Private tour in Belfast Dr Tom T

Belfast Troubles Walking Tour: Peace Walls, Murals and Memory

5.0

(9) reviews

-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Dr Tom T.

5.0

Guide rating

11

Reviews

Tours delivered

1 hrs

Avg. response time

Get ready to go back in time! My name is Tom and I specialise in walking you through Belfast's amazing and complex history. Belfast is an amazing city. Many tourists are drawn to the city because of the three Ts - the Titanic, Thrones (Game of) and the Troubles, the period of civil strife that ended in 1998. My tours seek to show you a different side of Belfast's history, its maritime heritage as a port and shipbuilding centre, its fine architecture and its story as the centre of the industrial revolution in Ireland. Originally from London, I moved to Belfast in 2014 to marry a local girl and have fallen in love with the city. People visit the city for many reasons, the food, the craic (Irish for fun, entertainment) and the culture, but what I love about Belfast's is its messy, multifaceted and magic past. I hope to share Belfast's amazing atmosphere and hidden history with you. I want to tell you about some of the lesser known aspects of the city's past; that the first republicans who fought for an independent Ireland free of British rule were Protestant not Catholic, that Belfast was the centre of the global linen trade for a century and that the city suffered the greatest loss of life in a bombing raid during the German bombing Blitz of the Second World War. If you are looking for a historical tour that aims to take a different perspective on the past of the city, I very much look forward to hearing from you…or better still…if I'm around and you're in town, book me! All the best, Tom I am a qualified professional Belfast Green Badge Tour Guide, certified to deliver walking tours in Belfast as an affiliate of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. I am also a member of the Northern Ireland Tourist Guide Association, a professional association of tour guides in the province. I am a published professional historian, holding a Bachelors and Doctorate in history from King's College London. I have also been involved in a number of local history projects such as The Men Behind the Glass project at Campbell College Belfast and Epidemic Belfast, a project about the medical history of the city. I also host and produced a weekly podcast that explores the history of the Great War. I am currently a Tutor on Queen's University Belfast Open Learning programme, have also been an Honorary Research Associate at Ulster University and Visiting Research Associate at Queen's University Belfast. I deliver walking tours around public areas in Belfast. Some historical sites don't permit external guides to guide on their premises (e.g. Titanic Belfast). I am not a driver; I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car/driver.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Dr Tom T.

Overview of your Belfast tour

Explore Belfast’s Troubles through the streets, murals and peace walls of west Belfast on a guided walking tour led from a balanced, non-partisan perspective. Visit both nationalist and unionist communities and learn how civilians experienced the conflict and how Belfast has changed since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. This walking tour offers a clear and accessible introduction to the Troubles, focusing on how political violence and social division shaped everyday life in west Belfast’s divided communities. You will explore areas where neighbouring communities lived side by side yet remained separated by a 30 foot peace wall. Through murals, memorials and public spaces, the tour examines how different communities remember the conflict and how those narratives continue to shape the city today. The tour does not take sides but emphasises explanation over sensationalism and concludes by examining the peace process, reconciliation efforts and Belfast’s ongoing journey towards peace.

Your Belfast tour itinerary

Falls Road – Nationalist community The tour begins on the Falls Road in west Belfast, a predominantly Catholic and nationalist area. Murals and memorials here focus on civil rights, imprisonment and international solidarity, offering insight into how this community experienced and remembers the Troubles. Peace wall crossing You will pass through one of Belfast’s peace walls, first built from 1969 to reduce inter-communal violence. These structures remain powerful symbols of division and form a key part of the city’s peace tourism landscape. Shankill Road – Unionist community Crossing into the Shankill Road, a largely Protestant and unionist area, the tour explores a contrasting narrative. Murals and commemorative sites reflect loyalty to the United Kingdom, experiences of loss and the impact of paramilitary activity.

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Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

None. This is a 5 mile walking tour; though it is on the flat this may not be suitable for people with mobiilty problems.

What's included
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Public Transportation
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Under the statute of Queen Victoria at Belfast City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS (or the main gates near Queen Victoria if the City Hall is closed. This is at the junction of Donegall Place and Donegall Square). The tour will return to this location at the end.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Art And Culture
History
City Highlights
Tour reference number
1226324
Languages
English
Activity level
Moderate
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible
5.0

Traveller reviews for this private tour in Belfast

9 reviews

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Belfast best suited for?

This private tour in Belfast is ideal for travellers interested in understanding the complex history of the Troubles through a balanced, non-partisan perspective. It's perfect for those who want to explore the city's divided communities, learn about the peace process, and see significant murals and peace walls. The tour is also suitable for those who prefer a walking tour and are comfortable with moderate activity levels.

Where does the tour start and end?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

Is this private tour in Belfast suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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