Shankill Quarter

This exhibition offers a chronological perspective on opposing ideologies and charts those conflict-related eras before and after the formation of Northern Ireland. On visiting the centre, you can hear about their personal experiences, before, during and after their incarceration. You can visit a reconstruction of a cubicle from the Long Kesh compounds and find out what prison life was like.

A city as old as Belfast has many stories. Uncover these stories by booking one of Belfast’s political history tours run by professional tour guides. Discover how far Belfast has come ‘post-conflict’. Visit Belfast’s Peace Wall, learn about the different murals, hear people’s stories and be immersed in the history of Belfast.

The ultimate multiplayer virtual reality gaming destination in Belfast! Active Reality Belfast offers free roam multiplayer virtual reality experiences. Team up with your friends for an unforgettable adventure in the virtual world. Total freedom to explore brings an unrivalled immersive element to VR gaming.

Designed to prevent conflict and protect both of the communities, the first parts of the Peace Wall were built in 1969. Today, though the Troubles are now long over, the communities still want the wall to remain and it was in response to this wish that a remarkable project was conceived in 2004, to transform the wall and create one of the world’s longest outdoor art galleries, providing a high profile canvas for the people of the Shankill area to explore their rich history and cultural heritage.

The Spectrum Centre is a a major landmark in the Greater Shankill area and has developed as an Arts and Cultural and multi purpose venue which encourages a creative and innovative spirit amongst all of its users. The centre combines a range of state-of-the-art multi-purpose facilities including a 250 seat auditorium and recording studio. It is a home to live music, theatre, dance and visual art and is only a few minutes drive from Belfast city centre. Conference and meeting rooms are also available for hire.

Taxitrax is the original Belfast Black Taxi Tour with over 40 years experience. They boast some of the best tour guides in the city, and have a team of local people with local knowledge who have lived through the conflict years in Belfast. They will guide you through sites of historical and political interest, explain the significance of the Belfast murals and share the secrets of key landmarks.

Hometown Tours Belfast provides fun and memorable guided walking, driving and bike tours exploring the main tourist attractions in Belfast with all tours lead by qualified tour guides.

Belfastlad tours provide a range of guided tours across Belfast and the north of Ireland. With a university qualified guide for all tours in Ireland, they can also deliver unique group and private tours in Belfast. All their guides are approved and vetted for optimum safety and they provide full public liability insurance free of charge.

Value Cabs offers a range of tours throughout Northern Ireland, with pick up and drop off at your hotel. See the famous murals often flashed around the world on news bulletins and view how both sides of the community mark their territory and honour their heroes.

St Matthew’s is the oldest church on the Shankill! In 1922 the pulpit, prayer desk and sanctuary panelling were erected as a war memorial to those who fell in the Great War. Memorial stained-glass windows have replaced the original plain glass and recently a window depicting St. Patrick was installed. This modern window symbolises the connection with the first church on the Shankill, whose foundation is traditionally linked to St Patrick.

Sheltered beside West Kirk Presbyterian Church lies the Shankill Memorial Park. The Memorial is commemorating Members of H.M. forces from the Shankill area who served and died 1914-1918, 1939-1945 and subsequent conflicts. Also the nine victims of the Shankill bombing on 23 October 1993 and all civilian casualties from the Shankill community.

Shankill Graveyard is one of the oldest cemeteries in Belfast. It has been used for burials for more than 1,000 years and, although they no longer take place in the graveyard, it remains an important historical site. One of the oldest legible stones belongs to George McAuley who died in 1685.