Victorian Belfast and meet the men who spent four years building the ill-fated ship before visiting the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, her final resting place. Prices include adult £19, children between 5-16 £8.50, children under 5 go free, family ticket £46.50. https://titanicbelfast.com/
Ulster Folk Museum, County Down, reopening August 13
- Step back in time and experience what life was like in Ulster over 100 years ago. Wander Ulster Folk Museum’s rolling countryside and bustling town filled with authentic, period buildings. You’ll find an old-time picture house, post office and corner shop on streets inhabited by people in period dress. Try your hand at basket weaving or see a blacksmith hard at work. Take a ride on an old bus into the countryside, where whitewashed farmhouses dot the fields. Meet some of the horses, donkeys and hens that kept the rural world turning. Book tickets online in advance to guarantee your timeslot, with a range of ticket options available. https://www.nmni.com/home.aspx
Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone, reopening August 13
- Immerse yourself in the story of the brave emigrants who made the journey across the Atlantic to America hundreds of years ago. Wander the well-trodden pathways of rural Ulster, complete with a bustling street and welcoming farmhouses. Become part of family life in thatched cottages, learn lessons in the schoolhouse, see traditional crafts brought to life and taste some good old-fashioned fayre. Board a full-scale emigrant ship and experience the cramped quarters where hundreds of people lived during their twelve-week Atlantic crossing. Book tickets online in advance to guarantee your timeslot, with a range of ticket options available. https://www.nmni.com/home.aspx
Ulster Transport Museum, County Down, reopening August 20
- If you’re a railway enthusiast, you’ve a treat in store at the Ulster Transport Museum. There’s an impressive collection of steam locomotives, passenger carriages and goods wagons to explore. Be transported back in time and explore one of the most comprehensive transport collections in Europe. You’ll find majestic locomotives, horse-drawn carriages, vintage motorbikes, and cars at the museum, along with exhibits of historical materials including photographs of the Titanic. Book tickets online in advance to guarantee your timeslot, with a range of ticket options available. https://www.nmni.com/home.aspx
Titanic Belfast, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens along with all National Museums NI premises have received the ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard, meaning that visitors can return safely in the knowledge that the museums each adhere to government and public health guidance on Covid-19.
Everyone is also reminded that booking in advance is required and numbers will be limited in order to comply with social distancing protocols.
Stay local while still getting away at discovernorthernireland.com. #DiscoverNI #EmbraceAGiantSpirit