Popular Attractions

Belfast Castle is one of the city's hidden gems. Situated off the Antrim Road, it may not be the most central of Belfast attractions, but it's well worth the visit.

Not only can you have a leisurely dander around the castle gardens, but there are plenty of walks in the nearby Cave Hill Country Park, including an adventure playground for the children.

The castle itself is an elegant sandstone construction, built in the Scottish Baronial style by the architects Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon - the principal work was done by the junior partner in that firm, John Lanyon (son of Charles Lanyon). The many turrets and the elaborate stone staircase at the rear of the building make it worth the visit.

I visited Belfast Zoo this week with my daughter and the rest of her nursery school class. It's not the first time I've been, but it is the first time I have taken one of my children. Belfast Zoo through a child's eye is a really magical place.

History Of Belfast Zoo

Belfast Zoo occupies a site measuring approximately 750 acres and is perched on the spectacular hillside of Cavehill in the north of the city.

Each and every Sunday I read the Observer's Escape supplement and dream about holidays in far flung destinations which I will probably never be able to afford to visit. Imagine my surprise therefore to find an entry on Rathlin Island included in an article on Europes Secret Islands!

The Ulster Folk And Transport Museum is what I believe to be one of the jewels in the crown of Northern Irelands heritage attractions, and well deserves its title of Irish Museum of the Year.

Ulster Folk Museum

The Ulster Folk Museum was set up in 1958 to illustrate the way of life and the traditions of the people of the north of Ireland. This was primarily in response to the speed at which the countryside and people's way of life was changing and the need to preserve and record a heritage in danger of disappearing.

The Ulster Museum On Stranmillis Road in Belfast has historic origins, and was first opened to the public in 1833 for a small admission charge. The museum gained the status of a National Museum in 1962, and this prompted a sizeable extension to the original building as well as some sizeable art acquisitions such as a Gainsborough portrait of the First Marquis of Donegall, a Reynolds portrait of Theodosia Magill, later the First Countess of Clanwilliam, a 12ft high canvas of St Christopher by the 17th century Flemish master Jacob Jordaens and a 12ft wide 'veil painting' by the post-war American artist Morris Louis.

Since the 18th century The Giants Causeway has often been described as 'The Eighth Wonder Of The World' and once you have visited the site you will quickly see why.

The area consists of an estimated 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, which were formed during a volcano eruption 60 million years ago.