Is Belfast’s tourism future being built on solid ground — or seduced by shiny tech? In this reflective piece, I explore Augment the City, a bold new programme introducing AI and immersive storytelling to Belfast’s visitor offer. Drawing on personal experience in…
Botanic Gardens in Belfast has a fascinating history rooted in its origins with the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society, who purchased the area in 1829. Initially, access to the gardens required a private subscription, with costs reflecting the exclusivity of…
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (1824-1907), was a Belfast-born mathematician, mathematical physicist, and engineer renowned for his significant contributions to science over his lifetime. Thomson served as the Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow for an impressive…
Situated in front of the McClay Library at Queen’s University Belfast, “ECO” stands as a notable piece of public art created by the Breton artist Marc Didou. Crafted from bronze, this sculpture represents Didou’s exploration into digital imaging techniques, encapsulating…
The Ulster Museum, founded originally as the Belfast Natural History Society in 1821, has evolved into one of Northern Ireland’s foremost cultural institutions. Its history of public exhibitions began in 1833, and it expanded with the addition of an art…
Very kind feed back from one of my troubles tours this week (4 June 2025). Link is here: tinyurl.com/33yh7pxa To book tours head here: www.drtomstours.com.
The Palm House stands as a remarkable greenhouse within Botanic Gardens, Belfast, renowned as one of the oldest surviving examples of curvilinear iron and glass structures worldwide. Constructed in 1839, the Palm House was designed by Charles Lanyon and built…
Tourism Northern Ireland (Tourism NI) is the public body charged with developing and promoting tourism across Northern Ireland. It plays a central role in supporting the tourism industry by commissioning research, shaping strategy and delivering marketing campaigns aimed at boosting…
As I was training to be a tour guide in Belfast in 2021, my father-in-law gave me a small pamphlet by Norman Ballentine titled Belfast Official Tourist Handbook produced by Belfast City Council in 1969 just before the outbreak of…
Neighbourhood tourism is fast becoming a cornerstone of Belfast’s evolving visitor strategy, aiming to share the benefits of tourism more equitably across the city. By spotlighting local stories, culture and community-led experiences, this approach seeks to attract culturally curious travellers…
