Northern Ireland has a wealth of things to see and do.
It is a country that is renowned for its natural beauty and friendly people.
Listed below is just a small sample of some of the activities, attractions and unique events that will make sure that your trip to Northern Ireland is an unforgettable one.
For the most up-to-date information don’t forget to check the Northern Ireland Tourist Board website.
Explore Whitehead:
Victorian Seafront
Whitehead Seafront
Black Head Lighthouse
Blackhead Lighthouse
Whitehead Golf Club
Situated on the County Antrim coast and featuring an 18 hole course and full-service clubhouse.
Click here to visit the official Whitehead Gold Club website for more information
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
The RPSI was formed in 1964 to preserve in working order steam locomotives and other rolling stock built for the Irish railway system, from 1850 to the present day.
The RPSI maintains a museum at Whitehead and operates steam-hauled excursions over the present day Irish railway network for families and enthusiasts.
The Society is a not-for-profit charity managed by volunteers. All funds from ticket sales, shop sales, membership fees or donations go directly to keeping Ireland’s steam railway heritage operating for future generations.
Click here to visit the official website of The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
County Antrim Yacht Club
Click here to visit the official website of the County Antrim Yacht Club
Explore County Antrim:
City of Belfast
Belfast City
Belfast (from the Irish: Béal Feirste meaning “mouth of the sandbars”) is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom, but at the same time, located on the Island of Ireland. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in Northern Ireland, the second-largest city on the island of Ireland and the 15th-largest city in the United Kingdom. It is the main settlement in the province of Ulster.
For a full list of events and tourist guides please visit the GoToBelfast.com website
The Titanic Quarter
The Titanic Quarter Belfast
The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is an area situated on reclaimed land in Belfast city harbour, known until recently as Queen’s Island.
The 185-acre (0.75 km2) site, previously owned by Harland and Wolff shipyards, and named after the company’s most famous product RMS Titanic, has been earmarked for development as a blue-chip technology district, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction.
For more information please visit the official Titanic Quarter website.
Carrickfergus Castle
Carrickfergus Castle
Carrickfergus Castle is a castle with Norman architecture in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in the whole of Ireland. It was useful as 3/4 of the perimeter is covered by water
Giants Causeway and Costal Route
Giants Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim, on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about two miles (3 km) north of the town of Bushmills. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a National Nature Reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant’s Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (36 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres thick in places.
The Giant’s Causeway is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge near Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. The site is owned and maintained by the National Trust, spans twenty metres and is thirty metres above the rocks below. Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 227,000 visitors in 2007. The bridge is now taken down every year in late October or early November, depending on weather conditions, having been put up in March.
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle (Irish: Dún Lios, “strong fort”) is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim (between Portballintrae and Portrush), and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side, which may have been an important factor to the early Christians and Vikings who were drawn to this place where an early Irish fort once stood.
Old Bushmills Distillery
Old Bushmills Distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery was founded in 1608 and is now owned by the major drinks company Diageo. Bushmills whiskey is produced, matured, and bottled on-site at the Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year.
The Glens of Antrim
The Glens of Antrim (Irish: Gleannta Aontroma), known locally as simply The Glens, is a region of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It comprises nine glens (valleys), that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim.
For a comprehensive list of things to see and do – please check the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Calendar of Events.
