Travel to Belfast
We want to thank everyone in advance for making such an effort to come along. We have people coming from all across the UK as well as Switzerland and possibly even further afield.
Despite being part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland is across the Irish sea so for those who are not already in Northern Ireland, it means there are only certain options as to how to get here. Below is some information which will hopefully make your travel as seamless as possible.
By Car
It is possible to get the ferry across to Belfast from two locations, being Liverpool and Cairnryan (west coast of Scotland). They travel multiple times a day. The direct website to book is through Stena Line, which you can access through the link below.
Cairnryan to Belfast: Cairnryan is found on the west coast of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway. There are usually 6 ferries per day, and the journey is 2 hours 15 minutes in duration.
Liverpool to Belfast: Liverpool is a well known port city on the west coast of England. There are two ferries that go each day, though due to the long duration of the trip (8 hours) we would recommend taking the overnight ferry which leaves Liverpool at 10:30pm and arrives in Belfast at 06:30am.
By Plane
There are two major airports that are around Belfast which are the George Best Belfast City Airport and the Belfast International Airport. Both are found slightly outside Belfast, so if you are not going to be hiring a car we will list some possible transport links from the airports below.
Image from Airport Guides
Belfast City Airport
The George Best Belfast City Airport is the smaller of the two airports situated about 10 minutes north of Belfast City centre. It is placed just along the Belfast lough and is approximately half way between the city centre and Holywood, which is where Jane has been brought up and the location of the wedding ceremony. It is the easier of the two airports to navigate and get to, although it has fewer flights and destinations that go through it.
Transport to and from Belfast Centre: Aside from a 10 minute taxi journey to the city centre, it is possible to get the Airport Express 600 Service which goes from the airport to the Europa Bus Station every 30 minutes. There is also the Sydenham rail station a short walk away from the airport in order to get a train that goes into Belfast Central station or Great Victoria Street station.
For more information please go to the Belfast City Airport Website.
Belfast International Airport
The larger of the two airports and taking the brunt of the flights in and out of Northern Ireland, the Belfast International Airport is located just south of Antrim, which is about 30-40 minutes north west of Belfast city centre.
Transport to and from Belfast Centre: There is the Airport Express 300 Service which goes between the airport and Belfast City centre. It costs £8.50
for a single ticket and £12.50 for a return. There is no train service to the International Airport.
For more information please go to the Belfast International Airport Website.
Accommodation
We have compiled a list of hotels which we think would be suitable for everyone attending. Obviously this is a non-exhaustive list and please feel free to search yourselves for something that best suits you, however we would recommend staying somewhere near the city centre as that is where we are planning to arrange transport to and from.
If you would prefer to go for a B&B or book a shared house via AirBnB or something please feel free to find what works best for you, although there is not much accommodation around the venue and the surrounding town is not quite as nice as Belfast. For most of you who are coming all this way, we would love for you to see the best the Northern Ireland has to offer.
We have tried to find some hotels according to different price ranges. We have managed to get some discount codes for some of the hotels as well, though we cannot guarantee that they will still have availability.
Luxury Hotels
The Merchant
An absolute favourite spot for afternoon tea for the Egerton family, the Merchant is probably one of the nicest places to stay in Northern Ireland. A 5-star hotel within the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast, it is a Grade A listed building with anything and everything you might need during your stay. It is home to the famous Bert's Jazz Bar which is known for having the most expensive coctail in Ireland.
The Merchant Website
Grand Central
Located within the up and coming Linen Quarter, this impressive hotel fuses glamour and grandeur with a uniquely Belfast spirit. We've also heard the view is pretty good to say the least. It has an all glass rooftop observatory bar which is sure to heighten your stay.
Grand Central Website
The Fitzwilliam
A beautiful 5-star hotel, described as a super-elegant masterpiece located in the heart of the city centre. They even have a doorman with a top hat. Do we need to say any more?
The Fitzwilliam WebsiteMiddle Range Hotels
Ten Square
A fantastic historic Grade 1 Listed building situated in the heart of Belfast, this hotel offers a wide variety of options to suit whatever you are looking for. It has great views over Belfast city and seeing as we have a discount code, would be one of our top recommendations to stay.
Ten Square Website
The Europa
Again perfectly located within the city centre, it is a world famous hotel, although maybe not for the best reasons (it previously held the record for the most bombed hotel in the world). This would suggest that a lot of influential people stayed here, being the place of residence for a number of Presidents, Prime Ministers and celebrities when staying in Belfast.
The Europa Website
Malmaison
A widely renowned and well regarded chain of hotels, this contemporary and bold accommodation offers everything you need in a city centre location.
Malmaison Website(Slightly more) Budget Friendly Hotels
Tara Lodge
This is a highly regarded and quaint boutique hotel in Queen's Quarter of Belfast. It is very close to the University, however slightly outside of the city centre. Not only have I heard good reviews online, but also heard very good reviews from friends and family who have stayed before and rave about it. Overall a great choice.
Tara Lodge Website
The Bullitt
If you are someone that describes themselves as "no-nonsense" (you know who you are), then you have found your perfect match. They pride themselves on delivering a quality hotel with no hidden costs that is located right in the city centre.
Bullitt Website
The Flint
Again situated right in the city centre, this hotel aims to provide a modern stripped back minimalist appeal. Very convenient location for exploring the city with every room having a kitchinette.
The Flint Website