Belfast City Hall is arguably the most notable landmark in Northern Ireland’s capital.
It was built on the site of the White Linen Hall and officially opened in 1906.
Boasting a brilliant Baroque Revival design, you can admire it from the outside or take one of the guided tours.
Below, you’ll learn about its history, its most impressive features and what to expect on the tour. Cheers!
Some quick need-to-knows before you visit Belfast City Hall
Although a visit to Belfast City Hall is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Belfast City Hall is located right in the heart of the city in Donegall Square. It’s a 5-minute walk from St George’s Market and a 25-minute walk from both Crumlin Road Gaol and the Botanic Gardens.
2. Opening hours
City Hall is open daily from:
- Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 5pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 5pm
3. The tour
The Belfast City Hall tours take about an hour and are led by an experienced guide. They cost £6 for an adult ticket and tend to run at the following times:
- Monday to Friday: 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12 noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm
4. The Bobbin Coffee Shop
Located inside Belfast City Hall, this café provides training and work experience for people with a learning disability or autism and all profits go to NOW Group, a social enterprise supporting employment for those with disabilities.
The history of Belfast City Hall
Photos via Shutterstock
If you follow any of my road trips that start from or include Belfast, you’ll pass the City Hall at one point or other.
However, many people only ever admire its exterior, rarely taking the time to delve into its rich history.
Where it all began
If you cast your mind back to Belfast in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was still a town. It wasn’t until the linen and shipbuilding industries took off that Belfast began to prosper.
In recognition of this growth, Queen Victoria granted Belfast city status in 1888, and it was decided that a city hall needed to be constructed to serve the area.
A competition was held, attracting many notable architects from across the United Kingdom. However, Alfred Brumwell Thomas’s Baroque Revival design won, pipping the rest.
The construction
Construction at what was once the site of the White Linen Hall started the following year, in 1898.
The building was made from distinctive Portland Stone and it cost £369,000, £128,000,000 in todays money!
The official opening took place on the 1st of August, 1906.
Interior of the hall
The building includes some stunning features including the Grand Staircase, Banquet Hall and Reception Room.
Although much remains from the original foundations, the Banquet Hall was partially destroyed during the Belfast blitz in May 1941 and had to be rebuilt.
Statues and memorials
The grounds of City Hall have been used to commemorate notable public figures and events.
In 1903, the first statues were unveiled, including the memorial to Sir Edward Harland, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, and the statue of Queen Victoria. Both statues were sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock.
Things to do at Belfast City Hall
There’s plenty to do here, from the popular Belfast City Hall tours to the memorials and statues dotted around the building.
There’s also several yearly events that take place here, like the very popular Belfast Christmas Markets and the Lightening event.
1. Take a guided tour
©Tourism Ireland photographed by Chris Hill
The official Belfast City Hall tours are the best way to uncover the history of the city’s iconic building.
The previously-free tours are led by expert guides who take you through the main parts of the grounds to give you a complete look into the history and features of the building.
The best part is that you gain access to some of the areas not accessible to the general public.
You can admire the Council Chamber and various historic portraits hanging on the walls. The almost hour-long tour also includes a look outside at the memorials and gardens.
2. See the memorials and statues
Photos via Shutterstock
On the beautiful lawns surrounding the City Hall, you can spot plenty of memorials and statues dedicated to the people associated with Belfast’s past.
You can wander through the gardens to admire them, with notable ones including the cenotaph built to remember those who passed in WWI and the Titanic Memorial Gardens which lists all victims of the maritime disaster.
There are also various statues around the lawn including of Queen Victoria, R.J McMordie and Lord Differin.
3. Admire the stained glass windows
One of the most memorable features of the City Hall are the stained glass windows around the building.
Many of them are original from 1906, while others have been added to mark historic events.
Some of the oldest windows can be found in the Grand Staircase, East Staircase, Principal Rooms and Chamber, while the newer ones can be found along the north west and north east corridors from reception.
4. Plan your visit around the lighting
Photos via Shutterstock
You can see the City Hall in lights at different times of the year. The building is illuminated in white most of the time, but for special occasions the colours can be changed.
There’s a full list of the lighting schedule on their website but you can catch it in:
- Rainbow colours for Belfast Pride in July
- Red in December for Santa
- Green for St Patricks Day
Things to do nearby
One of the beauties of Belfast City Hall is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Belfast.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from City Hall (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).
- The Grand Opera House (5-minute walk): Since opening in December 1895, it has been the premier theatre for all performances from comedy to opera and musicals
- St George’s Market (25-minute walk): The city’s historic market that runs from Friday to Sunday
- The top attractions (walk time varies): Black Taxi Tours, Belfast murals, Cave Hill, Black Mountain, Belfast Peace Walls
- Food and drink: See my guides to the best restaurants in Belfast and the best pubs in Belfast
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.