Cross-Curricular School Trip To Belfast

A fascinating, fun tour in Belfast City Centre that looks at Belfast’s hidden history, its recent troubled history, as well as vibrant modern Belfast, packed with art, literature and music. Engaging and Informative

This guided coach tour gives an overview of what Belfast has to offer covering all the sites of this fascinating city; the Peace Walls, Stormont, the Falls and Shankhill Roads, Crumlin Road Gaol, Queens University and Titanic Quarter.

An immersive educational experience, covering all aspects of Belfast’s story, comprised of a coach and walking tour. Factually based and unbiased, it uses personal experiences and pop references to explain complex issues with trained, qualified guides. Bespoke to suit you, it can include a tour of Stormont and features a visit to a radical church, once at the centre of Belfast’s hidden history.

Parliament Buildings (Stormont) is home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the legislative body for Northern Ireland established under the Belfast Agreement 1998 (Good Friday Agreement).
Built in 1921, it was designed to house the newly formed Government of Northern Ireland and was officially opened on 16th November 1932.

Explore the city’s rich shipbuilding heritage linking Belfast’s historic Sailortown to the Titanic Quarter. Highlights include Sinclair Seamen’s Church, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Clarendon Dock, City Quays, the Big Fish, Glass of Thrones, SS Nomadic, Titanic Belfast, Titanic Slipways, The Great Light and the Titanic Dock and Pump House. A Treasure Trail is available at maritime-mile.com

Located beside the place where Titanic was designed, built and launched, Titanic Belfast tells the story of Titanic from her design and construction to her launch and tragic maiden voyage. The self-guided tour extends over nine interactive galleries where you discover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship, as well as the people and city that made her.

Crumlin Road Gaol opened in 1846 and was a fully operational prison for 150 years. A self-guided tour of the listed building allows you to experience life behind bars. See the tunnel linking the gaol to the courthouse across the road, the hanging cell, the Governor’s office, the hospital and the graveyard. During the Troubles, the high-security gaol housed Republican and Loyalists prisoners. An optional guided tour explores the role of the prison during this period.

Learn about the history of the people from the north of Ireland until the present day. See the collections of Art, Science and Natural Sciences in the galleries and interactive discovery zones. The Museum is set in botanic gardens.

Take a trip back in time and enjoy the tastes and smells at Aunt Sandra’s sweet Factory in East Belfast. Learn how Aunt Sandra began making her sweets and how the tradition has been passed down through generations. A viewing window allows you to see into the small factory and the traditional sweet shop has many treats including chocolate, fudge and a colourful array of sweet jars!

The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. This outstanding geological feature of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns was formed by an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. Legend says it was the handiwork of the giant Finn McCool. See the Grand Causeway, The Giant’s Boot, The Wishing Chair – a natural throne and The Camel.

This much-photographed rope bridge hangs thirty metres above the rocks and sea below. The bridge has a span of twenty metres connecting the mainland to the small island of Carrickarede. Carrick-a-Rede is now a tourist attraction run by the National Trust.

The romantic ruins of this picturesque castle perched on a cliff edge date back to the 16^th and 17^th centuries. There is evidence however of much earlier settlement. The castle was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. Historical and archaeological exhibits are on display for public viewing.

The imposing Norman castle which looks out across Belfast Lough is one of the best-preserved medieval monuments in Ireland. During a history spanning 800 years, the castle has been besieged by the Scots, Irish, English and French. Visit the Great Hall, see historical displays and the castles canons.

Glenariff is one of the nine Antrim Glens (valleys) formed during the last Ice Age. Take a stroll through the river gorge on the waterfall boardwalk in this beautiful country park. The resident wildlife includes red squirrels, hen harrier and Irish hares.

Located in Holywood, a short journey from Belfast, the Ulster Folk Museum is an outdoor living history museum showing how life was in the region 100 years ago. Discover cottages, farms, schools and shops set in parkland including demonstrations of traditional crafts.

The Ulster Transport Museum has steam locomotives, horse-drawn carriages, vintage cars and motorbikes. The Museum also has vintage photographs of the Titanic.

Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of the British Monarch in Northern Ireland. Since the 1970s, Hillsborough has also been home to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. This Georgian castle has played a central role in the peace-building process of the country. Take a guided tour of the castle to see the State rooms and explore the 100 acres of beautiful gardens.

Inspired by the ‘Crystal Maze’ small teams move around 25 different prison-themed challenge cells trying to score as many points as possible within the allocated time. This fun attraction, with a live scoring system, offers a mix of physical, tactical and skill-based games and is suitable for all ages.

Based at Cityside Retail and Leisure Park the indoor Adventure Golf is open seven days a week with special effects and interactive obstacles. Experience two indoor 18-hole jungle-themed adventure courses. A great all-weather entertaining activity. Food and drinks are available on-site.