Belfast Hotels and Accommodation

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and its largest city by some way. A travel to this place will surely enchant you. Set on the wooded slopes of the dramatic Cave Hill is the 19th-century edifice of Belfast Castle. The castle was built in 1870 and was previously home to the Earl of Shaftesbury. Within the castle are two rather expensive restaurants and also a small heritage centre offering an insight into the area's history. The castle and its spectacular grounds afford beautiful views of the whole of the city. Situated next to Queen's University, the Botanic Gardens provide a sanctuary from the pressures of city life since 1827. Especially prized is the iron and glass hothouse known as the Palm House, a splendid example of Victorian workmanship. The Palm House is a companion to the great glasshouses at Kew Gardens in London and the Botanic Gardens in Dublin, all of which were designed by Charles Lanyon. When it was built in the 1980s, Dundonald Ice Bowl was the UK's first Olympic-sized ice rink, and it remains the largest rink in Ireland. Also of interest is The Grand Opera House, one of the city's great signature buildings. Restored to its Victorian glory in 1980, it is a masterpiece in gilt and plush scarlet.