The Heart of Belfast: From Humble Beginnings to Shipbuilding Glory

(61 reviews)

Belfast audio tour: The Heart of Belfast: From Humble Beginnings to Shipbuilding Glory

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Belfast

The United Kingdom

$7.99

Access all 41 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

The story of Belfast is one of unlikely success. From a crossing at a sand bank without any natural resources, it mushroomed into a great Victorian city with thriving shipping and linen industries in the 1800s.

I’m a Belfast-born guide, and on this walking tour I’d like to share the city’s story with you. All roads lead to the City Hall, so there’s no better place to start a tour of the city centre than outside its front doors. Along the way, you’ll see icons of past industries that shaped Belfast into a great industrial city within the British Empire. You’ll discover the people who left their mark in the fields of science, architecture, religion, education and the arts too.

On this tour, you'll also hear about:

The places where some of the most horrific events unfolded during Belfast’s ‘Troubles’
Eight masts representing well-known Belfast-made ships
The development of Belfast’s industries, including shipbuilding and linen
The birth of the United Irishmen movement
How Unionism and Republican Nationalism developed
Winston Churchill facing an angry crowd of unionists in 1912
The arrival of US Army troops during the Second World War
Unionist leader Sir Edward Carson’s final resting place

We'll also visit sculptures and murals like the 'Spirit of Belfast' and see iconic landmarks including St Anne's Cathedral and the Albert Memorial Clock.

Tour Producer

William (Billy) Dickson BEM

2 tours

William, also known as Billy, is one of the longest-serving guides for Northern Ireland, especially Belfast, where he was born and raised. He still lives in Belfast.
Over many years of guiding, Billy has developed an in-depth knowledge of the history of Belfast that covers all aspects of the city's heritage.
He fully appreciates the need for tours to be both factual and enjoyable.
From the hundreds of comments and feedback he has received, it is clear that Billy provides relevant, engaging, and informative tours.
Billy has been conducting organized tours since the 1970s and qualified as a Blue Badge Guide in 2006. He is a member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, a qualification highly regarded by discerning tour operators. He is also a member of Tour Guides NI.
He has organized tours for many companies worldwide, including several years of engagement with Belfast City Council.
He also has self-guided audio tours on VoiceMap, including "The Heart of Belfast: From Humble Beginnings to Shipbuilding Glory" and "A Belfast Introduction: From Great Victoria Street to City Hall". He hoped to add to these tours sometime during 2026.
In recognition of his work for tourism and the community, Billy was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Preview Location

Location 37

Luke Livingstone Macassey

Stop when you reach Chichester Street - The name is another link to the Donegall and Chichester family. Look left and over on the right side of the road you will see a tall red brick building; familiar to local people as the site of the former Plaza Dance Hall. In 1942, durin... Read More

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How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

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Major Landmarks

Bank Buildings
CastleCourt Shopping Centre
First Presbyterian Church
Masonic Hall
Former Belfast News Letter building
Writer's Square
Telegraph Building
Belfast Cathedral
The Spire Of Hope
Albert Memorial Clock
Parish Church of St George
Jaffe Memorial Fountain
Spirit of Belfast
The Titanic Memorial Garden
Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS, UK
Total distance

2km
Final location
7-13 Donegall Square E, Belfast BT1 5YD, UK
Distance back to start location

120.06m

Directions to Starting Point

You should find no difficulty finding your way to the meeting point at the front gates of the City Hall. Even in the unlikelihood of losing your way, local people are very friendly and will point you in the right direction. Most bus routes include stops around the City Hall.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are lots of eating places along the way, many with names that would be familiar to you. Others are local businesses like Blinkers Restaurant at 1 Bridge Street. At the end of the tour, you can have refreshments in the Bobbin Cafe situated on the ground floor of Belfast City Hall. You might also wish to return and visit some of the places that you would have passed during the tour. The First (Non-Subscribing) Presbyterian is only open at certain times, so if you find it open, then take the opportunity to go inside. Try not to spend too long as there is so much more to see on the tour.

Best time of day

Most times are suitable for taking the tour. Mornings and late afternoons might be best. Some prefer taking the tour before or after breakfast, when there are no distractions.

Precautions

Major parades like the 12th July Orange Parade will pass the front of the City Hall. Promotional events and even protests are often held at the gates, so there might be some noise. If you are concerned, you can get advice from the official 'Visit Belfast' tourist centre, just opposite the City Hall, where the staff will give you every assistance in helping to make your visit to Belfast safe and enjoyable.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”