Attractions of Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

By | May 10, 2022

Giant’s Causeway

In the northwest of County Antrim lies the Causeway Coast with popular holiday resorts and the Giant’s Causeway, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 60 million years old, the approximately 40,000 uniformly shaped basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway appear to be from another world. The natural wonder, which includes a visitor center, draws tourists in droves. It is best to come early in the morning because of the good light conditions for souvenir photos and the lower number of visitors at this time.

Titanic Belfast

According to topschoolsintheusa, the Titanic Center Titanic Belfast is located on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the RMS Titanic was built and launched, in the heart of the new Titanic Quarter. The visitor attraction consists of nine galleries detailing the construction, launch and ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Titanic Belfast opened exactly 100 years after the Titanic sank.

Belfast

The capital, Belfast, lies in the south-east of County Antrim and is a lively port city with interesting shops, theatres, cinemas, restaurants, an old castle and the Grand Opera House. Belfast’s Ulster Museum houses Northern Ireland’s finest collections of art, archeology and natural history. It also offers insight into Northern Ireland’s earliest history. Entry is free.

Golfing

World-renowned golfers Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell all hail from Northern Ireland. There are countless great golf courses in their homeland, thanks to which they achieved world fame. Royal Portrush and Royal County Down near Newcastle in County Antrim are two of these famous golf courses.

Irish whiskey

The Old Bushmills Distillery is located in the village of the same name, Bushmills, in the north of County Antrim. It is said to be the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland. Anyway, she’s been selling barrels of the good stuff for over 400 years. Visitors can learn everything about the whiskey production process here.

Glens of Antrim

The Glens of Antrim is a popular region in County Antrim, made up of nine glens radiating inland from the rocky and spectacular east coast. Together they form an Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here nature awaits with sandy beaches, waterfalls, forests and valleys carved by glaciers.

Hike

The beautiful Morne Mountains invite for hiking and mountaineering. Together with the endless sky and the coast, they form a landscape straight out of a picture book. In the middle is the Silent Valley Reservoir, whose valleys and slopes are dotted with small cottages. Cavehill in County Antrim offers a wonderful view over Belfast. A particularly scenic route to the Sperrin Mountains is from Limavady in County Londonderry through the beautiful Roe Valley Country Park. The wooded country parks of Gortin Glen and Drum Manor in County Tyrone are also great for hiking.

Armagh

Northern Ireland’s smallest province, Armagh rises gently from the shores of Lough Neagh and stretches south to the summit of Slieve Gullion. Gosford Castle is worth seeing in Gosford. The city of Armagh was an important center of religious life long before the English city of Canterbury. The two cathedrals and the planetarium/space center are particularly worth seeing.

Cast the fishing rod

Northern Ireland is rich in fish, from salmon to sea trout, everything an angler’s heart desires can be found here. Northern Ireland is therefore one of the fishing paradises of Europe. A popular fishing spot is Lower Lough Erne in the Fermanagh Lakelands. The rivers on the Causeway Coast in Antrim are also a worthwhile destination for anglers. Londonderry is also a fisherman’s paradise: visitors can fish in the seaside resorts of Portstewart and Castlerock. Trout and salmon can be fished in the Bann River, Northern Ireland’s longest river.

Fermanagh

Endless waterways, islands, forests, valleys, castles and monasteries are typical of this county. The capital, Enniskillen, is a true shopper’s paradise. Pleasure boats operate daily on Upper and Lower Lough Erne in summer. Florence Court and Castle Coole, beautiful 18th Century mansions, are popular visitor destinations, as are the Marble Arch caves, Devenish Monastery in Lower Lough Erne and the Drumskinny megalithic sites.

Marble Arch Caves

Located in County Fermanagh, the magnificent Marble Arch Caves are open to the public. The visit begins with an underground boat ride. Together with the gently rolling hills on the surface, they form the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, where visitors can learn about the region’s 650 million year geological history.

Londonderry / Derry

Londonderry /Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and is situated on the River Foyle near the border with the Republic of Ireland. In 2013, Derry was the UK Capital of Culture thanks to its artistic vibrancy. The mighty and accessible city walls are still standing in Derry today. Irish folk songs are often sung in the singing pubs. The Tower Museum tells the story of the city and the Spanish Armada.

Ulster-American Folk Park and Ulster History Park

The region between the Sperrin Mountains to the north and the verdant Clogher Valley to the south is of particular historical interest. The Ulster region’s close connection with the United States is evident at the Ulster-American Folk Park near Omagh. The open-air museum takes visitors through the history of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Also of interest is the Ulster History Park, which traces Ireland’s history from 10,000 years ago to the early Middle Ages.

Have a beer

Belfast’s most famous pub is the Crown Liquor Saloon. It’s a delightfully ornate tavern known for its glamorous decor, long history (dating back to 1826) and for its wide range of beers, brewed using traditional methods. The best thing to do is order a beer, find a cozy corner and forget the worries of this world.

The island of Devenish

On the ‘sacred island’ in Lough Erne, Devenish Island in County Fermanagh, there are still the ruins of an Augustinian monastery with a church, an abbey and a plethora of ancient tombstones. They are poignant relics. The island can be reached by a ferry that departs from near Trory.

Historical Tours of Belfast

Many visitors opt for guided tours of Belfast’s rich modern history. Historical tours include the Shankill and Falls Roads, where you can see the famous Republican and Unionist murals. The better tours are more informative than voyeuristic.

Dunluce Castle

Long ago the home of the Earls of Antrim, the absolutely picturesque ruins of medieval Dunluce Castle sits atop a basalt outcrop on the north coast. The ruins can be explored on your own after paying the entrance fee. After crossing the bridge and entering the courtyard, you will be amazed at how big the medieval castle once was.

Down Cathedral

Down Cathedral in Downpatrick was a place of pilgrimage for St Patrick of Ireland, Ireland’s national saint (who is the reason why huge amounts of Guinness are drunk around the world on March 17th). St. Patrick’s final resting place is said to be at Down Cathedral. A granite slab marks his grave in the cemetery.

Attractions of Northern Ireland, United Kingdom