Belfast Hen Do

Visit Titanic Belfast, where the infamous cruise liner was built

Set in the Titanic Quarter, where the famous Harland & Wolff Shipyard was that the Titanic was designed and built, this is a key piece of history for those that are fascinated both by the real story and the movie. The focus will very much be on the Titanic, but hundreds of ships were built here, such as the HMHS Britannic. The huge Samson & Goliath yellow cranes are still on site and a key image of the city, therefore if you're all visiting for the first time, it could be worth getting a pic near them.

The Titanic is now looked back with wonder, but for a long time it was an embarrassment for Belfast, a highlight of a disaster of a ship that originated in the area. In the museum, you'll get the chance to see how the ship was designed, see what life was like onboard and all the gory details of when it sunk.

Learn about the city’s troubles past by taking a black cab tour 

See this as a chance to go on a tour, but learning about modern history, where you'll be taken to places like the Peace Walls and a number of murals with political motivations. They explain why Belfast is the way it is and many people state that it leaves them feeling more connected and understanding to why it's so different to other cities you'll find across the UK.

Make restaurant reservations, especially at the weekend! 

We can obviously help here, especially in big groups, but it's worth highlighting that you'll most likely need a booking if you're visiting on the weekend. Larger groups of 8+ will often struggle and most sites won't allow for big bookings, hence where we have agreements with a number of venues to guarantee you a table and potentially pre-paying for the food so you don't have to worry about the bill on the day. 

It should go without saying that you could combine eating with drinking and book a bottomless brunch, always a popular activity and now commonly themed or with a show, making this a mix of dinner/lunch, drinks and some entertainment. If you fancy something a bit more classy, you could try an afternoon tea.

Sundays can be quiet with many shops closing early due to religious reasons 

While most places you visit across the UK you can expect the shops to be shut, Belfast is surprisingly quiet on Sundays compared to other areas, with Sunday trading restrictions being respected and stores shutting their doors. Having said that, the bars and restaurants will remain open, while you can also enjoy a Sunday roast dinner or a brunch on the day without any problems. 

Northern Ireland Uses Pound Sterling

We have been asked this by a number of customers, so we feel it's worth quickly explaining that the pound sterling is used in Northern Ireland, as it is used in England, Scotland and Wales. Many confuse this with Republic of Ireland, where the Euro is used as currency.

You may receive Northern Irish banknotes, which appear different to what you're used to seeing if you're from other areas of the UK, but these can be handed into any bank and accepted, in case you have issues using it when home. Nowadays, most places have contactless payment so currency isn't such a headache anymore.

July 12th can be a sensitive time.

It’s an Ulster Protestant celebration dating back to the 1700s, commemorating the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Protestant areas of the city erect Union flags, paint their street kerbs red, white and blue, and may look under siege as bonfires are burnt on the 11th night, this is to signal the forthcoming celebrations. 

Prepare for rain as Belfast is similar to the UK and can be just as wet!

With approximately 157 days of rain per year, you should definitely pack a rain jacket and waterproof clothing, albeit it's mainly light showers during the summer time when most of our hen bookings are for. The weather has been known to change quickly, so it can be very useful packing an umbrella on you.