Titanic Belfast

Take yourself down the Maritime Mile into the city’s Titanic Quarter and you’ll feel the past looming large. There is the slipway where Titanic was first launched; the SS Nomadic which ferried passengers from shore to board the doomed ocean liner; the Thompson dry dock where Titanic was fitted out in unimaginable luxury. And there, in the heart of it, is the vast shimmering shell that is Titanic Belfast.

Built on the site of the Harland and Wolff shipyard where Titanic was constructed, Titanic Belfast has become one of the world’s leading Titanic attractions. The building itself is a wonder. Its angular, aluminium-clad design mirrors the shape of Titanic’s prow and its height (38 metres) is the same as the ship’s hull. Inside, nine interactive galleries – tracing the ship’s story from creation to tragic sinking – tell the entire tale on an awesome scale. Expect gantry rides, poignant artefacts, and stunning cabin recreations.

On your self-guided tour of the Titanic Experience, you’ll explore the stories, the people, and the relics that survived the sinking of Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912.

A walk through the galleries will immerse you in Belfast’s industrial past (Harland and Wolff was the biggest shipyard in the world at that time) where you’ll meet the legions of craftspeople who created the grandest ship the world had ever seen.

Moving reminders of those that lost their lives are everywhere and include one of only twelve remaining life jackets, a violin used by one of the ship’s musicians, and a pocket watch from passenger Joakim Johnson, frozen at the time of 1:37am when it was submerged in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

The sinking of Titanic changed the world and the exhibition explains what happened in the aftermath of the tragedy, its lasting legacy and the measures put in place to prevent such a disaster from ever happening again. It also follows the fascinating hunt to find Titanic in its final resting place in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

Explore outside the building and you’ll find the slipway from which Titanic was launched and see the life-sized plan of the ship’s promenade deck outlined in white stone. Next to this, the Titanic Memorial Garden offers a reminder of the human cost of the sad tale – permanent glass panels have been etched with the names of the passengers who were lost on that fateful night in April.

Belfast’s extraordinary maritime heritage is celebrated on the Maritime Mile. Starting from the City Quays and finishing at the Titanic Pumphouse, it takes you on a tour of the city’s famous waterfront with stops at important landmarks such as the Great Light, Samson and Goliath (the famous yellow cranes used by Harland and Wolff), and the SoundYard, an art installation that recreates the sound of metal striking metal – sounds that once rang out daily in the bustling Belfast docks.

Close by Titanic Belfast, two important titans of naval history are on view. SS Nomadic is the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world and was built alongside Titanic in 1911 to ferry passengers to the great liner from shore. A self-guided tour is included in your ticket to Titanic Belfast.

And don’t miss HMS Caroline, the second longest-serving warship in the Royal Navy, which has seen action in both World Wars and the Cold War Era.

No one knows Titanic’s story better than those who live and breathe it. Along with the insight of their ancestors who lived during and, even more importantly, after Titanic’s build, Titanic tour guides in Belfast are unrivalled in their connection to the ship.

The Discovery Tour (part of the Titanic Belfast experience) and Titanic Tours Belfast, run by Susie Millar – great-granddaughter of a Titanic engineer who perished with the ship – are just a couple of options. Or you can take a guided cycling tour with Donal Kelly from Belfast Mic Tours, and he’ll tell you the ever-changing story of Belfast's rich maritime history.

Indulge yourself with Afternoon Tea at Titanic Hotel Belfast right beside Titanic Belfast. This luxury hotel is located in the old Harland and Wolff Headquarters and Drawing Offices and is filled with Titanic heritage.

Pay a visit to the Thompson Dock and Pumphouse at the end of the Maritime Mile. The dry dock is the last site where Titanic rested on dry ground as it was fitted out for its maiden voyage. The Pumphouse is the first working distillery in Belfast city in almost 90 years and offers tours as well as tastings of its award-winning spirits.

If you’re heading back into the city, stop into Robinson’s bar where the collection of Titanic memorabilia is so unique that you’ll feel like you’re pottering around a museum. Among the stunning array are a Titanic steward’s badge, a commemorative jewellery box and Philomena – a doll reputedly rescued from Titanic’s floating wreckage.

To cut a long story short, Titanic is Belfast and Belfast is Titanic. If you want the whole story, this is the place to start.