Belfast City Hall

Whilst l wasn't able to see the whole building due to being there after 4pm, l was able to see some of it and get a good feel for the place. The entry cost is free, which is great! There may be tours that are chargeable if you want them but l didn't use those so not sure. The building itself is really beautiful... The stained glass windows are stunning! Some commemorate and some more modern. The staff outside were really friendly and helpful too. I enjoyed the short visit as l still saw the Titanic commemorate garden outside and the outer building too. Definitely worth visiting.

We were a group of 6 and we did a guided tour, it was well worth the money as you get to see parts that are otherwise closed to the general public. The Canadian tour guide lady was fabulous!!

Belfast City Hall is a very nice Baroque Revival style building whose construction took place between 1898 and 1906 on the design of Alfred Brumwell Thomas. Inside it's hosted a 16 rooms exhibition on the history of the city and Northern Ireland in general. The ticket costs less than 5€ so it's worth a visit.

While visiting Belfast, came over to City Hall. History and Significance Birth of a City Symbol: The City Hall was commissioned after Queen Victoria granted Belfast official city status in 1888, recognizing its massive industrial expansion in shipbuilding, linen, and engineering. A grand civic building was deemed necessary to reflect this elevated status. The Titanic Connection: The building has a strong link to the RMS Titanic. Lord Mayor William Pirrie, who was Lord Mayor just before construction, was also the managing director of the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was built. He is credited with the idea for both grand projects. Many of his skilled shipyard workers were involved in the intricate fit-out of the City Hall's interiors, providing an insight into the luxurious finish of the Titanic's lounges and suites, as the carving and paneling are very similar. Construction and Style: Designed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas in the Baroque Revival style, the building was constructed using Portland stone and opened its doors in 1906. The cost was a significant £369,000, funded largely by the profits of Belfast's municipal gasworks. Wartime Resilience: During World War II, the City Hall served as a crucial center for civil defense and stood firm during the Belfast Blitz in 1941, although the roof above the Banqueting Hall was destroyed and later rebuilt. Location: It stands on the site of the former White Linen Hall, which was the heart of the city's once-thriving international linen industry. Architectural and Unique Features The Dome: The central feature of the skyline is the distinctive 173-foot copper dome. Originally bright copper, it has oxidized over the years to its recognizable green patina. Opulent Interiors: The interior is equally grand, featuring a stunning array of marbles (including Carrara, Pavonazzo, and Brescia), sweeping marble staircases, mosaic tiling, and the Rotunda, which leads the eye up to the dome. The Council Chamber is paneled in Irish oak. Stained Glass Windows: The hall is home to a magnificent collection of stained glass windows, which are visual narratives of the city's past, depicting monarchs, coats of arms of the provinces of Ireland, and commemorating significant events like the 36th (Ulster) Division. The Coat of Arms: The city's motto, "Pro tanto quid retribuamus" (What shall we give back in return for so much?), is found on the coat of arms. The crest features symbols like the seahorse and ship, signifying Belfast's maritime importance, and the bell, which is a play on the first syllable of the city's name (Belfast).

Belfast City Hall is a stunning landmark and a must-see when visiting the city. 🏛️ The architecture is beautiful, especially when lit up at night, and the grounds around it are always lively and well-kept. Inside, the free exhibitions give a fascinating insight into Belfast’s history and culture. It’s right in the heart of the city, making it easy to visit and enjoy whether you’re sightseeing, relaxing in the gardens, or taking photos. A real highlight of Belfast!

Belfast City Hall, a magnificent civic building in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a symbol of the city's rich history and prosperity. Completed in 1906, it was built to commemorate Queen Victoria granting Belfast city status in 1888. Designed by Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas, the building is a stunning example of Baroque Revival architecture. Its most prominent features are the elegant green copper dome and the white Portland stone facade. The interior is equally impressive, with intricate marble staircases, mosaic floors, and stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the city's past. The City Hall's grounds are a public park and home to several notable memorials, including the Titanic Memorial Garden, dedicated to the victims of the famous shipwreck. Historically, the building has served as a center for civic life and a focal point during significant events, including World War II and the Troubles. Today, Belfast City Hall remains the seat of the Belfast City Council and a major tourist attraction. Visitors can explore a self-guided exhibition on the city's history or take a guided tour to see the grand interiors, including the Council Chamber and the Rotunda. The City Hall stands as a testament to Belfast's industrial heritage and a living part of its modern identity, welcoming visitors and locals alike to its historic grounds.

BELFAST GEM I feel like the City Hall is the prettiest thing to exist in Belfast. It gives the city centre a lot of character. I Would have loved to go inside.

A lovely spot right in the heart of Belfast! The architecture is stunning, and the exhibitions inside are really interesting. Great place to relax and learn a bit of local history. Highly recommend stopping by!

The grandest building in all of Belfast and perhaps all of Northern Ireland, Belfast City hall was completed in 1906. As part of Belfast growing into a major industrial capital in linen and shipbuilding, the dome atop the structure stands 174 feet tall. It effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city. City Hall is a major meeting area for tourists - we met our food tour guide here. The Hop On Hop Off Bus stops here. And a number of other tours stop in. The "BELFAST" sign in front is pretty awesome for your Instagram photo. I stood next to the "F" for a particularly memorable shot. [Review 1872 of 2024 - 855 in United Kingdom - 22894 overall]

Belfast City Hall in the heart of Belfast has beautiful architecture. Outside you'll see plenty of statues, some for the titanic & some for prior queens! Walk inside & you'll find yourself captivated by the stain glass windows & the marble!!

Belfast's City Hall is a beautiful and architectural masterpiece completed in 1906. One of the most captivating things of this Baroque-style building is its stunning stained glass windows, which narrate Belfast's tumultuous past. The stained glass windows are symbolic of the city's tumultuous past. One window is dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the RMS Titanic disaster, a ship built in the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Another notable window honors soldiers who fought and died in the World Wars. Belfast's history is riddled with intense political and sectarian conflict spanning from the late 1960s to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This turbulent period is subtly referenced in some of the stained glass windows, which symbolize the city's enduring struggle for peace and reconciliation. This building and her stained glass windows are beautiful and worth the visit.

An absolutely beautiful building - with the walk through and a brief moment of your time.

Beautiful grounds. The central city crowning jewel. Steeped in so much history. The architecture is stunning. Well worth a stop.

In the center of this bustling city stands Belfast City Hall. There is a grand statue of Queen Victoria who granted Belfast city status in 1888. Nearly two decades later Belfast City Hall was completed. What a grand and beautiful building it is! Facing the Northern part of Ireland, it is a civil building, but seems to function in some parts as a museum showcasing some of the people, events and beliefs that made "Old Smoke" the Belfast that many love today. Upon entering the hall you can't miss the gorgeous stained glass windows. Each with a story of particular relevance to Northern Ireland. There is a series of rooms commemorative of notable natives from the region, such as C.S. Lewis. There is a particularly poignant installation of reflective poetry about life and loss surrounding the troubles. Amidst all of the grandeur this still functions as an operative civil building. We were there on a day where a lovely young couple had just gotten married and were posing on the perfectly manicured lawn. What a gorgeous beginning of their lives as newlyweds. The sun was shining brightly, as tourist and locals mingled and chatted on the grounds enjoying the day peacefully, together. That seems a microcosm of what Belfast is aspiring to be. A diverse, cultural place of peace. Happily looking forward.

I can't comment how this building is run or how great the services was. I can only comment on how utterly cool this City Hall is. Seriously in all my travels I have never seen a City Hall that was this nice. It rivaled many historic buildings that I have seen as it sincerely was breathtaking. Several different types of granite were used in the interior and all are flawless integrated to create a complete picture. There's a large mural inside that is fantastic. Stained glass windows tell the major historical events of the area. Within the halls are art, historical information, and a cute little coffee shop. My only complaint with the interior was that on the weekends there's only one available restroom and it was so small that there was a considerable line for the ladies' toilet. It would have been nice to have another set open when the cruise season is underway and thousands are visiting. I went on two tours in Belfast, neither having to do with history, and both stopped here first. And why not? It is really cool! Outside are a variety of statues all well taken care of and of various important people. They are all beautiful. Then on the one side is a memorial to those who lost their lives on the Titanic. It was simply breath taking.

The City Hall is a classic building in the main area of Belfast. You can take a tour and see the history of the city and building. When you first walk in there is a beautiful rotunda which you can se the upper level. As you walk down the hallway to start the walking tour there are some beautiful stained glass windows that had a theme for each one. You can then start a self guided tour of the many rooms in the building. There is also a Cafe at the end for a bite to eat or a drink. The self guided tour gave us a great idea of the history of Belfast and the building.

I paid City Hall a visit yesterday and thought I'd share with you. City Hall is the home of Belfast City Council. The council has 90 councillors who serve for 4 years. Each year a Lord Mayor is elected from Unionist or Nationalist on alternate years. This year the Lord Mayor is the Nationalist Daniel Barker. They meet at 6pm on the first Monday of each month in the chamber. Prior to this they would "robe up" in the Robe Room. Red robe for the councillors, Black and Gold for the Lord Mayor and Purple for the High Sheriff. On entering City Hall there is a spacious hall with wonderfully crafted and ornate pillars and walls and a grand stair case. The flooring is marble and this forms the lower part of the Rotunda. The Dome of the City Hall is 53m high and the chandelier has 100 bulbs and weighs 1.5 tonnes. City Hall was constructed between 1896 and 1906 and has a twin in Durban, S Africa. Other notable features include the majestic stained glass windows. Also of note is the painting depicting Chichester reading the Belfast Charter and a Black statue of one of his descendants. The Coat of Arms is also noteworthy.​

Had a free tour last Tuesday 14th February. It was really good and our guide, Kerina was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. She had the most beautiful speaking voice. The overall experience was very positive. Many thanks, John Moore, County Meath

After visiting the Parliament building....(yawn) our tour stopped here. What a beautiful building inside and out! Each room explains a different aspect of Belfast from wartime, to Titanic, to literary and sports heroes and much much more. There are beautiful stained glass panels with plaques that explain what they are about. There are bathrooms to use and a gift shop. Outside there is a Titanic Memorial Garden and beautiful statues surrounding the building. This is definitely a must see if you are in Belfast. And it's free!

We went on the free tour, which takes you upstairs through the robing room (where dressed in robes), council chamber, banqueting hall, and Great hall. The guide gave a little history on the building ad a few anecdotal stories of Lord Mayors, along with a very brief overview of the city's politics/elections. The only potential criticism is it felt a little rehearsed, but it was a good experience and is recommended.

I only saw this type of neo-Baroque City Hall in Belfast during my British Isles Cruise. The reason why this City Hall struck me is because it reminds me a lot of San Francisco's City Hall. The dome and the architecture are similar. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland with a rich history. It's worth a stop for some pictures in the city. We didn't spend all our time in the city that day as we went to Hillsborough Castle. The Titanic Memorial Garden is right by City Hall.

One of the amazing hidden gems of Belfast esp as they offer an hour long free tour talking about not just the building itself, but also how the city came to be and its a fascinating history of commerce, religion and kingly charters. One caveat - the free tour only has 50 tickets per tour, they get over fast, and so you need to book in advance! The outside of the building has memorials galore - the one to the Titanic was really beautiful, as were the local one to a diver and then Bill Clinton also visited and laid a stone down. Inside you can see the original charter to the city from James I and Elizabeth and it's marvelous seeing documents up close that are normally in museums. The inside first floor also has these beautiful stained glass windows and one side reminded me of the effect at Gaudi's Barcelona cathedral - Sagrada Familia. As you walk in the door, to the left is a terribly beautiful and sentimental sculpture commemorating the Earl of Chicester's son who died very young and the right is a sitting room with comfy couches and maps for tourists. The loo situation as of Aug 2016 is a bit weird - only one stall for women in a unisex toilet, so hope that will improve soon. Otherwise quite lovely and absolutely worth checking it out. Note: #236 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

Great guide who showed us around and added much history to the site along with offering us opportunity to sit in the seats where officials meet. We even got the chance to try on the robe valued @ 4k pounds. And we got to sit in the seat of power too! Definitely stop in for a tour. Well worth the trip!!

Whenever I have Googled the name of Alfred Brumwell Thomas, the young London architect of Belfast City Hall, there have been very few named buildings given in his name. Besides our magnificent City Hall in Belfast, there are the town halls of Stockport and Woolwich. Dig beyond Wikipedia and he had bigger visions for the development of Belfast: http://passoverinsilence.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-civics-of-alfred-brumwell-thomas.html During lunchtime on Tuesday 19th July 2016, I took many exterior photos of the City Hall and grounds, full of people grabbing the sunshine while it lasted. I have now uploaded these.

Visited April 2015: "Stunning at night" We decided to explore Belfast City at night, and also check out the Titanic Memorial Garden. The entire building was lite up, and just a spectacular view.

There are certain landmarks in a city that become so much a part of it, you couldn't imagine the place without them. Belfast City Hall is one of those landmarks. It's a meeting place, a taxi pick-up point, a picnic area, a tourist attraction, a wedding venue and much more. I love that the city centre is still essentially built around it. Royal Avenue and Donegal Place lead right up to its doors, and despite being dwarfed by most of its neighbours, it remains a dominant feature of the Belfast skyline. It's also a beautiful building. It was recently reopened after some major restoration work, but it was mostly structural, so they didn't change much of the interior (mostly just made sure it wasn't going to fall down anytime soon!). For tourists, it provides a potted history of Belfast in the form of an exhibition and a guided tour (both of which are free). There's also a new cafe in the back, The Bobbin (so named because City Hall was built on the site of the old Linen Hall), which is nice, if a little expensive. On a summer's day, you won't be able to move in the grounds for people enjoying the weather. It's a lovely place to sit and escape the city centre, have a drink and recharge before hitting the shops again! The grounds also play host to shows and Belfast-favourite, the Continental Market every Christmas. The City Hall is one of those places that everyone in Belfast loves. We're all proud of it because we all own it, no matter what our political persuasion might be. Maybe I'm waxing lyrical a bit too much about a building, but the City Hall is solid, beautiful, interesting and enduring. Just like Belfast, then.

One thing I recently learned about Belfast City Hall is that it a rather convenient place to go to the toilet if you are in desperate need in the city centre. You walk through the grand entrance, turn left, past the stain glass windows, along the marble floors and eventually through the mahogany doors before you reach the most sacred destination, The City hall Toilets. Why not treat yourself to a bit of luxury while shopping in the City centre or on your lunch. No fee and a hassle free wee. That should be the City Hall's new motto. But really if I want to impress someone who is not from Belfast or the surrounding area I take them to the City Hall, you just can not beat its grandeur and its status in the City. Everyone has already gone over why it is so great so I will not be repetitive. But keep the toilet thing in mind, I bet it will come in handy..

Good place to visit to see the Titanic go for a walk around the city centre I you recommend to my friends and family for a holiday

Slap-bang in the heart of Belfast (and rightly so) the City Hall is perfect for any person, tourist or not. Over 100 years old (and looking well for her age) the City Hall has only recently opened a new tourist exhibition which when I walked through it was rammed full with people. It is hard to get here and not find so many people in it. It's a real draw for anyone and it is lovely to show off to people about how wonderful Belfast can be. You can get a free tour which is enjoyable and full of interesting facts but you can also roam about on your own. The City Hall comes complete with Cafe and a variety of exhibitions. Great for all the family.

Is great in the summer to go and eat lunch out on the lawn. However it will be fairly crowded so be prepared to share your grass with others. It is Belfast most distinguishing landmark and a prominent icon. In the past and actually still to date there is usually crowds of young people of the alternative gothic style hoarding around the grounds on a saturday afternoon. It can be intimidating but in truth unlike a venomous snake they are pretty harmless. You can also take a walk in if you like, not sure how far you can get but the public is definitely welcome to go in and look around the foyer.

As all the historical attributes are already well covered here there's not too much else to say about city hall. Except that it's awesome! Belfast City Hall is a landmark in every sense of the word for Belfast. News cameras set up in front of it and any programme on the subject of our City will at some point show images of this beautiful building. My favourite thing to do here is to lounge around in the sun when it makes it's rare appearance on the city and just hang out with friends or do a spot of people watching. The continental market which comes around Christmas is also located here and it's always fab and buzzing with people and great craic so watch out for it! They do some awesome beers in huge glasses!

Free informative tours happen daily. Worth a walk round the grounds or for the full tour of the building.

On my trip to Belfast I discovered that the City Hall had guided tours and usually city halls have a long story to tell and interesting history therefore i was excited to go to this one and hear about the architecture and the history of not only the city hall but also some of Belfast's history. If you are a tourist, new in town or if you have lived here your entire life, this place is worth going to and also get in on the free guided tour that they have. Not only does the guide give you great information in a great manner but the building in itself is worth taking a look at. It is beautiful. We got the chance to go into some of the rooms that you would never get into and the history and the feel of the rooms are inspiring and filled with things that all have a history. This city hall is worth taking a closer look at.

A few of my mates and acquaintances tend towards the somewhat adventuorous when making their Hallowe'en costumes. What the hell are you? was the general chorus when one turned up at the annual party with a death-white face, see-through black cobweb top and matching black eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick. 'I'm one of those Goth kids at the City Hall,' he said. Belfast City Hall has become rather known for these bastions of youth, of whom I waver between thinking fondly of my own Buckfast-induced teenage years, and shuddering at those annoying BEL-FEST middle class accents most of them seem to have. Still, the kids got to go somewhere, and at least tourists to our fair city can see right away that even our divided little land contains scowling teenagers in black, just like everywhere else. Goths aside, the City Hall is a nice little spot. Good to sit out on the grass to eat your lunch from many of the places nearby, and a very nice spot to dander around inside, if only to tut sanctimoniously at how your taxes are being spent. The grounds are also home to the Continental Market a few times a year, and almost all demos and protests are either held or end up here, resulting in a healthy feeling of solidarity or scorn as I pass, depending on which type of protest it is. I once met a boyfriend here and stunned the poor lad by grabbing him as soon as I saw him and lumbering him half to death, to explain when I released him that I'd just spotted Ian Paisley and the Free P's turning up to tell us we were all going to hell. He would hopefully claim to have seen Ian Paisley at various spots we were at over the next several weeks.

Beautiful building and apparently there is a duplicate one in South Africa I am told. Amazing lovely marble interior and I saw an interesting exhibition on Titanic here. nice stained glass windows also one of Titanic

I didn't take an actual tour but wandered in here one day to kill some time. On my way to the exhibition about Belfast history, I stopped to persuse some local art sponsored by Meryl Streep. Yes. I had to go back and double check that myself. Apparently she's opening some type of art center for children and local artists here. This was right by the main stairway at the side of the building. I was warned away from the stairway by a security guard, so apparently there's something pretty good up there. You'll have to let me know what you find if you go. I continued onto the Belfast history exhibition that's inside the Bobbin Coffee Shop and was very impressed. Gathered on the exhibit were lots of facts that I didn't know about. I'd seen the ruins of the Sirocco factory, for example, but had no idea how massive the complex was. The exhibition traces Belfast from it's earliest days to the present day. It's a fascinating exhibit and very well put together. I was there for about a half an hour and that was barely enough time. In an adjacent room was another exhibit that went over the photo history of Belfast. I'll have to make it back for that one.

Typical of one of who lives and works in Belfast, I walk past or round the City Hall every day but had never set foot in there until I decided to have coffee in the Bobbin Coffee Shop. To reach it I wended my way along marbled corridors decorated with ornate plaster work to the back of the City Hall. Though not wildly exciting, there are perfectly good sandwiches, soup, paninis, scones and cakes to eat with tea and coffee to make a welcome change from the various other cafes and lunch spots around the city centre. The interesting part is the exhibition, in the same room, on Belfast, a good clear display with lots of old photographs and information about the growth and the development of the city right up until the present day, all in digestibly sized chunks, accompanied by a modest souvenir shop.

Belfast City Hall is the most prominent landmark in Belfast city. It really feels like it grounds the city, standing grandly in the centre of the city with everything else built around it. It really comes alive during the summer months, when throngs of office workers, young people and even younger emo's congregate to have an outdoor lunch, have the craic or just to bask in the sun. It's a really pity the 60 metre ferris wheel has wheeled itself off to Dublin, I think it really leaves a hole the skyline beside The City Hall. I've been on an official our of Belfast CIty Hall with College, which is very informative. We saw all the impressive portraits of past Mayors upstairs. The tour comes recommended.

When people think of Belfast, they will usually either conjure up images of this place or of the cranes, and I would prefer to think of the beauty of this place than a couple of cranes that ultimately help create one of the biggest floating disasters of all time in the Titanic! The building looks exquisite, though I feel now that the wheel has left the is something a little bit missing from the place( though I don't honestly believe the Belfast skyline is that beautiful anyway, and you can see most of what you would have paid for from the top floor of the Victoria Centre!) but the building is gorgeous. The front benches are a magnet for miscreants, emos and goths, so try to avoid their gaze.Instead concentrate on the lovely grass area out front that many a lazy picnic on a sunny day have happened. There is a cafe inside the centre which is surprisingly good, and a new tourist bit that always seems to have been busy enough when I have been walking past which is good!

Belfast City Hall is an impressive, Neo-baroque style building. It's a fully functioning civic building with births, weddings and deaths registered on a daily basis. However you can also avail of the free daily public tours. I did a tour a few years ago and it was brilliant, you just turn up, register for one and take part. For a free tour it's exceptionally good and worth seeing the beautiful interior, offices, corridors and artwork on display whilst hearing the history of the building. City Hall grounds are also a nice spot of greenery right in the heart of Belfast at which there are often activities and events occurring e.g. music, arts exhibitions, performances, continental markets, Christmas markets and movies or sports displayed on The Big Screen. A beautiful building to be proud of with a lot of activities happening weekly. I would highly recommend a visit to Belfast City Hall for both tourists and locals alike.

Wow..this place is icon of Belfastlit has most antique looks,and is really beautiful during christmasand the belfast wheel gives a good view of the city great tourist attraction

love love love this building. If you are looking for anywhere unique to have a wedding this is the place. Inside and out the building is just stunning. I had my wedding here in 2013 and it was magical and I just smile every time I walk past the building. The registrar was excellent and made the ceremony very special. The location is perfect and opens you up to many different options on where to go for a reception. They made things very easy to organise and the fee is minimal. A day I will treasure forever.

What a beautiful area - just walking around this building at night, with everything lit up, was enough to drive from Dublin. It's impressive and a safe walk, so give it a try. We loved it.

Most of the useful information for City Hall has been covered in previous reviews but there are a few interesting facts about the grand building that I would like to add. For a brief history, Belfast was established as a town in 1613. A few hundred years later Queen Victoria granted Belfast city status in 1888. In light of this new era it was decided that an impressive new building should be erected to commemorate this. Previously, this area was the site of the White Linen Hall but it was bought over to build the new City Hall upon. Building began by local firm H&J Martin (which you still see operating today) and was designed by Alfred Brumwell who won a competition to design the building. Eight years later the building and design was complete and City Hall opened its doors to the public. Still to this day the location is a source of tourism and information for tourists and locals alike. The building contains some impressive features; as you enter the building you are greeted by a stone and marble entrance and immediately ahead of you is the grand staircase which is built using four different types of marble, three from Italy and one from Greece; Carrarra, Pavonazzo, and Brescia. Around here you can see the statue of Lord Chichester being mourned by his mother (he was the last earl of Belfast) upstairs threes another statue dedicated to him and his commitment to the arts. Along this corridor you can find the portraits of the previous mayors of Belfast. On this floor you can also find the mural by John Luke which was commissioned to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain. The newest art work to adorn the walls is a painting by contemporary artist Keith Drury. This painting aims to represent a 'City Hall for all' and inscribed in Gaelic and English above the painting is the motto "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live". The people featured in this painting are; Edward Bunting a harpist, John McKay a journalist, Alice Milligan a poet/playwright, Sean Maguire a fiddler and Anna Maguire an Irish dancer/teacher. The dome of City Hall rises to an impressive 173 feet. It features a 'whispering gallery' which means if you whisper something on one side it will be heard on the other! At this point, if you look up, you will see the Zodiac signs depicted in the stained glass windows alongside the symbols from the Belfast coat of arms. Outside in the grounds of City Hall there are a number of interesting statues; there's an 11ft Sicilian statue of Queen Victoria, at each side of her stand statues which represent; education, linen spinning and shipbuilding. Following this theme there are another two statues which follow this important industrial theme; there is one of Edward Harland (he of Harland and Wolff fame) who was also Mayor of Belfast. There is also a Titanic memorial in which a figure of Thanes looks down upon two nymphs carrying drowning sailors in their arms. The names of the dead are described on the memorial. There are also two war memorials in the grounds, one dedicated to the 208 Royal Ulster Rifle men who died in the Korean War and the other a Cenotaph which was unveiled on Armistice Day, 11th November 1929. The newest instalment to the City Hall is the small but popular café aptly named 'Bobbin' (a lowly but essential part of the linen industry which was used to wind thread round a spindle.) The café sells a range of hot and cold drinks as well as some tasty home made food.

The most incredible thing about this building is that it is a city hall.It is far more impressive than most state capitols.It tops certain royal palaces- admittedly I'm thinking of the royal palace in Montenegro.Beautiful building which you can tour for free.Also as another reviewer notes , it works as a convenient bathroom stop.

On the outside, this is a beautiful building from any angle. Inside, the City Hall has the perimeter, ground floor rooms are arranged in a sequential walk through time; the history of Belfast. The presentation of the city's history is well presented with recognition of key civic figures and contributions to the cities needs. However, when it tries to weave in the nationalist movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it becomes fragmented and incomprehensible. Perhaps a censor took a scissors to the original text, cutting out whole chapters. Or, more likely, this period is still an open wound and too sensitive to actually address in public. By the time it addresses the period of civil strife called "the troubles', the narrative is broken and somewhat vague. It could have been better. Perhaps a comparison with a contemporary state conflict is in order. Belgrade, Serbia does a superior job of describing events leading up to and during the their civil war and how they are moving past them.

this place is nice and there are always people hanging about around it and taking photos of it.