A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Over 2 hours and 30 minutes, our local expert guides will take you on a journey back in time through the city centre of Belfast. You will discover how 'the Troubles' started, visit the locations where some of the most important events occurred, and learn about the path to reconciliation and eventually peace (and the challenges the future may hold). You will discover the realities of growing up and living your life during the conflict, and how it touched everyone. The tour is factual and historically accurate to ensure it is unbiased, the guides are conflict historians, who also weave their own stories into their tours to bring history to life, transporting you back to the Belfast of the 1970s and giving you a unique understanding of the recent past. The tour starts each day at 10.30am.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A moderate amount of walking is involved (1.5 miles)
Minimum age is 12 years
The tour will take place regardless of the weather. Please check the forecast and dress accordingly
A waterproof jacket is recommended just in case of showers, as is warm clothing during the winter months
Belfast City Center is completely flat, so no hills or steps are involved. However, comfortable footwear is advised
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Belfast City Hall
In the grounds of Belfast City Hall your guide will introduce you to the tour and also give an introduction to the history of the Troubles. The introduction sets the scene for the rest of the tour, explaining the centuries old relationships between the British and the Irish and how and why the Troubles started in the late 1960s.
Today Belfast's main shopping street may look like any other British or Irish city, but it hides a troubled past. Your guide will explain the story behind a bomb attack on a nightclub here in 1971, the tragic events which followed and the introduction of what became known as the 'Ring Of Steel'.
What‘s Included
Headsets to hear the guide clearly
Local guide
Gratuities
Options
A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour
Reviews
2,874 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Do not miss this tour!!!
Sarah Y,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fabulous tour we had today with James he was informative, funny and so knowledgeable, we all very much enjoyed the 2.5hrs today learning about Belfasts colourful history! Highly recommend!!
Highly recommended tour with James
Curiosity00092286056,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the walking tour with James. Very knowledgeable & brought the history to life for us. Lots of additional extra information which added to the tour. Could not recommend this tour highly enough.
Fantastic informative tour
rebeccagE9679PB,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was apprehensive initially, as this is the first time I’ve ever done something touristy solo. However, the tour was incredible! James, our guide, was very friendly and his passion shone through. I had very limited knowledge on the troubles and this tour provided me with so much information and really highlighted how people have been affected by the troubles. It was a poignant way to spend my morning, seeing sites where bombs went off and people were hurt, which are now thriving shops or places of art. I highly recommend this tour, which covers a difficult period with such compassion and thoughtfulness. The tour leaves you with a much greater understanding. Thank you to James, I am so glad I booked!
Review of walking tour
W7915CXphilw,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour. James was extremely knowledgeable, approachable & funny. We learnt a lot & would highly recommend this tour to anyone wishing to know more about the history of the troubles.
Most do for everyone interested in the troubles.
Victor S,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best guided tours I ever did - James has this amazing ability of giving you a great overview and better understanding of the whole period of the troubles while simultaneously diving deep into particular events and individual stories. This makes his tour not only enlightening but also touching.
Great walking tour. Highly recommend
lbyrne99,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour with the very knowledgeable tour guide Rory . Solid 2.5 hours talking and able to answer all our questions . Very interesting nuggets of info from this local guide . Highly recommend
Take this tour!
Nomad40149800323,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My son and I took this tour on a cold, drizzly day in January but it was well worth getting slightly chilled! Our guide, Jim, was incredibly knowledgeable, as he himself had lived through the troubles. By remembering an astounding number of names and dates, he paid respect to those who played a part, good or bad, in this important time of Belfast's history. We learned so much from Jim and are grateful for his expertise. We HIGHLY recommend this tour!
Excellent overview and description of specific incidents in the city center
kristenpJ1356PF,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Definitely would recommend this tour for someone, like me, who had little knowledge of The Troubles. The tour was packed with information. The guide, Jim I believe, gave us background information at the beginning, and then walked us to locations where bombings had taken place in the city center and described what had happened there, and then gave us his local perspective on what is happening now and thoughts about the future. The guide spoke clearly and gave us practical tips, such as where we could get a coffee or find a restroom and to be careful not to slip on the icy pavement. His recollection of dates and names was extraordinary and his descriptions were vivid. I did feel like crying at several points during the tour. Such a tragic loss of life. It was very cold and we stood a long time outdoors. I wish I had worn 2x socks and mittens. Highly recommended.
An outsanding tour
Kah1o1,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An exceptional tour. Mylie our tour guide, is an academic who has extensively studied Irish political history from over the past 800 years and has a PHD in Northern Irish political history specialising in the early 70's. Mylie is outstanding, both passionate and compassionate about the subject. She presented a nonpartisan perspective. She was sensitive to those who lost their lives and felt it was really important to share their stories, empathising each person was a father, mother, son, daughter or friend and the loss their loved ones must have felt. She was able to share very personal stories about individuals, so much so one could almost feel what it was like to live in Belfast during the early 70s and what it was like growing up there. I would highly recommend this tour! Thank you Mylie.
Top Notch Tour
Sightsee29155154341,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible tour with a lot of information, stories, and historical context for the Troubles. A very humanistic approach that doesn't devolve into political commentary on either side - just the facts as they are - and connects the actual people involved in the mentioned events. Our guide, Jim, was exceptional. Top notch tour and first class guide
From £26.00
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Operated by DC Tours