In a nutshell
A magnificent, award-winning building designed to look like four hulls, and erected on the site where the Titanic was constructed – and in the shadow of the iconic Harland and Wolff waterfront cranes. The shiny, aluminium-covered centre features six storeys of interactive exhibits telling the story not just of the ship but of Belfast too. Follow the city’s industrial history; ride the indoor cable car through different stages of the construction, complete with sound effects – the noise of hundreds of workers bashing away at rivets could be heard across the city; and take a lift up the gantry for a sense of how vast this ship was: at 228 feet the real gantry which men clambered up, without harnesses, was four times the height of the museum replica.
The Nomadic, the tender that took the passengers out to Titanic, is in remarkably good condition, with ornate plasterwork and original wooden bar, and is docked outside – and included in the admission. With the Titanic lying at the bottom of the Atlantic and at a depth of nearly 4km, this is a chance to see what the White Star Line passengers actually experienced as they embarked on that fateful journey. A 10-minute walk away is the original dry dock (titanicsdock.com), the largest in the world. It’s a separate attraction but well worth a visit to stand on the keel blocks where Titanic rested on 9 April before she set sail.
Fun fact
The Titanic foreman was known as The Hat: he wore a bowler to mark his seniority and to protect him from falling rivets.
Best thing about it
It does a brilliant job of evoking not just the scale of the ship (she’s mapped out in white lines outside the centre, so you can walk the length of her) but of the mammoth construction project – which involved 3,000 workers over three years.
What about lunch?
Bistro 401 – the number given to the ship before she was named – offers an impressive selection of dishes, including Belfast chowder (£8.95), chilli-spiced salmon (£13.25), and chicken lyonnaise (£10.50), as well as burgers and fish and chips. The prices may be higher than the average attraction but so too is the quality. Kids meals are a reasonable £5. The separate Galley cafe serves toasted sandwiches (£4.85), sweet treats from £2 and coffee.
Exit through the gift shop
Not through it. But it is superior to most gift shops so you might want to pop in to browse the books, vintage posters, local food goodies and souvenirs. We’d already spent money on our cheesy family souvenir photo so avoided it.
Value for money
Absolutely. We spent six hours between the Nomadic and the Titanic centre, leaving no time for the dry dock. Adult tickets are £17.50, children £7.25 and a family ticket (for four) is £43. The hop-on, hop-off Wee Tram costs £5 for adults and £4 for children with a valid Titanic centre ticket and takes you on a guided tour of the Titanic quarter.
Opening times
Daily, excluding 24-26 December. Hours vary by season. Opening time can be 9am or 10am, closing time between 5pm and 7pm
Getting there
There are buses from the city centre or you can walk, it’s just under a mile. There is a secure car park.
Verdict
Better than the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum and Buckingham Palace, according to the World Travel Awards, which has just named it Europe’s leading visitor attraction. Deservedly so – it’s gripping, moving and educational. 10/10.
