Belfast

About Belfast

Located on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland. Standing on the River Lagan, it is the largest city in Northern Ireland and was for a time during the 19^th century the largest producer of linen in the world, something which earned the city the nickname “Linenopolis”. The city was also the birthplace of RMS Titanic and has a museum dedicated to the ship and its shipbuilder.

Belfast is an easily accessible city which has good links with mainland UK, the rest of Europe, and a range of international destinations.

Belfast has 2 airports, Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport. Both of these are just a short drive away from the city centre and are serviced by all the major budget airlines in addition to a good number of the larger ones. There are regular bus services from the airport to the city centre, or by taxi it will take around 30 minutes.

Belfast is easily accessible from Scotland, England and the Isle of Man by sea with superfast ferries that can make the journey in around 1 hour. This is a great travel option for those who do not like to fly or anyone who would prefer to bring their own vehicle with them.

For anyone arriving by road, travel between Dublin and Belfast is very easy. There are 21 buses a day with a journey time of around 2 hours (who knew they were so close!). The Motorway and toll road connect the 2 cities and there are also 8 trains a day between Dublin and Belfast – also with a journey time of around 2 hours.

With the majority of project management courses lasting a couple of days, you will want to book a room in a nearby hotel and Belfast has plenty of four star hotels to choose from.

Clayton Hotel, 22 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HS

A 6 minute walk from the station, this hotel is incredibly centrally located, making it a great base for attending training courses and also exploring the city. Guests at the hotel are able to take advantage of the onsite parking  and there are very good transport links from very close to the hotel. All of the rooms are modern and bright with all the amenities you would expect from a 4-star hotel. The hotel has meeting rooms which are available to hire and a business centre with computer stations for those individuals who may need to stay in touch with the office whilst attending a training course. As a spa hotel the Clayton also offers a good range of spa options for guests.

Ten Square Hotel, 10 Donegall Square S, Belfast BT1 5JD

With an airport pickup service, this city centre hotel is a great choice for those arriving by air. There is onsite parking however it is limited and there is an additional charge. The hotel has 2 restaurants and 2 bars offering plenty of choice for guests. There is free wifi throughout and the hotel also has a number of meeting rooms available for hire. For anyone who is looking to explore Belfast during their stay there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel and so are a number of places of interest.

Titanic Hotel, The Titanic Quarter, 8 Queens Rd, Belfast BT3 9DT

For something a little different, why not try the Titanic Hotel in the Titanic Quarter of the city? The hotel is a short drive from the city centre and near to both the train station and local bus routes, there is also onsite payable parking for guests. This is a luxury hotel in an unusual location, with an incredibly contemporary interior. The Titanic Quarter is home to some fantastic eateries and of course just a short walk away from Titanic Belfast where the famous ship of the same name was built.

Whilst you stay in Belfast for a couple of days you are sure to want to see some of that fantastic Irish hospitality and there are plenty of restaurants, bars and traditional pubs with live music in the area to help you experience it.

Restaurants

Ireland has something of a reputation for fantastic food, in particular seafood and dishes making good use of fresh local ingredients. It is home to not just one but three restaurants with a Michelin star, and also a number of Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants, so you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to great places to eat.

The Muddlers Club in Warehouse Lane (BT1 2DX) is located in the Cathedral Quarter. This is a modern, uncluttered restaurant with a very vibrant open kitchen. The menu is thoroughly modern with an occasional nod to the more classical dishes. Quality local ingredients are prepared simply to showcase the best that Ireland has to offer in some unusual and at times fusion dishes.

Eipic on Howard Street (BT1 6PF) offers an intimate and relaxed dining experience. Here, the emphasis is on local and foraged ingredients with dishes featuring some unusual flavour combinations The restaurant has an impressive wine cellar and offers wine pairing that are a little unusual with their dishes.

Describing itself as modern British in style, OX on Oxford Street (BT1 3LA) is the third of the Michelin star restaurants in the centre of Belfast. Again, the emphasis is on fresh local produce with a particular focus on the use of seasonal ingredients.

For a more relaxed dining experience in Belfast why not try one of the many eateries offering traditional Irish fayre.

No visit to Belfast is complete without a quick stop in one of the many pubs you will find here. Opt for one with live music and there really is no better way to spend your evening. Nightlife in Belfast is loud, intoxicating and almost certainly fun.

If you prefer something a little more cultural then there are plenty of theatres in Belfast offering a wide range of shows and plays and you will also find plenty of music concerts as well.