A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour
Overview
Over 2 hours and 30 minutes, our local expert guides will take you on a journey back in time through the city centre of Belfast. You will discover how 'the Troubles' started, visit the locations where some of the most important events occurred, and learn about the path to reconciliation and eventually peace (and the challenges the future may hold). You will discover the realities of growing up and living your life during the conflict, and how it touched everyone. The tour is factual and historically accurate to ensure it is unbiased, the guides are conflict historians, who also weave their own stories into their tours to bring history to life, transporting you back to the Belfast of the 1970s and giving you a unique understanding of the recent past. The tour starts each day at 10.30am.
Inclusions
- Local guide
- Headsets to hear the guide clearly
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: City Hall Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS Northern Ireland
In the grounds of Belfast City Hall your guide will introduce you to the tour and also give an introduction to the history of the Troubles. The introduction sets the scene for the rest of the tour, explaining the centuries old relationships between the British and the Irish and how and why the Troubles started in the late 1960s.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Donegall Place, Donegall Pl, Belfast BT1, UK
Today Belfast's main shopping street may look like any other British or Irish city, but it hides a troubled past. Your guide will explain the story behind a bomb attack on a nightclub here in 1971, the tragic events which followed and the introduction of what became known as the 'Ring Of Steel'.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Castle Lane, Castle Ln, Belfast BT1, UK
Our next stop is in the heart of the pedestrian precinct. In what is now a bustling shopping street you will discover the realities of our lives at the height of the troubles, and the details of an event which still lives prominently in our minds to this day.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Spirit of Belfast, 1 Arthur Square, Belfast BT1 4FB Northern Ireland
The Spirit of Belfast is an artwork which is intended to evoke the resilience of the people of Belfast, but we just know it as 'the Onion Rings'. As we stand in its shadow your guide will introduce you to a series of events which started in a bar nearby in 1971. These were to prove the catalyst in propelling Northern Ireland into a rapidly escalating spiral of violence.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Northern Ireland
As you walk through the newly regenerated Cathedral Quarter, at the heart of our cultural and nightlife district, your guide will introduce you to the stories of more significant events while also discussing the beginnings of the path to peace. Today the streets and alleys of the Cathedral Quarter are home to fantastic examples of street art and some of our best bars and nightspots, but through the powerful story-telling of the guide you will be transported back in time and realise how far we have come since the dark days of the 1970s.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Ann Street, Ann St, Belfast BT1, UK
Whilst standing beside the largest police station in Belfast you will discover how Northern Ireland was policed during the troubles, how it has changed since the peace agreement and the potential impact of Brexit on our borders!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Nuala with the Hula, Belfast BT1 3DJ, UK
We end the tour by the Waterfront on the banks of the river Lagan and the Beacon of Hope, our favourite piece of public art which champions our resilience and regeneration. Here we will compare Belfast today with one of the darkest days in our history, explain how we achieved our fragile peace and discuss what the future may hold. We will even tell you how 'the Troubles' got it's name...
Duration: 20 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: City Hall Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS Northern Ireland
In the grounds of Belfast City Hall your guide will introduce you to the tour and also give an introduction to the history of the Troubles. The introduction sets the scene for the rest of the tour, explaining the centuries old relationships between the British and the Irish and how and why the Troubles started in the late 1960s.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Donegall Place, Donegall Pl, Belfast BT1, UK
Today Belfast's main shopping street may look like any other British or Irish city, but it hides a troubled past. Your guide will explain the story behind a bomb attack on a nightclub here in 1971, the tragic events which followed and the introduction of what became known as the 'Ring Of Steel'.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Castle Lane, Castle Ln, Belfast BT1, UK
Our next stop is in the heart of the pedestrian precinct. In what is now a bustling shopping street you will discover the realities of our lives at the height of the troubles, and the details of an event which still lives prominently in our minds to this day.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Spirit of Belfast, 1 Arthur Square, Belfast BT1 4FB Northern Ireland
The Spirit of Belfast is an artwork which is intended to evoke the resilience of the people of Belfast, but we just know it as 'the Onion Rings'. As we stand in its shadow your guide will introduce you to a series of events which started in a bar nearby in 1971. These were to prove the catalyst in propelling Northern Ireland into a rapidly escalating spiral of violence.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Northern Ireland
As you walk through the newly regenerated Cathedral Quarter, at the heart of our cultural and nightlife district, your guide will introduce you to the stories of more significant events while also discussing the beginnings of the path to peace. Today the streets and alleys of the Cathedral Quarter are home to fantastic examples of street art and some of our best bars and nightspots, but through the powerful story-telling of the guide you will be transported back in time and realise how far we have come since the dark days of the 1970s.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Ann Street, Ann St, Belfast BT1, UK
Whilst standing beside the largest police station in Belfast you will discover how Northern Ireland was policed during the troubles, how it has changed since the peace agreement and the potential impact of Brexit on our borders!
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Nuala with the Hula, Belfast BT1 3DJ, UK
We end the tour by the Waterfront on the banks of the river Lagan and the Beacon of Hope, our favourite piece of public art which champions our resilience and regeneration. Here we will compare Belfast today with one of the darkest days in our history, explain how we achieved our fragile peace and discuss what the future may hold. We will even tell you how 'the Troubles' got it's name...
Duration: 20 minutes
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- A moderate amount of walking is involved (1.5 miles)
- Minimum age is 12 years
- Stroller accessible
- The tour will take place regardless of the weather. Please check the forecast and dress accordingly
- Service animals allowed
- A waterproof jacket is recommended just in case of showers, as is warm clothing during the winter months
- Near public transportation
- Belfast City Center is completely flat, so no hills or steps are involved. However, comfortable footwear is advised
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Your health, safety and enjoyment of the tour is of paramount importance to us. All our guides have been fully vaccinated and we have extensive safety measures in place. DC Tours are 'Good To Go' accredited and our safety-conscious guides will take the best possible care of you throughout your tour.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Melanie A
May 2022
Cannot recommend this tour highly enough. Our guide, James was so passionate, engaging and knowledgable (as well as entertaining!) about the complex history of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. I would not hesitate to book another tour when visiting next. Highly, highly recommend. An absolute mus...
Cannot recommend this tour highly enough. Our guide, James was so passionate, engaging and knowledgable (as well as entertaining!) about the complex history of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. I would not hesitate to book another tour when visiting next. Highly, highly recommend. An absolute must on a trip to Belfast.T9249BHrobertk
May 2022
Great experience, definitely worth doing. It gave us completely different perspective into Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Great experience, definitely worth doing. It gave us completely different perspective into Belfast and Northern Ireland.SunnyinOhio
May 2022
Our guide Mark was exceptionally knowledgeable and informative. The tour helped us realize the complex origins of the Troubles. We also learned how clear it is that violence begets more violence. Nice orientation to Belfast.
Our guide Mark was exceptionally knowledgeable and informative. The tour helped us realize the complex origins of the Troubles. We also learned how clear it is that violence begets more violence. Nice orientation to Belfast.BelfastVacation
May 2022
I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Troubles in Belfast. Gabe was very knowledgeable and pointed out a lot that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. His personal memories of the Troubles really enhanced the experience as well. I loved seeing the photographs in his book that showed th...
I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Troubles in Belfast. Gabe was very knowledgeable and pointed out a lot that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. His personal memories of the Troubles really enhanced the experience as well. I loved seeing the photographs in his book that showed the changes in Belfast city center between then and now. Definitely recommend this trip if you want to learn more about Belfast's history! It was sometimes hard to listen to because it was very sad, but well worth it.busraj2021
May 2022
Very nice tours with a very knowledgeable guide! The only thing is that I would have preferred it to include also the murals part!
Very nice tours with a very knowledgeable guide! The only thing is that I would have preferred it to include also the murals part!O2306QHcatherine
May 2022
Paul's patter didn't miss a beat - highly informative, sensitive and empathetic from the get-go, in all aspects. From the locations and events that were referenced, the facts (thoroughly researched via newspapers, journals, police and court records and autopsy reports) conveyed in a clear, cohere...
Paul's patter didn't miss a beat - highly informative, sensitive and empathetic from the get-go, in all aspects. From the locations and events that were referenced, the facts (thoroughly researched via newspapers, journals, police and court records and autopsy reports) conveyed in a clear, coherent and highly articulate manner, and using these to present the greater social and political context of the conflict, The Past and its interface with the present, the tour was brilliant. I lived in Belfast from 1988-2001, was relatively politically engaged, yet I learned so much more the city in the two hours of the tour than I did in 12 years living there. In the absence of any political agreement about 'The Past' the underlying theme of this thoughtful and well-crafted tour is about the need to address the legacy of the conflict. In this sense, while excellent for visitors, the tour should be obligatory for all locals.