Northern Ireland Explorer
Belfast & Giant's Causeway
6 day holiday - Thursday 2nd July 2026
Highlights...
- Titanic Belfast Exhibition
- Giant’s Causeway
- Belfast City Tour
Join us at Cultural Breaks on a six-day journey through Northern Ireland, delving into the story of Belfast and the enchanting regions that surround it, with a group of like-minded travellers. Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, is in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It was created in 1921 when Ireland was divided into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland). Belfast, its capital, grew from a small settlement on the River Lagan into a major industrial city in the 19th century, famous for shipbuilding, linen, and engineering. The RMS Titanic was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard. Belfast was at the heart of the Troubles (1960s–1998), a conflict between mainly Protestant unionists, who wanted to stay in the UK, and many Catholic nationalists, who wanted to unite with Ireland. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement helped reduce most of the violence, and created devolved government so people in Northern Ireland could make local decisions. Today, Belfast is a cultural and economic centre with over 350,000 residents. Its economy includes technology, education, tourism, with landmarks including Titanic Belfast, City Hall and political murals. Northern Ireland keeps a distinct identity, while maintaining close ties with the Republic of Ireland.
Our fully escorted holiday explores Northern Ireland’s highlights, from the Titanic Belfast exhibition to the natural wonder of the Giant’s Causeway and other historic sites. The tour covers the counties of Antrim and Down, including Belfast, the Antrim Coast, and Cultra. This holiday is suitable for Cultural Breaks Members comfortable with occasionally walking on uneven surfaces, moderate inclines, standing for periods of time and happy with a short flight to Belfast. Read on to find out more about our itinerary...
Titantic Hotel, Belfast ★ ★ ★ ★
Located in the Titanic Quarter, close to the Titanic Belfast exhibition and the SSE Arena, our 4-star hotel offers accessible rooms with spacious layouts, double beds, and en-suite bathrooms. Walk-in showers are available on request. Facilities include free WiFi, tea and coffee-making facilities and a lift. Two on-site restaurants and a bar can be found on-site, as well as luggage storage and 24-hour front desk assistance. Cultural Breaks Members can enjoy a buffet breakfast each morning, and a 3-course meal with 2 glasses of house wine, beer or soft drink in the evenings. The hotel is just over a mile from Belfast city centre, perfect for those who are curious to explore the capital of Northern Ireland, and within easy reach of our excursions.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Thursday 2nd July
Arriving by door-to-door car at London Heathrow, you will be greeted by your Tour Managers who will be with you throughout the holiday. We will have breakfast at the Sofitel and meet with fellow members of the group. After checking-in, we will use the fast-track service. Following our flight to Belfast City Airport, we will be met by our coach driver who will transfer us to the hotel. On arrival, our Tour Managers will assist with check-in including porterage, and there will be time to settle in before dinner.
Day 2 – Friday 3rd July
After breakfast, your Tour Managers will guide you to Titanic Belfast, located across from the hotel at the former Harland & Wolff shipyard where the RMS Titanic was built. Opened in 2012, the exhibition features interactive galleries on Titanic’s construction, voyage, sinking, and legacy, with lifts to all floors. Enjoy lunch at the on-site café and browse the gift shop. Later, step aboard the SS Nomadic, a restored 1911 ship with four decks, to explore its Titanic connection. In the afternoon, we visit the Titanic Distillers for Irish whiskey tasting and a tour, with insights into maritime heritage. Our day concludes with dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 – Saturday 4th July
Today we meet with our Blue Badge guide and visit Carrickfergus to explore Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Ranger Museum. Andrew Jackson, born in 1767 on the American frontier, became the 7th President of the United States, his parents emigrated from Carrickfergus in 1765. We also learn about the formation of the US Rangers in 1941, an elite military unit with roots in the town. We continue to Antrim to view Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, and the Finn McCool sculpture inspired by local legend. At Clotworthy House & Castle Gardens, we will have lunch and a guided tour of the Clockwork Gardens, Lady Marion’s Hound, and find out more about the Massereene family, former owners of Antrim Castle. We return via the Antrim Round Tower, one of Ireland’s best preserved landmarks.
Day 4 – Sunday 5th July
Explore key landmarks of Belfast with our Blue Badge Guide on an accessible city coach loop, including the Peace Walls, Murals, and Belfast City Hall, while learning about the stories behind its familiar sites. We disembark at the Ulster Folk Museum in Cultra, County Down, which showcases rural and urban life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It offers step-free routes, accessible toilets, and seating. After lunch in the Ballycultra Tearoom, enjoy a guided tour of the Ulster Transport Museum, featuring an impressive collection of vehicles, locomotives, and maritime exhibits, with level access throughout. Both museums are a must-see and part of National Museums Northern Ireland. On return to the hotel, our Blue Badge Guide shares further insights and answers any remaining questions.
Day 5 – Monday 6th July
Start your day at the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience, Northern Ireland’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, with our BBG. Formed around 60 million years ago, more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns rose dramatically from the Atlantic coast. These hexagonal columns formed naturally as lava cooled and contracted, cracking in a pattern that minimized stress and created the striking shapes. The award-winning visitor centre offers interactive exhibits, audio guides, and accessible facilities, with battery-electric shuttles transporting visitors to the formations. Short, level paths with resting points allow easy exploration and the chance to spot seabirds. According to geomythology, these formations were not volcanic but created by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill. We have lunch nearby before returning to the hotel for leisure time before dinner.
Day 6 – Tuesday 7th July
After breakfast, your Tour Manager will assist with check-out. Enjoy a two-course farewell lunch in Belfast before transferring by coach to the airport for check-in and your return flight. On arrival at London Heathrow, your Tour Manager will help with luggage collection and escort you to meet your chauffeur driver for your journey home. We hope you have a magnificent time on the Northern Ireland Explorer holiday!
Total Price of the Holiday: £3,095 per person
Deposit: £300
National trust Discount: £13
Balance due: 3rd April 2026
Whats Included:
- Return door to door car service
- Return flights from London Heathrow to Belfast City Airport
- Fast Track Security tickets at both airports
- Coach travel throughout the holiday
- Five nights at the 4-star Titanic Hotel, Belfast
- 3-course dinner with 2 glasses of wine every night
- Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
- Lunch with coffee or tea every day
- 2-course farewell lunch on the last day
- Admission/talks/tours at properties visited:
- Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Ranger Museum (Carrickfergus)
- Antrim Round Tower, via Antrim Town
- Belfast City Coach Tour (with BBG Day 4)
- Services of a Blue Badge Guide on selected days
- Clotworthy House – Gardens Tour
- Giant’s Causeway (audio guided tour)
- Lough Neagh & Finn McCool sculpture
- Titanic Belfast & SS Nomadic
- Titanic Distillers (Irish whiskey tasting)
- Ulster Folk Museum (Cultra, County Down)
- Ulster Transport Museum
- Gratuities
- The services of your Tour Managers throughout your stay
- V.A.T.
Room Upgrade:
Upgrade to a Deluxe room for an extra £200
The minimum number required for this trip is 10.
For more information or to book call
020 4568 3377
