Reviews of Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre. (Museum) in Belfast (County Antrim).

Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre

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Museum

Museum

53-55 Crumlin Rd, Belfast BT14 6ST, United Kingdom

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Information of Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre, Museum in Belfast (County Antrim)

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Reviews of Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre

C. G.

Very interesting to just wander round this old jail that was still in use up to the mid 1980's. The tour can be done at your leisure as there is no tour guide to rush you round from A to B. I gave this 4 stars as some of the interactive videos were not working. Technical glitches can happen. That aside there is plenty of interesting facts to learn along the tour which took us about 2 hours comfortably to complete. Downstairs there is the Cuffs bar and restaurant where you can dine in on pub grub or main meals and have soft drinks, alcohol or tea and coffee. Restaurant prices are decent and won't cost too much. The tour price is very reasonable also. Make sure and pick up your map and wristband when you arrive. Parking is signposted and is accessible at the rear of the gaol.

K. F.

Wonderful visit, but wish we could go up into the gaol to see other levels. Not very interactive. The condemned cell didnt work. There's a lot of info here and you can see a variety of different areas. Very well maintained.

S. S.

Beware the parking! Make sure you don't park on the street but go to the designated parking area to avoid a ticket. Great, historic, tragic jail. Signs, video and audio all along the way. Move at your own pace. Cafe on site, but closed when we were there. Gift shop with food.

G. H.

An historic and sobering tour. Gives the visitor a potted history of both the Troubles and the Gaol itself. The Cuffs restaurant is well worth a visit too with friendly attentive staff and a great menu.

L. M.

We attended for the pumpkin patch, the place was decorated really well and all the characters were amazing they interacted so well with the kids. Loved the pumpkin patch, was so lovely right along the front of the gaol with great photo opportunities. You can carve your own pumpkin or it can be carved for you, while waiting on your pumpkin there are two rides for kids. There was a burger stall but we didn't eat at it, smelt good tho.

S. C.

Decent venue. Plenty of free parking. It is a shame the tours are self guided. It gets abit tieing reading and listening to pre recorded videos. I really think having tour guides would make it more engaging and interesting.

M. K.

Well laid out, informative, balanced and a great self paced tour. Food in the basement is surprisingly excellent. You have to book on Sundays, as the roast is great.

J. I.

Great place to visit. Very well done and you can take as much time as you like. Finish off in Cuffs restaurant for a coffee or a meal

M. R.

Really interesting place and nicely done. Took about 90 minutes to stumble around. A good mix of activities and films. It's a bit chilly though so dress warm.

A. C.

Quite simply an underrated gem in Belfast. Normally I sort of speed through a museum without reading much, but I found even the reading fascinating here. It was unbelievable to think people were still housed in there during my lifetime. Sadly a couple of the audiovisual exhibits weren't functioning, including in the executioners chamber, although we were able to go into the "tunnel" and the matron's tower which I believe have been closed previously. There is a fantastic animation giving a brief history of the Catholic/Protestant conflict in the area, and the involvement of the prison in the Troubles, which we were still talking about days later! As an aside, opposite the Gaol you can also see the old courthouse. It's sadly in a state of disrepair after a series of fires but it's clear that it was a beautiful in its day. Would definitely recommend a visit to those interested in history (particularly the Troubles and/or law and order).

S. M.

Amazing from start to finish pumpkin patch Halloween crumlin jail definitely happy we went. Everyone was so friendly the staff were so friendly and made the whole experience perfect. There is something for all ages, A great day out.

T. T. C.

Absolutely fabulous night at Christmas at the Crum! Great food and brilliant service. Main course was huge. Music was excellent. Very well organised and we were let out for good behaviour at the end of the night. Brilliant night! Thank you!

M. G.

Amazing place to visit, the building is architecturally fascinating and preserved very well. The stories of the prisoners are interesting whilst understanding that the troubles were a big part of the prisons recent history. The executioners room really makes you think about the brutality of capital punishment. Our guide Iain was excellent. Really good value for money. And the restaurant there was good too. A must see. .

M. B.

Excellent experience £12 entry £10 over 60's...difficult to find carpark as not posted...have to drive up cliftonville parade and turn right...cheaper booking online...

r.

Really enjoyable ,very well laid out and displayed, good information and excellent food in the restaurant, to end the trip ,

D. M.

A very well designed and planned exposition, among else shedding somewhat more light than usual on minutiae of daily life in the prison in different times, which I find inviting. It's not half as extensive as I was under the impression of after reading other reviews; but I didn't take the guide, and many visitors give them much acclaim and credit, so perhaps it's my miss. Access to the execution room leaves its mark.

S. P.

well worth a visit. really easy to get to from the town center,lots of items to see very eerie in a few places such as the tunnel & execution room. to stand there & think about what went on in there makes the hair on the back of you neck stand up.

A. T.

A very informative visit of how the gaol operated. Life in prison and not how anyone would accept it now. Free carparking and booking on-line was easy to save money and book ahead, so social distancing could still be managed. Onsite light refreshment and gift shop or restaurant serving full meals & sandwiches. Visit took 2 hours as listening in to the background information in various cells really was essential.

D. B.

Was at a fantastic gig with Flash Harry and support from Glam Slam the 70's celebration.

A. M.

Excellent experience, well worth a wee trip here for sure. The tour was done at your own pace. It would however hve been nice to hve had a tour guide for questions, but the self guided tour was very well thought out. Excellent day out

P. C.

Fab experience. Well worth a visit. Book online 10 pound cheaper

P. B.

It was an interesting visit. I think perhaps it might have been more suitable to a school tour group.

J. M.

This was a very informative excursion. I have never been and I was surprised by some of the information I picked up during this experience. I would definitely recommend it

n. H.

My own experience it's a very good place for a visit.this place is well worth a trip it will open your eyes

S. O.

Enjoyed the self guided tour. Interesting place to visit. Reasonably priced, well worth the trip.

L. W.

What a shame there is no guide to conduct the tours anymore. We took some friends there because we had been before and really enjoyed the interaction. Some of the the 'new' video didn't work properly. Some of the areas we visited previously were not included in the new tour. Also, the cafe is now basically a takeaway and a shop.

L. R.

Visited the Gaol for a meal, paranormal tour and a movie. What fun we had!! The food was really tasty, the guys who did the tour were fantastic and good crack and the movie which was a scary one, really topped it off. Great night and definitely worth a visit if your into history of northern ireland

T. K.

We took the unguided tour during Easter. The tour takes approx 2hrs if you take your time and watch all the video exhibitions. The video exhibitions are good but if that's not your thing I would recommend you take a guided tour. Good value for money but younger kids might not find it engaging.

B. G.

Good experience, the only bad part was that there isn't a personal tour due to covid. Tour lines are marked by arrows on the floor, and some rooms have TV's mounted on the walls with interactive buttons on a stand underneath. During my visit mid-september, I was disappointed because almost half these buttons didn't work. It didn't dull my experience because I was there to see the building itself, but others may be much more disappointed. Don't hold your breath for the gift shop either, but it's an experience worth having all the same in my opinion. Some may disagree for the 10 pound fee to get in, but for an hour and a half of walking around I thought that was OK.

J. K.

Very atmospheric would make one shudder. Very well done with holograms and lots of information.

d. O.

Thoroughly enjoyed my experience. Our guide Elaine was excellent. Lovely personality and very informative. The time flew in everything caught my attention and Elaine was ready with all the answers to people's questions. Great day would go again.

l.

Fascinating tour and well worth a visit but maybe too many videos to watch?

I. L.

Excellent self paced tour. Many interesting things to see. A little bit of insight in to the troubles in Belfast also.

D. M.

What a great experience. Loved it all. Really well thought out visitor attraction and sooo interesting.

t. m.

2nd visit one guided one self guided. If thecguided tour is available I would recommend that for the extra insight. A brilliant place netherthess.

L. S.

Went here for the Halloween event. Great hour spent with plenty of jumps and scares. Will definitely be back

d. f.

This visit was very good. We enjoyed it

D. N.

Great little tour with loads of interesting and easy to take in facts and figures Well worth a visit

B. M.

We did the jail horror experience and it is really cool. It was fireworks so that makes the experience even better.

J. M.

Interesting place to see Sadly not all the videos were working which meant you missed important information and the actual models could be brought up to 21st century standards. I enjoyed the time I was there and certain parts were very atmospheric. Worth a visit

D. M.

A great place to visit and learn some facts about belfast

S. P.

We went on a weekend at 10.30 and it was pretty quiet, which was nice. However, while the gaol is really cool to see, it's not a great overall experience. There are too many videos to watch, which means you're either going to have to stand around forever to see a video from the beginning since someone likely already began it or you're going to miss out on information. Options for an audio tour or reading would be better. Even a pamphlet. But correctly spelled. Because the things that were written out had ridiculous errors that clearly weren't checked before being displayed (goal instead of gaol multiple times, where instead of were, misuse of apostrophes, etc.). It's a easy fix and not really professional in its current state. If you buy a visitor bus pass, you can get a discount on the tickets if you buy in person. Overall, cool to see but there are better out there (like the smaller gaol in Cork).

C. N.

The self guided tour is engaging and provides real insight into the experiences that prisoners and the staff who worked in the building would have had. The cafe has a menu with a good selection of dishes to choose from.

D. M.

The tour guide we got was excellent. I am Lisburb man but would put this up there with the Titanic Experience. Not as big or as exodus or as famous but still a great tour.

J. R.

Interesting, priced correctly it could show more with some effort.

H. S.

I loved this museum. Wouldn't be suitable for children, I don't think under 15's are allowed in. Mainly video displays around the prison but very interesting and you can go to what you are interested in.

K. W.

Really enjoyed this self guided, interactive tour. Can be done in about an hour.

a.

A great attraction, well worth a visit

R. F.

Very interesting tour- we had two hours there, but wish we had more. We were on bus tour so our time was limited. Nice cafe there too.

L. B.

Last minute time filler that was probably one of the best bits of our weekend away. We leant so much after reading all the bits on the way round aswell as watching all the video clips. We treated ourselves to the restaurant at the end to warm us up as it was a cold day and the food was delicious and the service was fantastic too!

A. H.

Excellent display, come here to learn the history of Northern Ireland and the troubles. Free admission for kids under 5 years old.

G. P.

Brilliant time very informative and worth the visit

A. H.

Very informative museum although we thought we might have been able to access a bit more and to go look upstairs like other prison museums in the UK. Loved the interactiveness and all the videos there were to watch

K.

Really well executed story of the goal; very detailed and communicated in an accessible way for all age groups. Easily reached using the hop-on hop- off city bus tour, too.

S. G.

Very interesting and historic place.. Would have loved to have spent longer there then I did. Really enjoyed it and would recommend it to all you history buffs..

N. Y.

Average. Probably because we visited spike Island already. Was impressed with the helicopter outside but otherwise most of it is just video information. Would not be visiting again.

N. H.

Excellent visitor attraction, recommended

T.

Fascinating tour of Crumlin Road. Learned a lot of interesting facts. Very visual and being able to walk into the cells/ tunnel was the highlight. Gift shop was a good size and good value

P. G.

Really interesting place, the displays, videos and holograms are excellent. Some very interesting artifacts and information eg children used to be legally responsible from age seven.

B. W.

So full of history. Great experience. If we're in Belfast again we're going to do the troubles tour. So much more to learn!

J. T.

One of the best presented attractions i have been to. They have clearly spent a fortunte on technology to make the place as interactive as possible. Its perfect balance of informative, fun, sombre and with ability to free roam. Also the onsite restaurant (cuffs) rivals sone standalone restaurants. Quality food and drink. Thank you crumlin road gaol for making our stay nicer than the inmates!

M. J.

Charlotte was a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide. The jail is surprisingly well upkept. You obtain access to more areas of the jail than I would have expected. The history of the troubled years, including the segregation of prisoners was fascinating (for a non-native). This is definitely a must see. Kids over 5 will also enjoy it, but it is definitely geared towards a more mature audience.

N. R.

This was a cool tour. We visited during COVID so we had a self guided tour instead of with a tour guide. They have the self guided tour set up really well with videos at each point of interest. Had a lovely pint and sand which in the sunshine at the end of the tour.

b. C.

lovely place great food would highly recommend

C. J.

We did a self guided tour which was good. The highlight was definitely hang mans cell. Although the tour doesn’t incorporate 75% of the jail which was a bit of a disappointment.

S. E.

Excellent a must to go if you’re visiting Belfast. All visits are guided and in our case Francis was our guide, very knowledgeable providing an insight of the recent history of the prison and explained how this building is so much linked with NI history. The tour takes around 01h15 and if you want to save a few pounds book it in advance through the website, please note that you will need to be able to print the tickets to avoid a queue, if not go directly to reception and show present the reservation number. They also have a coffee shop and restaurant on site.

S. P.

Amazing. Learnt so so much. Very knowledgeable staff made the visit as informative as possible. Really good few hours.

J. W.

A great afternoon. A very interesting place to visit.

m.

Visited Crumlin Road Gaol and also took the tour. The tours run roughly one an hour for just over an hour. You don't actually have to join the tour if you don't want to, but some areas of the former jail are off limits if you want to wander around by yourself. I would recommend the guided tour though. The commentary from the guides are well written and rehearsed giving lots of information about the history of the jail from it's inception during the Victorian era all the way up to The Troubles. The guide also covers different parts of the jail from the moment inmates are brought in, processing and their new home in the cells. The guides were actually very knowledgable about different aspects of the jail when asked (actually I was the only one who asked). The centre has a small cafe which sell the usual cafe stuff. Useful place to wait for the next guided tour. A must visit if in Belfast.

I.

Amazing place to visit, the building is architecturally fascinating and preserved very well. The stories of the prisoners are interesting whilst understanding that the troubles were a big part of the prisons recent history. The executioners room really makes you think about the brutality of capital punishment. Our guide Iain was excellent. Really good value for money. And the restaurant there was good too. A must see.

J. C.

Amazing Sunday afternoon spent at the Gaol. A really interesting tour which was also made fun by our knowledgeable guide! It's really easy to get to/from if you combine the trip with one of the Belfast sightseeing buses, and the restaurant is super quaint and lovely. I'll almost definitely be back in a few years when the court house across the road has been restored and made into a fancy hotel! 📍💃

O. A.

Very Interesting history & fantastic food in the cafe

m. l.

Brilliant experience, informative and interesting,very atmospheric,would definitely visit again .Also good parking inside prison.Great insight into this prisons' dark past.

D. B.

Well it’s a jail. But the guided tour was pretty cool. The history and the facts told in the tour is quite fascinating. I’m not even interested in history and i loved it so I can imagine how much a person interested in history will like it. Worth the visit. In case you are driving there is parking within the premises and it’s free.

J. L.

Informative and engrossing tour from Danny who spoke clearly and funny which made the whole experience enjoyable. Once the tour finished we were able to go back to the museum and read facts and information at our own pace. I say this tour is suitable for kids from the age 12+ nothing scary but details of execution might scare the little ones, plus the tour guide gives plenty of warning and gives options those who don’t want to enter certain room or listen can wait outside 5–10mins. Free secure parking which you might not be able to find on your sat nav but we found the parking by following the signs ‘crumlin gaol parking’. Good price and overall very enjoyable to learn about this place.

R. S.

I have never been to the Crumlin road jail tour. I only ever participate in the 4 hour paranormal aranormal investigations and they are.. out of this world? I woild highly recommend anyone that is a sceptic about spiritual world or even wants to try something new to book on this investigation. I have been 3 times and each has been a completely different experience - i have even been in parts of the jail you would never imagine! 5* must see and do!!

K. S.

Great museum to visit with children. Good self-guided tour with information through a tannoy as you go along. Very interesting and fun.

G. S.

I'm always a little sceptical about guided tours, but I had no need to be, our guide was amazing, she was funny and engaging with the group, super knowledgeable and could answer any questions thrown at her!! Can't remember her name, Dev something, sorry!! The prison is fascinating and there is plenty to see and learn about the history of this amazing building! The 70 minute tour went in a flash and didn't drag at all!

A. W.

Great venue for concerts. Atmospheric. Well worth a visit and tour. Apparently restaurant does good food as well

a. l.

Well worth a visit, allow 2-4 hours to read, watch the videos and take it all in. Definitely will go back with more time to spare.

N. L.

This was definitely the highlight of my Belfast trip. The guides are fantastically knowledgable, and this place of almost 200 years of history has so many fascinating stories and development. You must visit if you have the time! Price is also very reasonable.

L. M.

First time ever doing the tour, was really interesting and the tour guide very much knew his history, it was a pity they didn't restore the upper level of the prison rooms and it would be even more interesting to go upstairs and see more. But other than that it was a good experience & the food in the cuffs restaurant was lovely and well priced.

G. L.

Worth the £12. A lot of info. Don't miss all the videos, especially the one in governors office. Very informative and detailed about how prisoners are kept.

K. M.

Second time here and really enjoyed it. Took my 2 kids with me this time 5 and 11, they absolutely loved it. The tour guide was friendly and helpful, she was great with my kids I would highly recommend a visit..

M. Y. B.

Beautiful building and some interesting information. Unfortunately there were some technical problems with several exhibits and we felt a bit underwhelmed.

A. K.

I loved the history and tour of this museum. Our guide was knowledgeable and a delight to have for our presentation of the prison. I recommend going if you are looking for things to do while on holiday.

S. N. (. a. W.

The tour at the Gaol is very informative and I would recommend. I also have visited the Gaol as a Northern Ireland wedding supplier and they are helpful and friendly and accommodating I have also used the Gaol as a Venue for Mums At Work Events

D. M.

What a brilliant day out for £9 a head!. We got a guided tour from Claire which i have to say was fantasic.Very informative, clear and such a great personality. The tour brings you right through the prison taking the same steps as those sentenced.From the court house through the tunnel to the prison,up to the Governor's office and into the wings.At this point you can freely explore the cells, padded cells,kichen and dining areas and moving on to the cell were the condemned to death would wait.Great trues on the hanging and equipment still remains in place to this day.Visit the unmarked graves and finish off at the gift and restaurant area.These are great true stories to hear and have to say erry.This is an absolute must when visiting belfast!Don't miss out on a experience which is unique to N Ireland.

A. C.

My partner and I went on a guided tour around the Gaol on a Thursday morning in September. The tour was very interesting and our tour guide was excellent at telling the story of such a historic place. However, plenty of parts of the tour take you into quite small spaces (such as the tunnel and the execution chamber) which became very cramped due to the large amount of people in our tour group (at least 20 people). Would have been perfect with a group of about 10. Would definitely recommend.

L. R.

If you know anything about Irish history, this jail is in the middle of it. Excellent tour. A must do in Belfast. Buy your ticket. Eat lunch in the Cellar Cafe to kill time until your scheduled tour starts. The cafe has a very good bowl of Irish stew with old fashioned Irish wheath bread. Then go on your tour and learn a lot about Northern Ireland.

L. W.

Grace was an amazing tour guide she made it exciting and gave us so much useful information. It was well worth going as I found it very interesting.

c. t.

Absolutely fantastic tour and would recommend it to everyone. And the blonde tour guide was absolutely fabulous she definitely needs an award. Ps I wish I had her number

a. s.

Visiting the Gaol was a very interesting and educational experience. We joined a group where the guide shared a full and detailed history of the gaol itself through time, people who were confined there and the escapes . We walked through the gaol exploring and learning about the various rooms inside and the outside areas which included the court room. An altogether very interesting and worthwhile experience.

M. B.

Very enjoyable after visiting both protestant and catholic black spots we visited the goal. At €12 per person it was reasonable and we had great food in the restaurant.

M. T. S.

Fantastic visit. Plenty of history to the place for a very decent price. Would advise to book online to get a discount, and definately try the grill on site as its worth the price to sit in the cave and prolong the experience. Excellent guide was very informative. Much of the information offered is presumptuous, not really facts, but the original features and stripped back Gaol as a backdrop makes it an entertaining day trip out.

M. S.

I took my 7 year old grandson to visit the old gaol this morning as he was off school for half term. Having previously visited the gaol pre-Covid, I have to say I found the experience somewhat disappointing. Previously, visitors were given a guided tour which was much more comprehensive. Several of the areas which had been included in the tour are now strictly off limits. Whilst the various AV presentations are very interesting and informative, it's not the same as listening to an enthusiastic and well informed guide. My grandson however, who was unaware of the changes, thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Hopefully, the guided tours will resume after the Covid restrictions are ended.

M. D.

Very interesting site to see around. It's some interesting stories to read, clean and tidy. I think it is quite expensive for what you see at £36 for 2 adults and 3 children.

A. M.

Good guided tour . Unlike other jail museums I have visited this place depicts the life of prisoners quite well. Standing in the execution chamber with names of people hung to death in the same chamber listed on the walls was eerie experience.

I. P.

Easy to find. It is interesting to learn about the lives of former prisoners from the 17th century.

A. T.

Plenty of history, great guided tour. Large number of restored rooms many of which I never knew a jail needed. The context is rather dark given its role in executions until rather recently. You can also see the court house that is linked by the underground path. Sadly it has been hit by arson attacks due to the troubles and is derelict. So it can not be visited. A nus route stops at the belfast hospital. Get off there and its a 2 minute walk down to the jail. If you walk back to the town center from the jail you will pass plaque explaining local history. Including the abandoned cathedral that is visible from infront of the jail.

M. R.

Crumbling Road Gaol is a very interesting place to visit and a great way to spend an afternoon. The have a reasonably priced guided tour and the guide I had Roy was knowledgeable as well as amusing. You are shown through various (but not all) areas of the prison. Quite sad really that it was operational up to 1996 - scary how poorly the inmate throughout its history were treated.

A. O.

A very interesting, informative and at times sobering experience. Definitely worth a look if you're in Belfast. Some incredible history to the place

C. R.

Great little Gaol experience. Had the whole place to myself! If a little over priced for what you get as it is a self guided tour, still worth doing if you're in Belfast for a few days and can afford it.

K. O.

Crumlin Road Gaol is well worth a visit to learn a small sliver about the storied history of Belfast and County Antrim. Our tour guide was very well informed and engaging, delivering information with both humor and poise when required. Ample free parking at the space and there is a café and restaurant (reasonably priced) for a bite to eat before or after the tour. The space is also available to rent for events and I believe "paranormal" tours are offered around Halloween.

M. O.

Amazing visit, did the spirit tour 4 hour one... absolutely incredible... well worth it .

A. P.

Amazing historic place with an active tour guide and a developing history. Only downside is you have to pay for a tour to get in - you can't independently wonder around.

E. ע. S. ש.

A really gripping site! Very unique, like a living museum. The history feels so recent here, it feels like it could become repopulated at any moment. It's also very visually interesting to see the place. And they have a little museum out front to give you some basic history.

R. S.

Family really enjoyed the Halloween tour...a few scares and the history of the jail was really interesting..the hangman's cell and the tunnel under the road to the sadly ruined court house. The tour was a little shorter than advertised.

S. K.

Absolutely amazing place, very rich in history and the guides are great! Would recommend going in the middle of the day in the week if you want a semi-private tour!

D. G.

Fantastic and very informative tour. Some surprises along the way. Would highly recommend and the staff are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. There’s light hearted jokes inserted to relieve some of the more morbid parts to make it okay for any age group.

A. S.

Interesting gaol but in the cuffs restaurant they don’t want to serve us for some reason. Gave us a table for drinks but keep ignoring us

M. B.

Excellent tour and excellent guide! Thank you Aaron for a very informative and entertaining tour around the facility. I would thoroughly recommend going for a visit. It really is a great trip out. A must see if you're visiting Belfast.

H. F.

Had a visit here over my trip to Belfast our guide was amazing Deirdre 👏

T. R.

Wow! Quite an experience! Really gives you a feel for what it just have been like as an inmate, how scary it just have been to be condemned. Trisha was a fantastic tour guide, and the whole experience left me with a real appreciation for the site and history.

A. G.

Was down for the halloween pumpkin patch for kids with the grandkids and they loved it even got to carve their own pumpkins 🎃

l. b.

Fantastic, a must see, lovely restraunt

T. F. R.

THE CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL EXPERIENCE 150 years of the Crumlin Road Gaol where 17 men have been executed we explored its darkest secrets. Brilliant tour of the jail led by the very funny Kieron who brought us from the under ground tunnel to the courthouse and on to the C Wing were some of the more infamous residents had resided. It has a very dark feel to it in the cell block, especially in the hanging room. The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845 and closed its doors as a working prison in 1996. After extensive renovations the gaol has re opened as a visitor attraction,you can take a guided tour of the prison and hear about the history of the site from when women and children were held within its walls through to the political segregation of republican and loyalist prisoners and learn about why the decision was taken to close the prison.Robert Henry O’Neill, soldier, 21st June. 1841 ,His body and 14 others, are still interred in unmarked graves within the grounds of the Gaol.

C. M.

Well I have been looking forward to doing this for years. However I was a little disappointed as there did not seem to be too much substance to the tour. Perhaps it's because if the current restrictions but felt it was a little over priced for what we got.

A. J.

A definite must visit!! Super interesting and well organised Museum. 👌🤩

P. S.

An informative, lively and sobering tour through the penal history of Crumlin Road. A must for anyone interested in criminology, the troubles, or history in general. Not for the faint of heart - especially the tour of the gallows and the condemned man's cell.

R. M.

Great insight in to one of Belfasts prisons goes through its beginning to its demise from hangings and its many escapes and its famous prisoners from the troubles I'd recommend it and you can get pint in it aswell.

J. S.

A must for anyone who has an interest in history. I was very impressed with the balanced coverage the Troubles. Really good value for money too!

D. W.

Fantastic tour and if you're luckily enough to have Claire guide you around then you'll have the best experience.

A. M. L.

Great experience. You must visit here if you are in Belfast.

G. M.

Really enjoyed the tour of Crumlin although I think there is room for improvement as it could have been more atmospheric with background noise of inmates and keys jangling and cell doors banging, just missing a trick there. When in the yard it could be better signed as where to go but good tour.

H.

Amazing place filled with lots of history. Our tour guide Rory was very informative and knowledgeable! The place is incredibly interesting and shoes the true history and what happened there.

D.

Well worth a visit!! Pre book on website to save money. Wrap up warm as it’s very chilly inside as we walked around!

c. c.

If you are in Belfast this is well worth a visit sometimes they say a picture can paint a thousand words this would not be enough the guide was excellent and couldn't fault any part of the tour

S. R.

This place is a good look through the history of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well. Somethings are a shock to see, but in all the Jail is very interesting. The tour is guided, so the history about the Jail and how it used to work is explained. Don't miss it if you are planning to go to Belfast

B. E.

This seemed like a bit of a strange tourist attraction when we first heard it mentioned but we decided to go and it was great. It cost us a tenner to get in and this included a tour guide. The tour took just over an hour and it was really interesting.

T. H.

Brilliant tour. Definitely worth a visit.

R. S.

Well worth the visit if you are in the area. I wasn't disappointed, only thing was we did have to wait a while for the tour as a lot of them were full.

M. M.

This was my first visit to the centre. Although there was somuch information and artefacts that were informative of the treatment and punishment of prisoners, it could have been much more. Worth a look 👀 👌.

L. C. (.

Great place for a first timer but was told. By the people I was with it used to be much better. And areas are still closed off due to covid

L. K.

Great museum to visit

L.

The restaurant is really nice! Reasonably priced food and you get a lot on your plate. I loved the tour, our guide Stuart was very funny and enthusiastic. His knowledge was great and he was really friendly. Would definitely recommend and when I come to Belfast again I will definitely go back to see the new tour that is being introduced later on the year.

K. H.

Attended a paranormal tour here. Used dowsing rods and a spirit box amongst other tools used when trying to contact the other side. Even going in as a skeptic I had a brilliant time. Plenty on offer for both the ghost hunter and the amateur historian.

S. M. G.

1st time I'm the Crum... paranormal tour was amazing...staff very friendly and knew their stuff....would recommend to anyone

L. C.

Such a great tour! Claire was super knowledgeable, she also shared some personal stories from the Troubles. You get some chills hearing all the history happened within those walls, especially after visiting the cell where they used to hang the prisoners on the death row.

D. W.

A really interesting tour, the guide was super, funny as well as knowledgeable. Could almost feel that noose tightening round my neck. And if you wanted, you can now get married there. Well people do say it’s a life sentence

S. K.

Do not miss this place, it is definitely worth the ticket, one of the best tours I have had

R. F.

Great guided tour, got to see D Wing, second visit and didn't disappoint.

J.

Great experience, well set up even in Covid times.

J. L.

Excellent tour,definitely recommend.

M. C.

Absolutely brilliant! Our tour guide was Terry and he was amazing. So much history in one place. Would definitely recommend this tour to everyone!

B. K.

Brilliant to learn history of the prison really do recoment going there. Would be good if staff where dressed up like prison officers but cant fault the tour learn a lot about the prison.

E. B.

Absolutely fascinating! We had a wonderful time and learnt so much about the local history.

F. C.

Amazing building with a fantastic history both before the troubles and during. Great place to visit.

X. W.

Absolutely fab service. Went in to enquire about using the gaol as out reception venue and they were so helpful and accomodating

D. y.

This is a beautiful old place. The tour guide was great and answered our questions well.

K. M.

Great place to visit

K. M.

We love this place. Each time we do a tour there's more information we find out. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly and it's a very interesting building in itself let alone the history of it. We got married here in 2019 and had a brilliant day from start to finish. Nothing was too much for staff for us and our guests. Everything was perfect from our ceremony right through to our reception. And it was reasonably priced.

A. T.

Did the guided tour which was quite good. It was over 50% about Victorian times and I was hoping for more information about during the troubles. But, having said that it was good value for money if you book online in advance.

M. R.

Little sightseeing, little to watch, climbing the mountain is forbidden, what is more interesting you can see on the Internet, on the spot you can not go everywhere, very nice service

H. C.

A really good visit was had, throughly enjoyed learning about the Gaol and found everything really interesting. Well woth a visit

G. S.

Great food, large portion sizes and a wonderful venue. A must visit for any occasion.

a. s.

We had a great time. We did The troubles tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you have 4 hours to spare in belfast do this tour. Our guides were Roy who was an ex prison officer and Jake and Jack who were ex prisoners there. Good to hear stories first hand.

D. M.

Excellent attraction, great history and wonderfully narrated by our guide (Gary). Worth a visit.

B. S.

Excellent self-guided tour. Very informative and entertaining.

B. S.

The place was a little eerie and slightly depressing towards the end. But the tour guide was chirpy and sweet so it made up for it! Nice to learn about the history though. Definitely worth a visit!

C. P.

Dont really think the haunted tour was value for money at all pretty disappointing to be truthful . To begin tours seem to converge on each other continuously interrupting your tour and at the end it seemed as though we were being rushed through our tour to make up time .Then every area you entered your told that there are some very active spirits at work yet nothing happens spiritual or man made ..Then it seemed that every area we entered had some sort of broken or missing equipment in it . All in all for £35 Definitely not value for money . HOWEVER it may be worth a daytime visit were you would actually gain some information.

K. E.

Booked a table for 14 people 3 weeks in advance, reservation was accepted and I was not made aware of any difficulties or problems. Arrived at location to be seated at one of two tables that were adjacent to each other. This meant that six of my guests were sitting with their backs to each other and the rest were so far apart that chatting was impossible. The member of staff that I spoke to apologised and said I should have been told at time of booking. Well I wasn't. I certainly would not have booked under those circumstances. Our annual family Christmas Dinner was not the success it usually is. Very disappointed

J. A.

Fantastic night out on ghost tour will definitely be going back for the history tour would love to know more

R. C.

This prison is a fascinating part of Belfast's history. Visits are via a guided tour which was expertly delivered by a very knowledgeable guide. The entire building has a feeling of forboding when you first enter, which is played upon whilst hearing some of the horrific stories of events that occured at the Jail. A paranormal tour is offered at night on occasion and I was dissapointed not to be able to partake in this during my stay. The tour was full of insightfull tidbits, fun facts and even jokes from the guide that made this one of the most enjoyable parts of my stay.

M. D. S.

Fantastic trip. Very historic place Iain was our guide was very nice. recommend that you take a visit.

K. S.

Pumpkin patch and self guided tour of the Gaol. We had a lovely afternoon at the Crumlin Road Gaol my Dad, Sister, Nephew (9yrs) and myself. Weather was great, the various characters we met along the tour route were happy to interact, train ride, various props along the way for photo opportunities the pumpkin carving Station and all the staff really happy and helpful. We booked lunch and it was lovely. We'd Highly recommend.

R. P.

I went for the ghost tour while visiting Belfast. I knew a little about the jail from a previous visit to the city. The tour guide did an amazing job. He built up suspense for the interaction between the world that has past and the present time. Learning about the prison itself and it's occupants added to an eerie feeling. The tour ended walking the tunnel under Crumlin Road to the old court house.

T. L.

My dad and I done the combo tour of Jail house of horrors and the paranormal tour and it was amazing! We actually plan to go back for the full paranormal tour in November! It was well thought out and the actors were amazing too! Definitely would recommend!

P. A.

Great History behind the jail and infact a 2 hours tour gives you a great insight about the place.

N. W.

Good place to visit, but maybe not on your own like I did lol. Lots of information and interactive screens, definately unique.

R. M.

Get place easy parking and some super events the Elvis show was great fun

H. P.

A moving experience & informative & worth visiting to get an insight into Irish History & the troubles.....

C. K.

The guides are the real stars here!! They bring humor and knowledge together to explain what was a difficult and complex piece of Irish history. Will be back!

c. M.

This was my second visit to the jail and I have to say the knew virtual experience is fantastic, so much to see, read and listen too. I would highly recommend a visit to this place.

L. K.

Fantastic experience. A must go Place to visit

B. E.

Fascinating visit with very knowledgeable and engaging tour guide. Moments on the tour are pretty moving... Interesting, but perhaps not for kids.

t. h.

Great tour lots of information from guide very eerie inside was not a nice place for prisoners would recommend.

E. H.

Had a great visit followed by a lovely meal in cuffs bar and grill. Would recommend it. Great, friendly staff

l. b.

Did the Halloween spooky tour... Thought would have a been a guided event. Probably best for taking the kids. Will go back on a proper tour and book a meal as the restaurant looks lovely!

T. M.

Enjoyed the tour the guide was very informative. Something you have to do on your visit

U. D.

Great place with great history

A. C.

Great atmosphere for a concert.

M. M.

This was a fascinating visit. You have to go on a tour to see the inside of the prison. Our guide was Mary who was knowledgeable, witty and engaging. Covers the full history from its first to its last days plus the horrors of Victorian incarceration up to the terrorist inmates. Mary's anecdotes from former inmates who've been on the tours were really thought provoking, as well as shocking. My son initially was sceptical and thought he'd find it boring but really enjoyed the visit.

S. O.

Great experience for the whole family, attended with 6 & 14 year old kids. Its a self guided tour which actually works very well especially with covid as means you can go at your own pace. The whole tour took us about an hour, although if you really wanted to view everything I think you should allow a bit more time. I would note that the car park is a bit hidden. It's the turning before the petrol station to get there which isn't well sign posted so keep that in mind. The only disappointment was the gift shop not much there.

S. F.

Some sad histories n stories of prisoners gettin tortured n executed, have been only seein this in game but not in real life, definitely worth goin especially when its a really detailed guided tour around the cells n the secret execution room. Imagine how their lives would be livin in these cells, so be grateful n cherish enjoy our freedom

S. W.

Interesting place to visit ...went as part of hop on hop off bus tour

M. S.

Awesome experience - although we did get a tad bored of the videos towards the end. Definitely heard footsteps upstairs in the last remaining watchtower, and when we went up, there was nobody there. Ended up speaking to the security guard on the gate as we left about the multitude of paranormal experiences hes had there - would love to do one of the paranormal tours!

S. M.

Really interesting place.

K. B.

Wonderful atmospheric exploration of crime and punishment in Belfast, from its early reform beginnings to it's latter tarnished history during the 'troubles' Excellently narrated by local guides. A must see visitor attraction of the city.

D. P.

Enjoyable tour with a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Highly recommended. Easy to get to, only a 20 min walk from the city, or the hop on hop off bus tour stops outside.

P. M.

Really great experience, with a lot of video presentations and audio only also. You can see exactly what prison life here was like with video presentations portraying inmates and staff members. Lots of history about the Gaol to learn and real life artefacts from times when the prison was active to see. Great restaurant on site with lovely food and also a licensed bar if your nerves can't stick the prison life! The gift shop could have had a more extensive array of stock, but does carry a good selection of books based on subject matter surrounding prisons across the country and related themes. A great experience well worth the entrance fee I thought.

A. B.

The Irish Alcatraz!! What a fascinating tour we had here. Our guide was awesome and brought the stories to life. I would definitely recommend getting the tour as apposed to a self guide you are able to really get an understanding of all that went on in this very disturbing prison. Highly recommend by our guide was the book Prisoner 1082. There’s also a book called The Crum. We went to the Cuff’s Bar and Grill afterwards and it definitely one of the best meals we had of the trip. A beautiful restaurant, we weren’t expecting that on site. Such a great ending to our day.

A. M.

Honestly our #1 attraction in Belfast.

P. S.

Went during st Patrick's days, didn't take long to go round shame you can tour the full tunnel to the building across.the road book online for the cheapest rate.

S. J.

Best way to experience a Gaol without going through the dock

T. G.

We were advised to visit on our trip to Belfast to learn about the history and understand more about Belfast history and we did get this. However from what I presume is a byproduct of Covid restrictions this is a self discovery tour and no longer a guided tour. Some of the interactive media screens were not operating properly and although there was plenty of fascinating information and history to discover and learn it was a lot to consume by reading posters and watching a few media screens. There is plenty of potential but it was missing on my visit.

R. W. (.

1 hour tour, very informative. Our guide Connor was whitty and funny and made the tour great.

b. d.

Well worth a visit, claire the tour guide was excellent A+

P. P.

Had a great afternoon out at the Crumlin Rd Gaol. Our guide was Roy, cheesy jokes but a great laugh. Very informative

S. B.

A very interesting place - sad and emotional but we had a great tour with Danny.

A.

On this tour you get to see the tunnels the criminals were escorted through from the court house, the registration room, cell block C decked out in different eras, how the executions worked and some of the shackles and other memorabilia. You also get to hear about some escapes and depending on the guide, learn about some of the key figures imprisoned during the Troubles. It’s an interesting hour and the guides do well and chatting to different age groups. Their ramps and lifts to make it all accessible as well.

J. K.

Great to see, but COVID took away from the experience unfortunately (assuming be a tour guide) Staff member in coffee/gift shop seemed like didn't want to talk to customers Handy to have free parking as most city places don't Don't like the commercialisation (with the history of the prison) in general, bars and taps etc left lying around, just as ending your visit music coming from coffee/gift shop onto the grounds where people were buried

K.

Well worth the journey up and admission fees. Joseph was a great tour guide. Highly recommended 👍

D. B.

Interactive experience was done really well. The last exhibit didn’t seem to work for us however, all things (COVID and one way systems) considered, we really enjoyed our time at the attraction. The holograms, videos and multiple different ways to tell the history was very interesting.

E. C.

Really interesting tour, was amazing to discover some more of the history of Belfast and the people who were there. The tour guide Paul was both knowledgeable and entertaining!

K. M.

Thought the tour was just amazing.. Terry the tour guide was well spoken and very knowledgeable deffo recommend to anyone wanting to go... We just loved it

J. C.

Excellent tour conducted by an enthusiastic tour guide. I would definitely recommend the guide. Not only do you find out about the history but you'll also discover where some well known slang comes from!! Maybe not for the young but your teenage sons will love it. Avoid the expensive bar inside for alcohol as there is a cafe on the forecourt outside reception which is cheaper.Money well spent!

Y. W.

Very interesting place to visit, got to see various parts of the prison and heard lots of interesting stories

L. M.

Very well done, shame a few of the videos were not working but still a very informative and exciting experience, highly recommend

I. P.

Went for food in cuffs restaurant food was beautiful. And the girl couldn't do enough for us would really recommend people to try it out.

A. G.

Really enjoyed this The Irish version of alcatraz

A. J.

Very nice and immersive visit. Our tour guide gave us a ton of info, very interesting. The whole tour was a bit too long for my liking (90+ minutes).

N. O.

Really enjoyed the tour, found it really interesting to see and hear how the prison worked

E. O.

Gaol with a long and sorted history. Granted being in gaol shouldn't be a comfortable experience, but many of the people housed here were questionably sequestered. The conditions changed from one prisoner per cell to as many as 4 per cell. Now there are concerts and ghost tours.

P. N. C.

Interesting over 150 years old Victoria aged Irish Jail turned into museum.

L.

This is our 3rd them here and it's been different everytime. This is the first time we didn't have a tour guide I assume because of covid, so it was a self guided tour. There were plenty of reminders for social distance, sanitise which Is good. Out of all the times I've went I prefered the first time I went when we had a tour guide and was very rustic etc. Don't get me wrong it was still a good tour and I have learnt something new everytime but I really hope when this all settles that they bring the option of a tour guide tour back.

P. S. G.

Very well explained History of Northern Ireland, around all the people, from political prisoners to the most dangerous criminals who were here, some for their last days...

W. E.

What a place. What a story. We came here just to kill time, what a gem of a place this really is, the stories are intriguing and horrifying all at the same time.

R. G.

Educational, interesting and tour guides are fantastic, funny and welcoming :) just a few photos, don't want to ruin it for anybody!

d.

One of the highlights of our recent stay in Belfast! We loved the interactive aspect of the gaol experience. Only wish we could have walked around more parts of the gaol. Would highly recommend for the price point, well worth it.

J. C.

Very interesting tour of the jail,tour guide (gary)was funny and knowledgeable.

G.

They have really made an effort to make it interesting and to appeal to all ages. There are a few historical items on display which is nice to see. Don't miss out on this informative and at times interactive museum adventure. I would recommend visiting if in Belfast!

J. P.

Excellent place to visit very interesting and well thought out and layout excellent due to covid

j. d.

The guide tour was absolutely fantastic. The history of the jail is amazing.

J. P.

Very interesting place to visit not recommend go with small kids as its lots to read and watch

P. F. B.

Eerie and sad but really interesting and well worth going. But plan to do something happy afterwards!

R. B.

Fantastic visitor attraction. Took my 12 yr old son who really enjoyed it. Our guide Kieran gave a good tour showing us various parts of the prison, explaining the history and how things changed over the life of the prison. The stories told bring the history to life. Standing in the execution room is rather eerie. As is the tunnel which leads to the now derelict courts across the road. Only suggestion for improvement would be a bit more about the history of crime and punishment in NI. And perhaps a little about the troubles. However I would understand if they didn't as it is still very recent to a lot of people

A. 8.

Great visit. Worth while going. Restraunt very good.

P. K.

Really enjoyed our visit tour guide was really good interesting stories good way to pass couple of hours

P. D.

Interesting but the lack of human guides post COVID seems to take something away from the experience.

N. S.

Very cool prison, great self-guided tour

P. M.

Went to jail of horror tonight and have been every year with work colleagues. What can I say totally outdone themselves this year. No cheap probs the jail itself in the atmosphere was enough. The actors totally amazing. The chainsaw men at end scared the life out of me completely. Well done 👏 well worth the money you outdone yourselves this year.

S. H.

Educational before kids went back to school, video at start was great also well thought out am planned, think Halloween tour or paranormal tour will be next. Kids enjoyed this but some parts such as A wing an B wing of hospital were closed of which was disappointing an really 30 minutes would get you round it but it was still enjoyable, there's a restaurant attached but it was closed the day we visited but there was a coffee,snack place an gift shop there. Best part was the prison bus an helicopter kids peeped on prison bus an spotted all the Halloween decorations though 🙈🙊

S. G.

Really good tour at Crumlin road... Harry was an excellent guide, very informative

A. C.

We did the Troubles at Crumlin Road tour and it was fascinating. Our guide Margaret was brilliant and a font of knowledge. Highly recommended.

O. C.

Very interesting visit, the restaurant is lovely and the food is fab and reasonable, the guides were lovely and very friendly, very informative and answered questions very well! Would love to be able to see more though

S. J.

Really good attraction although disappointed that you couldn't go up the wings of the prison! I did enjoy the whole experience. The gift shop was closed which was disappointing. We visited the restaurant and the staff were very nice and the hot chocolate was tasty 😁

S. M.

Good Place to Visit

M.

I really enjoyed the tour. Due to covid restrictions there was no actual guide.

C. R.

Brilliant tour, Claire was a great guide. Very informative and harrowing. Well worth a visit.

B. M.

Great guides. A must if you visit the city.

S. T.

I visited there for a dinner with my colleagues, not had opportunity to go around. food is not bad, and seated at the central hall.... It creates me party mood. So I gave average star....

D. C.

The food was fabulous the staff went out of their way to help us seat my father who was in a wheel chair we had the best experience in cuffs the food and the cocktails are the best i would like to thank each and every 1 of the staff who attended to us today it was a very special day as my father had his last radiotherapy treatment just an hour before hand and we chose to celebrate in cuffs so glad we did i would highly recommend if you haven't tried it give it a go you won't be disappointed again thanks to all 🥰

C. M.

Lovely tour. Well worth the time.

S. R.

The guide was good, and insightful, but frankly, it's a prison. It's a little tough to be enthusiastic about the tour unless you have some kind of personal connection.

E. B.

Great facilities, interesting history, worth the trip!

M.

A real must if you are visiting Belfast. Not saying anything else, you nèed to go.

S.

I wouldn't be one for reading lots of signs and information when I visit places but Crumlin Gaol had videos instead and holograms of people giving information which was a lot easier to take in. There was so much to see/read/watch so well worth the money. The execution room at the end wasn't my thing like a 5D experience kind of thing with noises and other stuff effects. Liked how you were able to walk into cells. Wax figures were a bit freaky though.The only thing was you weren't able to go into the tunnel maybe covid related maybe not but looks like you could before. Worth a visit if you're in Belfast.

O.

Loved it. Can't wait to go again maybe for the paranormal tour. Food was excellent

E. G.

Great tour guide with great knowledge of the gaol ☺ ate in the restaurant here as well as part of a living social deal and food was fab 🌟

J. H.

Fantastic tour, so informative and our guide Terry was great at engaging with the group.

S. R.

Fascinating tour around the prison. Tour guide Danny was engaging and knowledgeable, making the tour enjoyable even though the subject matter is dark at times.

P. R.

You can feel what it would have been like to be imprisoned here. The information provided as you progress through the prison gives interesting and impartial details of Irelands history and the criminal system. Worth visiting and they have free parking and also a restaurant and gift shop

D. K.

Gaol of Horror. Excellent night with plenty of scares and screams. Dont bother if you arent going to immerse yourself in the spirit of it. Kids age 12 and 16 loved it too. Made their night watching their mum totally immersed in the environment, screaming and failing to anticipate the jump scares. Hugely entertaining for all and a must for next halloween again. No pictures this time, not the kind of event that photos can be taken at.

S.

Visited here 28th October 2018 and had a blast. I in particular had a encounter with Isabelle. A 10 year old ghost of a girl. She intended to hurt me so do watch out. Now I didn't catch anything on camera. However we had a strange gentleman offer to take a picture of us. Afterwards, he disappeared in the blink of a eye, we never saw him the rest of the night. In the photo. If you look to the top hand side on the left. There is a white shadow. There was no lights shining in that direction. We are all baffled by it. I would highly recommend the longer paranormal tour as the hour long one felt a bit short. Will be back next year for the full experience.

H. R.

Fantastic place for those interested in history! Loads to see.

R. C.

It's a very interesting look at what an old gaol would be like, especially during the tine of the Troubles. The room where executions were performed was chilling. However it is a bit expensive for what you get.

J. M.

Interesting prison tour. Good food in the restaurant. The concert was a great night out.

C. D.

Perfectly entertaining tour with an interesting history, and our tour guide Lisa was amiable and knowledgeable despite our quite small and quiet early morning tour group.

K. M.

Fantastic tour. Our guide was very good. Definally recommended.

R. N.

Brilliant day out. The guide was very thorough and clearly knew his stuff. Really authentic to an age gone by and a bit spooky, especially in the hanging quarters. I would definitely revisit this attraction.

J. d. H.

Excellent informative and engaging tour led by Paul. Well worth it and an essential part of discovering Belfast.

H. S.

Very popular tourist and local attraction. A must see

T. R.

Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre.It is good for a family visit but not very small children.Designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, the prison was built between 1843 and 1845 and cost £60,000The prison was originally built to hold between 500 and 550 prisoners in cells that measured 12 x 7 feet.After extensive renovations the gaol has re opened as a visitor attraction and conference centre.Today you can take a guided tour of the prison and hear about the history of the site from when women and children were held within its walls through to the political segregation of republican and loyalist prisoners and learn about why the decision was taken to close the prison.Crumlin Road Gaol is open 7 days a week, throughout the year (12th July, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January excluded.) The first tour commences at 10:00 and the last tour is at approximately 16:30. Please wear warm, comfortable clothing and flat shoes.

A. S.

Well organized and very enlightening

D. D.

Fabulous tour not to be missed. Cuffs bar well worth visit too, very reasonable

D. O.

Was a great tour, very interesting and well worth the visit. Wouñd highly recommend

M. K.

Not that great, self guided tour. If doing nothing then go.

S.

There's only guided tour option here but it's very informative! Our tour guide Roy is knowledgeable and fun. The tour lasted for around 1 and a half hour. Highly recommended!

V. T.

Great museum with all the good history explained. Inexpensive and definitely worth a look around

R. D. S.

Great experience! Our tour guide, Harry, was amazing and he explained every single detail.

J. A.

I went to see live music at this venue. It is a great place, not too big to feel impersonal and everyone has a good view of the stage. I'd certainly go again to the venue but not to this particular act.

J. W.

Very interesting venue. Well worth a visit, a great iconic part of Belfast history. Was there with a Men's health day excellent venue.

C. H.

Absolutely fantastic tour, doesn't matter whether you are a local or an out of town visitor. Amazing how many sayings come from prison terms!

A. M.

A great place to visit if you are interested in the Troubles and also the history of Northern Ireland.

L. V.

I loved the guided tour. I was shocked how the executions used to take place in this prison.

M. L.

Very interesting place. Such historic building.

C. A.

5 star tour with Danny. Very informative. Highly recommend to all visiting Belfast.

T. S.

Great attraction well worth a visit

G. v. d. L.

Impressive place to learn about both recent and far past history.

s. w.

Good place to visit and get a good understanding of the troubles in NI well worth a visit.

C. D.

Great day out especially coming from the area and remembering it when it was still a working Gaol. Tour was fantastic and guide funny and animated. Worth a visit with the kids.

j. n.

Excellent tour! Loads of information through interactive screens and projections; I even got a scare or two. Recommended for going alone when it's quiet!

M. S.

Excellent tour of the Gaol. Gave a good description of the Troubles.

Y. M.

Enjoyed this place, a must see while in Belfast. Take a double decker bus from the Titanic center. And get off here,

J. B.

A really great trip! Very historical! I took the tour, worth the price. Mary was an incredible tour guide, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic! Getting to go under the tunnel towards the town hall, blood still stained the walls, richly intriguing! Each of the rooms were designed for different scenarios which was amazing!

a. m.

It's the second time I have been and still saw things Imissed before

R. L.

Brilliant experience had the kid's with us and from start to finish only brilliant and the guides were so nice and friendly, well worth a visit.

D. (.

Fascinating. Our guide was brilliant. He had an answer for every question put to him. It was so real I had to put my hand to my throat when he was telling us about the hangings. Just incase

S.

A one of visit, some interesting unknown facts about the jail. Hanging room isn't really for the younger kids and another exit before this room would be a good option. Its Clean, well set up, social distancing easy enough to manage , sanitising units set up throughout. Give it a go even if your frm Belfast!

N. V.

Interesting history to this place wonderfully narrated by the people there !

I. L.

Took my Mum and we had a wonderful time. Staff very informative and helpful. Will come again!

A. S.

Amazing place to go from history through to politics & beyond human experencies, our guide Claire was very informative & covered all aspects of work & life in & arround prisions , every one we met was so helpful in making our visit worth the trip , would advise all to visit to find out for themselves 10/10 Good food too .

J.

Great we day.

J. P.

Very good self guided tour. Would have been nice to talk to a human at some stage of the visit.

H. R.

I liked the tour and the experience but honestly I expected a lot more to see there. The guide did a great job in explaining everything but you could just read that online. There were not many artifacts to see and lots of information was simply imparted verbally. I had seen a few photos before going there and it felt like I had already seen everything there was to see.

J. H.

My wife and I had a wonderful time would highly recommend it

J. K.

Opened in 1846 and closed in 1996 this is a definite must see. Whether you are travelling or live in Belfast the history of this building is well preserved and you may also favour from a drink or two at the bar or have a lunch/dinner within the restaurant. They also put on nights where various acts can be seen ie. Johnny Cash tribute act.

C. R. N.

Very informative

D. J.

Interesting self guided visitor attraction, good value for money

a. m. k.

The tour guide was brilliant. The whole place was like a movie set ( lots of things have been filmed here). It's so interesting to see somewhere that you know from recent history. I'd strongly recommend the tour. Wear warm clothes its cold in there.

A. M.

Super cool place to visit and amazing for an event!

J. L.

Had the the guided tour and it was well worth it. The guide Danny was well informed and spoke fluently about the prison giving a colourful picture of what life was like when it was open. The tour was well structured and covered the experiences of both prisoners and guards. There is a small museum with some well presented artifacts from when the prison was in operation. Despite the sobering subject matter the guide was able to relate many light hearted anecdotes and at least one very uplifting story. I'd recommend the tour and between the time you spend on that and the time in the museum you should get about 2hrs altogether.

J. B.

Excellent and informative tour. Definitely worth a visit.

D. M.

What an absolutely fascinating look inside what was until 22 years ago a working prison. With the edge of The Troubles weighing heavy on its story it is also quite an emotional visit. They have adapted it for social distancing, and this works well. Very impressed with the audio visual and friendliness of the staff. Highly recommended.

a. o.

Excellent tour of jail, Danny the tour guide gave a very comprehensive insight into the prison, very enjoyable, would return in the future.

K. M.

Loved the tour, thank you Roy for showing us around and telling us about the gaol, it was great fun!

G. S.

Took the tour and it is very interesting and worth the entrance fee

P. C.

Excellent experience the guid was very good very knowledgeable.

m. s.

This place has a lot of stories to tell. This was a great experience. Chilly stories and our guide - Meary(hope the spelling is right) was just amazing! She made the guided tour so interesting, I did not know how time flew... Well maintained. And the setting of the prison presently made it very interesting and we could get an idea of how things worked. Great place and a must visit

T. L. C.

Always love this place and all the attractions 😁 was just at garth brooks tribute. Brillant time! Halloween time at crumlin goal is too my favourite !

D. K.

Maybe it's my age but everyone I'd heard of from NI when I was young seems to have "stayed a while".

K. S.

Interesting place to visit, with lots of information.

A. M.

Very interesting and worth the visit

K. M.

Very interesting however the tour is quite short considering how expensive it is. Also it would be good to be able to go up the the upper levels.

W. L.

Would highly recommend a visit here. Such an interesting place with some amazing and tragic history.

U. B.

And old Gaol/Jail in Belfast. Not far from the city centre. Has cafe and bar isnside the building. Staff was really helpful. You can get insight of the life of prisoners back then.

S. K.

It is one of the most awesome experience I had at the place. The possibility of visiting a place where you get to see the historic artifact like this is amazing, specially with the understanding of people staying there because they have or may be haven't committed a crime makes it eye opening.

S. K.

Excellent visitor attraction, with videos to guide you along the way and make the whole experience come alive. Very enjoyable.

N. B.

Great facilities from when I last visited a few years back with a great restaurant added (highly recommended but you might need to book). Very knowledgeable guide who started by acting as a Guard for a bit of fun and explained the 'rules'. As we walked around the tour route he took us through the history of the prison as it reflected the reality outside the prison walls. Answered all our questions as we walked around the tour. The tour is both educational and entertaining.

M. J. H.

Food is great but not much cocktails to choose from other than that the place is great

N. B.

Amazing place to visit, really interesting tour and the new gift shop is great!

M. A.

Went for the Halloween terror evening, enjoyable and staff gave a good performance. Free pumpkin at the end was a bonus! Will be back next year!

L. M.

Really enjoyable and educational visit with my husband and child

P. C.

Fantastic place I found out about think I never new it's a must visit

C. J.

Don’t usually write reviews but I felt compelled to on this occasion. What I intended to be a way of killing some time on my trip to Belfast, ended up being a genuinely interesting and at times dramatic experience. Charlotte, the tour guide was fantastic. Well informed and very friendly. I highly recommend this tour to all.

J. H.

Hopped off a 'hop on, hop off' open top bus tour today, intending on a look around the gaol museum, only to discover that a free guided tour was included in the price and we were just in time to join one. Bargain! Our guide was called Grace. She was extremely informative and sensitive about the way she portrayed some of the harder aspects of prison life and the delicate balance during The Troubles, while using a great touch of humour to keep the tour from getting too morbid. Very engaging. Thank you, Grace!

J. H.

The tour was excellent and worth the money. Cuff's restaurant very reasonable and you receive a very generous portion.

K. K.

A great visitor attraction in Belfast and a good way to spend a couple of hours. Lots of interesting information points and well priced. Would recommend.

T. G.

Really worth a visit. Interesting history and a great tour. Wheelchair friendly, coffee shop and restaurant.

m. r.

Rory was a fantastic tour guide, very knowledgeable and a really fun, chatty, easy going guy, it made for a very enjoyable tour! Thank you.

M. G.

Great tour and staff and was very interesting overall. The animated video titled 'The Troubles' is also very good, a concise history of N Ireland in 10 mins.

C. W.

Took the basic tour & enjoyed it thoroughly. Our guide was pretty chill & seemed interested in the factual information which is always a plus. Not sure if I'd visit again however. One thing I will mention is outside of tours there's not a huge amount you can see & do other than a small museum in the enterence.

P. M.

Great visit. Lets of local history. A must see if it your ever in Belfast

P. W.

A super tour round the gaol. Great stories to hear. Well worth a visit.

C. K.

Very interesting place with loads of historical references.

k. n.

This was the best attraction I visited in Belfast and Brenden our guide was very knowledgeable. £12 to get in with free parking.

C. J.

Excellent trip to the gaol, lots of interesting information and things to see. Story of the gaol and history of the prisoners well told.

C. J.

Absolutely amazing. Our tour guide, Grace, provided a wealth of information. She is the bestest!

J. M.

Great tour! The guide was excellent!

W. A.

Had an amazing visit. Tour guide was funny and very informative. Would be great if they could integrate the Court House into the experience. Funds I guess. A must see. Highly Recommend.

M. P.

The tour was good. Jails are not really my thing, but it was quite interesting. There are stories of hauntings, but we, thankfully, did not encounter any ghosts. There were some creepy enough mannequins in some of the rooms to spook me a little, anyway. The tour guide we went with, Joseph, did a really nice job explaining the history of the place.

A. W.

Myself and my wife visited this tourist attraction in October 2019. We would recommend to anyone that this is worth every penny and our tour guide Francis made this even more fascinating as he was absolutely incredible with his presentation and knowledge on the history of the prison making this tour feel so sureal. Thanks to all at the gaol for the up keep of such a historic building and long my it continue.

S. B.

Fab night watching an amazing tribute to elvis.

L. H.

Really good tour, the guide Claire was very knowledgeable and easy to follow. The only real shame is that you only get to see a very limited amount of what is quite a large site. Even so we really enjoyed ourselves and are very glad we visited.

E. G.

Really interesting tour of a really interesting place. Our guide was great, very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. You cannot do a self-guided tour, you have to go in a group but the tours run regularly, every half hour. There is also a nice restaurant, if you're doing the tour, get your wrist band before you go to the restaurant to get 10% off food & drinks.

L. F.

Absolutely fantastic. My partner is very interested in history, me not so much. This was so good that even I was fascinated by all the history involved. Even though it's a guided tour you get plenty of time to wander around the different areas and take lots of pictures. You get to go into one of the cellblock wings, some of the administration offices, the "hanging room" and around to the back where the people were buried. Definitely great value for the price of the ticket. Our tour leader was Roy and he was part of the reason we enjoyed it so much. He had a great sense of humour and chatted away with people the whole time. He didn't make us feel rushed and was very knowledgeable.

B. R.

Be prepared to watch 537488 videos but the prison is really cool and interesting. The Cuffs Restaurant is wonderful, was the best meal we had on the city

M. G. (.

Very interesting place.

R. B.

Very enjoyable and informative.

S. R.

The guide was good, and insightful, but frankly, it's a prison. It's a little tough to be enthusiastic about the tour unless you have some kind of personal connection.

p. s.

Excellent experience. Very informative of the origins of the gaol & its use during 'the troubles '. Nice bar/Restaurant inside too.

J. B.

Loved it

D. M.

First time here and I really enjoyed it. Well worth a visit and the restaurant is first class as well

S. C.

Food was excellent and attention from staff is first class

J. C.

Excellent tour conducted by an enthusiastic tour guide. I would definitely recommend the guide. Not only do you find out about the history but you'll also discover where some well known slang comes from!! Maybe not for the young but your …

J. A.

I went to see live music at this venue. It is a great place, not too big to feel impersonal and everyone has a good view of the stage. I'd certainly go again to the venue but not to this particular act.

J. D.

Sobering and very informative tour, given by Joe. Small groups, plenty of time to visit and learn.

M. L. G.

We just did the tour with our family who are home from New Zealand, which was fantastic as always. This time we had a crowd of little ones with us who we were worried wouldnt enjoy it. However thanks to the amazing interaction from Claire our tour guide they loved it. She really went above and beyond. Very family friendly

L. C.

Thought it was great. So interesting and a great tour guide. Would definitely recommend it.

C. A.

An excellent insight into the penal system from the not too distant past. Our tour guide , Tricia, was very knowledgeable and informative. The gaol in the winter months is quite cold and the tour takes you outside in all weather's so be prepared !!!

J. C.

Really enjoyed this although some who are a bit squeamish may not agree. It was very informative and the tour guide Mary was excellent. When you go here do remember it was a prison and not a very pleasant place. It is however a fascinating place and well worth the visit. Plenty of parking and food and drink. Book on line it is cheaper.

M. S.

Brilliant tour and our tour guide (Charlotte) was excellent and so knowledgable. The whole experience was great, including the food and drink in Cuff's. Even the cleaner opened up early for us to make us drinks while we waited for the our to begin. Would recommend to everyone,

D. M.

Great tour, a lot better than the titanic thing. The guide was great. Go early .. The first tour started at 10 so get there a little early like 9 45..even though it says it opens at ten..make sure to go into the condemned mans cell so you get to see the biggest twist/surprise of the tour. The guide was great.

A. A.

Having read everything in the "museum" beforehand, I didn't feel I learned anything new on the tour. Although seeing the actual jail was interesting a lot of it was cordoned off. The executioners room brought home the full impact of the jail and that you were standing right where others had before you. The guide was lovely knew her stuff. Not a fault of the guide, but there was no engagement with the visitors - just reciting what she had to. There was also no explanation of what "the troubles" were so if you're not familiar you had better google before you go. Still a place you should visit as it is full of history but for me, could be presented better.

R. J. R.

This attraction is one of the stops on the hop on hop off bus tour. Well worth a visit. Admission was only £10 thanks to a discount voucher handed out on the bus. Alternatively booking online also reduces the cost. The tour takes 75 minutes and is very informative. Plenty to see and our tour guide Grace was very funny and highly knowledgeable. There is a restaurant there called Cuffs!! I had a starter portion of Irish beef stew for £5.50. It was huge. Very tasty and a great price.

C. F.

This is well worth a visit! Our tour guide was Claire (visited 2.9.18) her knowledge was beyond the tour information and able to answer any questions we or others had on the tour. Really interesting also recent history with new additional stories/information being added. Also had something to eat in the Cuffs, chips were delicious.

D. M.

It's an interesting building with an interesting history, but I was there for a work event and so had no real chance to explore.

J. W.

Pretty cool visit, tour guide wasn’t very energetic. An interesting experience for those abroad, it really speaks to how recent the troubles were in Northern Ireland. You get to enter the very small room where 12 of the 17 executions by hanging were carried out and even walk across the trap door if you want.

R. S.

Our guide, Terry, was fantastic. We got to see everything we wanted and learned a lot of interesting facts.

p. s.

Excellent experience. Very informative of the origins of the gaol & its use during 'the troubles '. Nice bar/Restaurant inside too.

D. K.

Excellent experience.Well done all.Well worth doing!

M. S.

A small but informative museum on penal practice up to 1980s. I think opportunity to see what prison work location and equipment used would have added to the experience. Surprised to ascertain physical punishment ongoing to 1968! Post sign up to ECHR. The coffee, hot chocolate and scones in the cafe, were excellent.

T. I. t. g.

Great craic On this tour and very interesting history, wow .. went there on a tour when we went to the Giants causeway and titanic tour with THE IRISH TOUR GUIDE

S. M.

so interesting. found it amazing that there were cells from different time periods and how much has been done to preserve this history. Tour guide was brilliant. would recommend to anyone who is in belfast even if you are only there for a short time. only fault was you couldnt go all the way through the tunnell to the court as the building is in disuse until a hotel built. would have been amazing.

D. M.

First time here and I really enjoyed it. Well worth a visit and the restaurant is first class as well

J. P.

We did the daily guided tour when we visited the Gaol and our guide, Grace, was incredible! She was incredibly knowledgeable on the history of the Gaol and made the tour extremely interesting, shocking us with the more morbid facts, but also making us laugh at her jokes. Would definitely recommend the Gaol to those visting Belfast, even for a short time. Thanks for a great afternoon and thank you Grace! :)

M. M.

We visited the gaol today 31st August after long walks along the Falls road and Shanklin Road looking at all of the murals and historic tributes across the years. The gaol finished off our day of history wonderfully. Our guide Mary was absolutely amazing. Her knowledge and her delivery was brilliant. We were agog for the whole time. She mixed the horrors of the gaol with some light hearted snippets and showed great empathy in the more sober aspects of the prison. She made the experience unforgettable. Well worth a visit.

P. S.

Was a good day at the Halloween experience and picking your own pumpkin our grandson loved it, loved the carving and way it turned out.

K. R.

Fascinating, informative, impressive tour. Very worthwhile and a very good experience. Our guide was a little difficult to understand at first because his Belfast accent was so thick! But after listening closely for a couple of minutes, it became no issue, and actually contributed to the overall experience

D. B.

Pulling up, this place is imposing and bleak. It is, after all, a prison. But the tour was absolutely phenomenal! Our guide was funny, informative, and dramatic, all in the right places. It's a great spot to learn about the seedier side of Belfast. Given the nature of the attraction, under 10s might be scared, but for teens and adults, there are enough stories and surprises to keep you entertained. Highly recommended!!

S. C.

Great show and drink surprising well priced. Wrongly thought would be over priced. Staff very friendly, already looking at what other shows could attend. Abba tribute coming up. So I will be back !! Only feedback would be offer snacks at bar like nuts or crisps would have been good

J. T.

Great place of historical interest. Worth a visit

M. O.

Interesting history of this old gaol which closed in 1996. Well worth a visit .

R. C.

First rate as always. Best food , service and value in Belfast

L. M.

A great insight into life at the prison and an exceptional tour with Paul.

K. M.

Didn't know what to expect when we started our tour because I didn't really know much about this prison but really enjoyed it. Our tour guide was Aaron. He was really good. Very interesting. He set the mood. Would recommend a visit.

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