Ulster Museum

This is located near the botanical gardens. This is a must visit. Lots of exhibitions on display on multiple levels. 3 exhibitions were closed and I still spent about 1 hr. Wheelchair access and toilets available. There are a few interactive displays as well other activities like art drawing etc. Interesting lay out which i liked. Entry is free but you can donate if you like. After you can pop into the gardens next door to relax with your coffee from the cafe.

A great, modern museum that covers a range of topics and exhibits that cover everything from Art, to archeology, the Troubles, nature and wildlife, with botanical gardens right outside. It's a beautiful museum! They also have a lovely gift shop.

Very nice place with a great ta ge of things to explore. Specially for kids. It’s located in the botanic gardens so easy to explore 2 places at one go. Just loved everything about this place

What a fantastic day out this is, absolutely packed with interesting exhibits. The staff were fantastic and engaging with my children. To top it all off it’s free entry. A must do in Belfast

Came here today on a family trip to Ireland I was told it’s Belfast area’s answer to beamish very similar vibe lots of places to explore and thinks to learn about local history has a little sweet shop a pub a small café very interesting and on the country walk we were greeted by a rooster and some chickens there was some cows sheep and geese roaming relatively free it was a nice experience and filled a good few hours stayed for lunch had sandwiches and soup and they sell some nice bakery items too all reasonably prices expect to pay around £12 per person for lunch no complaints at all

The Ulster Museum is an absolute gem in Belfast’s cultural landscape. Nestled within the picturesque Botanic Gardens, this museum offers an impressive array of exhibits spanning art, history, and natural sciences. From ancient Egyptian mummies and dinosaur fossils to contemporary art and poignant displays on the Troubles, there’s something to captivate every visitor.  One of the standout features is its accessibility—admission is completely free, making it an ideal destination for families, tourists, and locals alike. The museum’s diverse collections ensure that visitors of all ages and interests will find something engaging. Interactive discovery zones provide hands-on experiences, particularly enjoyable for younger guests.  The facility is well-maintained, with helpful staff and a pleasant café for refreshments. Whether you’re a history buff, art enthusiast, or simply looking for an enriching way to spend a few hours, the Ulster Museum delivers on all fronts. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Belfast.

What an excellent free attraction. Over five floors and clear zones of interest. The staff are helpful and friendly. If you have an nearest in the past this is a must visit location. I have a big interest in ancient to middle-age Irish history and was not in the least bit disappointed.

This is an entertaining museum with various sections that are very well presented. I enjoyed walking through it, and it took a few hours to complete all the sections. It is also an exciting place for kids.

Our last sight-seeing adventure of the trip was a stop to the Ulster musuem. Again, we had no expectations for this museum and we were both shocked to find that it was 5 stories of Art, Science, political history and Irish/UK history. Working backwards, we got through the 5th and 4th floors before losing some steam. We still walking through all of the exhibits and all the floors but there was so much to see, you could easily break the visit up into five visits. They did a really good job making the information interesting while keeping to the traditional aspects of a museum. It seems like a big investment for the city too because they do not charge for admission, however there is a recommended donation amount of at least 5£. It was time well spent, however after a long day of walking, we were absolutely exhausted by the time we left.

Great place for al ages. Always new shows etc to see. Events in here could be advertised better. Great events but never hear about them. Extensive gift shop. Cafe is nice. Has lots of seating. Love the grounds it's set in with the botanical gardens.

Last night my Plus one and I attended an amazing New Year Banquet at The Ulster Museum. It was in recognition of the hard work by all involved in the NI Year of Food and Drink. The evening kicked off in the ground floor of the museum with a drinks and canapé reception before a speech or two. We then made our way to the "heavens" to truly have our taste sensations challenged and satiated. The main course was the beef shin which was the NI alternative Signature dish which was recently introduced at St Georges Market. As we do not eat beef we had the same dish but with a nut cutlet and it was amazing!! The starters, tastes, presentations and quantities were absolutely perfect and really was an amazing reflection on what we can do in NI. Thanks to Stephen from The Yellow Door and his gang for a fantastic banquet. The venue was totally awesome and the "craic" was fabulous. Great meeting up with old mates and new. Pity about the lighting-too purple!!!!! Can't wait for the awards ceremony!!

The Ulster Museum really is a shining star of Belfast - I don't think we realise just how lucky we are to have a top class FREE visitor attraction on our doorstop which is also surrounded by some much Botanic beauty. Like most other Northern Ireland residents I visited the Ulster Museum whilst at school - usually we visited on a field trip and myself like most other people (who are willing to admit) viewed a visit to the museum as a chance to get out of the classroom rather than a chance to learn about history and culture. My feelings on the Ulster Museum have changed remarkably as you probably gathered by my opening paragraph. The Museum itself is split by themed floors and exhibitions and when I visited I was most interested on The Troubles exhibition - I viewed this as a great chance to see some artifacts and read about The History of our wee country. The exhibition was great - a real time line of events that puts our history in to context. The museum also has interactive elements in other exhibitions making it interesting for all ages. I also noticed on the top floor that there was an art workshop for children. Facilities have improved dramatically in recent years. The brilliant white décor creates an air of superiority within the museum and really focuses attention back on the exhibitions. There is an excellent café within the museum and this provides the perfect chance for you to grab a pew and rest your body and brain after stocking up on knowledge. They serve food, snacks and coffee all at a reasonable price. I would recommend sitting by the window and looking out over the picturesque Botanic Gardens.

I'm so glad I took the time to visit the Ulster Museum. As a history graduate, I'm usually found in a museum of some sorts and this one is definitely in my top 5! The museum itself is situated in the beautiful Botanic Gardens and is extremely modern. You can tell that a lot of care and thought has gone into making this museum accessible for everyone. Right from off the offset,where there are stairs there is also a ramp. There are four floors in the museum and ramps situated everywhere there were stairs. This really impressed me. The welcome area is large,spacious and there is a cloakroom if you would like to leave your coat etc which I thought was a really nice touch. There are different 'zones': the welcome zone, the art zone, the nature zone and the history zone. Everything is well laid out and easy to get around. This really is a beautiful museum that is very well looked after. Whether you want to learn about fossils, meet some dinosaurs, learn about diamonds and minerals, Ancient Egypt or the history of Ireland itself,there is something for everyone. There's plenty of 'touch and feel'/ puzzle games for children and video/audio clips which aid the displays surrounding them. You need a good few hours to get around this museum but it is well worth it. There is a cafe which serve your usual hot & cold beverages as well as some delicious looking cakes and sandwiches. Plenty to choose from! The gift shop is lovely selling postcards,greeting cards,stationery,jewellery,scarves and toys for the children. They also had a gorgeous range of Christmas decorations. I bought myself a card I'm going to get framed and put on my wall. The staff I met were all lovely and really helpful - they know their stuff! I love meeting people who are as passionate about history as I am! And the museum is FREE!! I made a donation and I can't imagine anyone not.... it's a beautiful museum situated amongst the most beautiful surroundings. It honestly was my perfect day!

Outstanding museum to visit when in Belfast. It is easily accessible by public transportation. It is a general museum which includes multiple floors of various topics. Science, ancient history and modern history co-exist at the museum. Despite the Ulster title, one exhibition has a neutral exhibit showing an objective perspective of the Troubles period including terrorism and counter-terrorism campaigns. Based on the popularity of Game of Thrones, a special room at the top level contains a beautiful tapestry weaved by local artisans. It should be a definite place to go to when in North Ireland.

As part of NI science week, the Ulster Museum opened its doors last Friday night for an event the called Late Lab. In case any of the staff involved in putting the event on are reading this, may I just say what a fantastic night! From live experiments to 'hands on' science the whole night was a great way to promote research that NI has become famous for, whilst peppering it with banter. A nice touch was the Periodic punch, a concoction that when prepared changed colour from green to pink. The periodic punch may have been a bit steep at £10 per jug, but in fairness there was no admission price and they were quite potent so I think we got our money's worth. I'll certainly be back to the museum as my kids love it there, but I hope they do another Late Lab as it's a great way to have an interesting, educational and craic filled evening.

The foyer of the Ulster Museum was transformed into a wonderful dining area for 100 hungry people last night. The event was an evening of fine food and perfectly paired wines hosted by Neil McGuigan and John Torode, courtesy of United Wines. There was also a live chef station at the front where John cooked and Neil talked wines. There was a Frizzante reception outside and we were blessed with great weather!! The Harpist played some soothing music to add to the ambience. The Frizzante was a crisp, fruity, bubbly aperitif and set the evening up well. To start with we were served up a grilled duck salad with minted peas, bacon, bread, pecorino, water cress, parsley and dressed with a sherry and vinegar. The wine paired with this was the Founders Chardonnay which complimented the salad very well. The duck was medium cooked and worked well with the wine. The second course was seared squid and rocket with a tangy mayo. The squid was perfect and the wine pairing was the Pinot Noir Rose. This was fruity and refreshing and worked great with the squid. Course three was pan and paper roasted fish with champ, capers, parsley and black butter. Yes you read it correctly.....the fish was roasted on a piece of grease proof paper in a hot frying pan. This protects the fish to an extent. Tasted amazing and the wine of Founders Cabernet Sauvignon was amazing with the fish. Course four was grilled lamb cutlets with gremolata, radish, mint and ricotta. The wine was Shiraz and for me this was my favourite wine. The lamb was delicious and the radish was fantastic. John prepared each dish and explained how he constructed the dishes. Neil explained his choice of wines and informed us of the regions and grapes used. They are certainly a good wine pair!!! To finish the evening there was some lovely cheese. The boys mingled well and took time to come and talk to us all. What a superb night !!

Absolutely love the Ulster museum, it's free entry which is great and is fun for both adults and children alike. I always start on the top floor and work my way down, the art exhibits in the top floors do change quite regularly and are always interesting as you move down throughout the museum it does become more interactive with games and interactive exhibits making everything more interesting, there is even a part of the museum that had clothes from bygone eras that you can dress up in (supposed to be for children but a few adults indulged their inner child). Set in the grounds of the a botanic gardens it is a great day out that doesn't cost a penny and will be throughly enjoyed by all ages.

There's not much in life that is free these days but entry to Ulster Museum is!!!(although there are lots of collection points for donations dotted around the museum) It's a few years since I had visited and was pleased to see that lots of exhibits I remember from my childhood are still there. Not everything is hidden behind glass either with many exhibits encouraging visitors to touch them, a large number of interactive exhibits (unfortunately about half weren't working) and areas that really encourage kids to get involved. On the way in my kids picked up interactive maps that popped open (pain to close) and had stickers to pop in when they found certain exhibits. There were 2 towards the end that they couldn't find but I suspect hunger was taking over at that point. I would like to go back without kids some day to spend some time checking out the exhibits that they found boring & next time I take them we will head straight to the kid friendly areas.

Making history interesting to people is something this museum does with ease, the artifacts are universally interesting and the displays throughout are perfect in every way, the museum is also a fantastic place to take your kids with some artifacts beneath glass floors always being appealing and the natural history section with stuffed animals, rocks fossils and gemstones are particularly good. The museum also has a room where kids can explore some relics and dress up in old style costumes. The Egypt section with the mummy and the room with the gold and relics of the Gerona are some of my favourite bits and the higher galleries contain artwork. With the money you haven't needed to pay to get in you could buy something in the gift shop or coffee shop and enjoy botanic gardens too. Little else to say except visit if you haven't already.

The Museum has had a refurb and looks more like a modern museum. An extensive section on the troubles along with sections on nature and the elements. Great dinosaur section and a real mummy to shock and thrill the kids. Maybe its the nostalgia from often going as a child to few the giant squid and drawers upon drawers on pinned down little insects and moths that has me always going back. Patrick the dog is one of my favs. The top floors are filled with different art exhibitions. Worth a visit and its free, It's also set it botanic gardens which is gorgeous! BP Portrait exhibition is on 11 March -12 June 2016

The Ulster Museum was closed for two years for a refurbishment which cost millions, so there was major pressure when it re-opened to deliver the goods. The happy news is that the Ulster Museum is now a world class museum which I would be proud to show to a visitor to Belfast. If you haven't been yet, you really must, and there's no excuse not to as you don't even have to pay to get it. Of course they will gratefully take donations towards running costs. To call the Ulster Museum world class is no overstatement. Everything is state of the art and we had a super afternoon there with a six and nine year old who are infamous for their inability to be impressed by anything. There is something for everyone, whether you like to quietly read about exhibitions or get interactive and handle artefacts. The collections covers everything you could think of and then some. Anyone who frequented the old museum will be glad to hear that Takabuti is back in pride of place in the Ancient Egyptian , bless her shrivelled little socks. She's a mummy, by the way. Not mine, but a mummified Ancient Egyptian person. Over the 4 floors you'll also find a huge collection of stuffed animals and preserved insects. Some of those beetles gave me the major creeps much to the delight of the 6 year old. Then there's the art collections, fossils, world cultures and a large section given over to local Irish history which the husband loved. You could easily spend a full morning or afternoon in the Ulster Museum if you throw in a visit to the café on the ground floor which has great food but a very long slow queue. Kids will love the maps and stickers to stick on as you see each exhibit. There is a gift shop near the entrance for the inevitable souvenir fossils which will be lost down the back of the sofa by bedtime. I heart the Ulster Museum!

I'm not gonna lie...I'm a big nerd. Probably not as nerdy as I could be, but still, nerdy enough. As you can imagine, a trip to the newly refurbished Ulster Museum filled me with that warm fuzzy feeling you get on Christmas morning, and I just knew the moment I stepped inside those shiny new doors that I was going to have a ball. The Ulster Museum is situated in Botanic Gardens, just beside Queen's University, and is a fitting location for such an attraction. On this typically dull Northern Irish morning, I and my two siblings set out for south Belfast, filled with anticipation. Prior to this trip, it had been twelve years since I last visited the Ulster Museum, so a second visit was long overdue. As I mentioned, the museum has recently undergone a tremendous redevelopment, which was reopened to the public only last year. Having spent approximately twenty minutes in an attempt to find a parking space (perhaps the only downside to the museum's location), the three of us eventually arrived at the Botanic Gardens. I would seriously consider getting the 8A / B metro bus from Belfast city centre to Queen's University, which will cost you £1.40, and is only a 2 minute walk from Botanic Park. If you're feeling particularly sprightly, the museum is approximately a 15 minute walk from the city centre, so that's an option too. Anyway, having found the museum as this point, you will realise that the new building isn't exactly spectacular, but it is certainly conspicuous. Entry is free (oh I do love a bargain), but much like the London museums, there is the opportunity to donate a small fee for the up-keep of the building. The museum is a kind of three-in-one, incorporating art, nature and history over five levels. Since none of us three can tell our Picasso's from our Picabia's, we thought it best to avoid the art section of the museum, which is on the very top floor. Instead, we chose to begin on the fourth floor, which was contained a number of nature exhibits ranging from stuffed animals and taxidermy, to an explanation of evolution, to the explanation of sea life and the various marine habitats. The exhibits were easy to understand and well laid-out, with a flow maintained throughout the various displays. What particularly struck me was the emphasis placed specifically upon Ireland, such as references to Irish mammals and fish, and this continued into the history section of the museum (or vice versa if you're not doing things back to front!). The history exhibition was fantastic, covering everything from Ancient Egypt (with the infamous mummy dating back to 500-600 B.C.), to the Spanish Armada. Irish history stretched from the Monolithic age to the present, with the most notable exhibition focusing on the Troubles. Having been fortunate enough to not have lived through much of this era of Northern Irish history, this hauntingly poignant exhibition really aided my understanding of the events of the last forty years. Unmissable. Although the three areas are the main attraction, the centre of the museum contains a plethora of models and exhibits which constitute the 'Window on our World' section, which was really spectacular. There are also a couple of specifically interactive rooms, such as 'Discover History' which kids will really enjoy. The best bit of any museum is obviously the shop (or is that just me?), and this one does not fail to delight, containing a wealth of gifts for every age and interest. Having worked up an enormous appetite, the three of us checked out the museum restaurant - very reasonable prices for exceptionally good food, much of which is locally sourced. The chicken goujons are quite possibly the best I have ever eaten! If a full meal seems a bit much, the cafe offers drinks and snacks. Amazing. Seriously amazing. We skedaddled through the museum at a rather alarming pace, but do leave 2 to 3 hours if you want to absorb every minute detail. You won't regret it.

Keeping kids (and sometimes adults) occupied on a wet day is hard, and the Ulster Museum is perfect for this. There are dinosaurs and stuffed animals, a mummy which even has her own twitter account and some great art spaces on the upper floors including areas where kids can go crazy with their creativity, and you can too if you can get a space. I've never been a fan of taxidermy so dandering around stuffed everyday birds and animals isn't really my bag, and a lot of the permanent exhibitions are a little tired but the architecture of the place is enough to keep me perky. Also a lot of the temporary art exhibitions upstairs ranging from the Queen (which was surprisingly brilliant), street art (keeping in with the younger audiences) and the annual RAI exhibition have been marvellous, and it is this effort that keeps me coming back over and over, even as a local as the Ulster Museum is like a box of chocolates- you don't know what you are going to get.

A spontaneous visit, haven't been here in a few years so I couldn't really remember what to expect especially with my 2 year old in tow. But it was a great morning for something different. All exhibitions were interesting my son loved all the dinosaurs and wicker dragons and the natural stone collection was beautifully displayed. Both children's activity rooms appealed to all ages which is great to see! We finished off in the cafe I found it a little pricey as two coffees an orange juice and a biscuit was just shy off £8.50 ( thank God I brought a packed lunch for my son lol) admission is free so I guess they have to make a little profit somehow, overall a good day out, something for everyone.

Located in the park around the Belfast Botanical Gardens. Lovely area, and very convenient if you want to spend the afternoon, visit the museum then hang out in the gardens. There's a cafe in front of the museum also, if a cup of tea is your cup of tea. Has an updated and quirky layout. Lots of stairs and walkways taking you up and down uneven levels. Can be unsure where to go next. Free admission with a suggested donation which is always great. Lots of local history here, and well worth spending a few hours in.

I used to love the Ulster Museum. It had a great 'ye Oldey world' feel to it. Everywhere was dark and felt like a big adventure. Having not visited for quite a few years now, I decided (somewhat unwisely) to take a trip up on the bank holiday. I think almost everyone in Belfast with a child under the age of 5 had the same idea and two things hit me as soon as I stepped through the doors. Number 1 was the modern 'facelift' and Number 2 was the sheer level of noise, not really helped with the light and airy new layout. Some of the exhibitions felt a bit haphazard - for example a mix mash of various fashion items beside a stuffed Irish wolfhound??? The tight narrow corridors were ideal to negotiate with so many buggies and little people running around and several smaller visitors took a tumble which lead to a few screaming matches. Upstairs the fine art rooms were much more sedate. It was nice to have the space to walk round the displays and enjoy the work. I have to say though, it felt good to get back to the outside. I think if it wasn't so busy I would have stayed longer. I may visit on a non-holiday and see if it changes my opinion.

I only wish I had more time to spend in the museum. Two hours was barely enough. I loved that there was a wide variety of things to look at that would appease any interest of any age. Saw lots of children, saw lots of adults. I love animals, so I took a crazy amount of pictures of the taxidermy wildlife and skeletons they had. I also knew virtually nothing about The Troubles before my adventure out here, and this gave some good insight on Belfast's recent dark history. Pulled on quite a few heartstrings, and I'll never forget that feeling. Best part: THE ULSTER MUSEUM IS FREE. Budget friendly, and highly entertained me while I waited out the rainstorm.

Love the Ulster Museum - especially the art gallery floors. One of the best things in Belfast. Free entry and a great day out...

Can I give this place 6 stars? I loved the museum before it was refurbished, missed it when it was gone, and then fell in love again when it reopened! It's such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. You can do the whole thing, or just spend ages looking at the taxidermied polar bear! They've done a really great job making the museum totally accessible to everyone. The kids are really well catered for in that there is a craft room, as well as all the interesting exhibits for them to look at! But adults are well looked after to, as the place is just full of great things to look at, read and learn about. I really can't recommend the museum highly enough, so seriously - 6 stars please?

Great museum that has a collection of art, nature (science) and history. Definitely give yourself 3 hours to get through it

Located in the heart of Belfast, the Botanical Gardens, this newly refurbished museum is great for anyone who likes a bit of culture. The museum had been under construction for what seemed like a lifetime but is definitely worth the wait. The museum takes you right through the ages, from the very first Mummies to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, via the sea and the sky, all along providing terrific insights for both adults and children. The sheer size of the museum is what struck me first because despite being absolutely huge inside (and I dare you to try and see it all in one go) it does not stick out in the gardens as you might think. It is hidden in the trees and it looks so impressive both inside and outside. Another thing I really enjoyed was how you can almost pave your own way through the museum as I have been to some where you start at one end and finish at the other. Here in the Ulster Museum you can explore what you want and when you want it. You have to bring the young ones to the 'sea' section, where all the lights go off so it resembles being under the sea and you discover all the aquatic creatures you can dream of. Entry is free and there is a nice café and the typical gift shop to commemorate your visit. I took more photos to upload as the tourist in me went a bit mad with the camera, but the Yelper in me decided not to upload any more as it is your own personal experience that counts. A really enjoyable day out and if your lucky, you might stumble upon an special exhibition or two.

I absolutely love this place. My girlfriend and I have been here about 4 times in the last six months and have spent a number of afternoons just chilling out inside, reading the paper, doing the crossword and generally enjoying the quiet of the place. I'm a bit of a nerd to be honest and have a real thing for just going to museums with a child like wonderment and try to take it all in as much as is humanly possible. This place is situated in Botanic Gardens, which is right in the centre of town and is a handy walk from Botanic station. There are lots of cafés and bistros around to get a bite to eat and enjoy a family day out. I would also recommend this place as a bit of a left-field date location, if the guy or girl you take here digs it I'd say you're onto a winner. There can be a bit of a problem with parking around here but as I say there are plenty of buses and trains around to cater to your travel needs. This place really is excellent. Since its refurbishing this place has become a world class tourist attraction and it really can't be beat in Belfast.

The Ulster Museum is great. I came here one day in search of some contemporary art. I didn't know there was historical artifacts on display here too. There were some aboriginal art and masks, a glass case of amazing looking exotic butterflies, a dark room with some amazing glowing rocks and precious stones, some pre-historic animals like mammoths, elks and a gallery of stuffed birds. Amazing stuff. Then there's the art. I didn't find the collection too interesting or large but there were some cool Louis De Brocquy pieces and some innovative Northern Irish artists too. The building itself is elegant and peaceful. I love coming to places like this to relax. It is situated in Botanic and if you sit on the steps outside looking at the trees in the sunshine, it really is idyllic.

Been visiting here for years! Great way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon. So much to see!

I spent some of the most painful afternoons in the history of mankind here, it being the annual destination of choice for North Belfast school trips. It's a museum and not a particularly interesting one at that. It's not that I have anything against museums, actually I like them. I just feel that this one doesn't tell Belfast's story very well. It's been a long time since dinosaurs walked down Royal Avenue so I don't really see how a pre-historic stand is a fitting tribute to the city at all.

There was this architect, right, who designed most of the spectacular looking buildings in Belfast. He was called Charles Lanyon, and was, in my humble opinion, a mind who truly found his calling in life. Belfast Castle, Queen's University, Crumlin road Gaol, Botanic Gardens Palm House, all incredible. Right next to the Palm House, there rests a gigantic concrete block, entirely in the colour grey. It is genuinely horrible, superficially. This is the Ulster Museum, the largest museum on these shores. The museum has just been extensively renovated and re-opened, so I took the clan along to check it out a couple of weeks ago. Surprisingly little has changed inside. Probably a good thing... The armada, wildlife and ancient Ireland displays were always fascinating and always will be. Predictably, the brats (sorry, I meant 'my delightful children') thought that the mummy was the best bit. There's a nice wee coffee shop selling nice wee pastries, and then there's the obligatory gift shop. The Ulster Museum - some really, really interesting stuff, free to view, in a gorgeous part of Belfast, housed in a horrible grey monolith.

I've been coming here since I was a youngster, my aunt used to live right beside it, so inevitably a trip to the museum was called for... which was great. Before its recent re-opening the building had become a little bit stale. The installations were repetitive and a little dull, it still had all the same charm as before but you wouldn't spend anywhere near as much time at it. The newly opened building still has the fantastic selection of works and pieces on offer as well as a beautifully modern entrance and lobby area (it's much more like the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam which is no bad thing) Up until recently there was a Sean Scully exhibition which was superb, even inspiring me to do a few myself to decorate the apartment. If you're reading this and you're a visitor to the city then certainly, give this a look.

Since its refurbishment, this place is truly something that Belfast can be proud of. As far as I can tell, it's mostly got all the same stuff (apart from guest art exhibitions) that it had before, but it has just presented it in a clearer, fresher and more interactive way. I love the interactive bits - drawers that you can open and feel things, buttons you can press to see things light up, and many more audio visual elements than before. Sometimes the interactive bits get a bit wrecked by children playing with them too roughly, so perhaps they'll get to reinforcing these a bit. It's lovely to see so many people enjoying it now - so many in fact, that on one occasion, I had to join a queue to get in to see Takabuti, the mummy. It was then that I almost wished it back the way it was before, when it was practically empty, smelling of formaldehyde and I had it to myself. But soon knocked that out of me - it's far better this way. Top class.

Not as grand as the brittish museum but still a nice place to take the family. Most of the exhibitions are vechicle or military related although there are also some great flight simulaters and the like.

I liked this museum but at the same time was disappointed . What disappointed me was instead of displaying more of their permanent collection they wasted space with contemporary junk and some silly exhibition on images of the queen.I wish museums wouldn't do that. Something tells me that this museum has a decent permanent art collection which they should display proudly instead of going for current events.That said the history part of the museum was quite good and they have some great artifacts.I love the Irish Wolf Hound !(Patrick?).I should add the museum is free and really a nice place to visit.

Our favorite place to go after school. Great staff, affordable and delicious cafe, and an excellent learning experience no matter how many times you visit, The new art wing on the 5th floor is fantastic! The Discover Art, Discover Nature, and Discovery History rooms are specifically geared towards children with lots of hands on activities, art projects and dress-up clothes. The Discover Nature area has lots of animal bones you can touch as well as n area for bird watching. Discover Art has a number of different art projects, as well as a light table with colourful blocks to explore architecture. In the Geology area, there are rocks that glow under ultraviolet light, which is a must-see every time we go. There are maps for children where they can place stickers as they see all the areas of the museum. Staff are always polite and helpful. It s one of our favorite places in Belfast. Best part of all? It's FREE!

After the N. Ireland politician Nelson McCausland made stupid remarks about the Ulster Museum not representing the views of the majority in Northern Ireland who believe God created this whole flippin' mess of a world I just had to go and see the new look museum for myself. Friends told me I would be impressed and they were right. It is an attractive place. I cannot recall the old museum too well as last time I was there was in my primary school days. I was told it's basically the same objects/artefacts but just displayed in a 21st century design. I walked through display areas that told me about old Belfast, and an even older Ireland. I read the story of the Girona, saw an Egyptian mummy, learned about the solar system and wandered through the Ice Age which I believe was just slightly colder than our big freeze last December. I saw sea life on the ocean bed, rock formations from different geological periods and was brought right up to date with a brief history of the Northern Ireland troubles. There was a room that was a taxidermist's dream. I was impressed by the stuffed birds and lifelike replicas of extinct creatures like the dodo. There were drawers of butterflies and other insects and creepy crawlies that I'm only too happy to step on! I was there around five hours and finished my day off with a walk through an exhibition of paintings on the top floor by the RUAS (I think). It must have been the first day as I have never seen so many people browse art before. I didn't get to the café as it looked packed and I took myself off for a wee dander around Botanic Gardens before heading back to my flat in the university area. A great day out! As for the politician, I christened the dodo Nelson in his honour. Big smile :-)

Smaller than a lot of museums on the mainland UK but it has to be said it was interesting, well designed and worth a visit. Loved the True Colours exhibition of youngsters art - what a fantastic idea and so lovely.

I went there when it reopened and first impressions were Positive, I think whoever redesigned it got a little carried away with all that use of empty space Although I am not a fan of Radical Modern architecture, perhaps I would go as far to say it was a little Kitsch. There was only one exhibit that was hidden by another, but everything was well laid out and easy to follow around the Museum. The Top floor is solely dedicated to modern art, which I feel the space could have been used for a better purpose, huge great monstrosities of black and white squares and such on canvass It may be someones artistic interpretations of art but its just not Art. I don't know the genre name of it but it appeared to me elitist and only those absorbed in the Arts World could make something of it, I will use that word again, Kitsch it's a 'public' building after all. It's a great place for kids, there's lots of interactivity for them, the staff are ready to explain anything about the exhibits and it's still free.