Visiting Belfast and fancy enjoying an iconic luxury hotel without blowing the budget? This is the post for you, I’m about to share one of the finest free things to do in Belfast.
The Titanic Hotel Belfast is one of the city’s most stylish and historic hotels , where you can walk through history following a free Hotel Heritage Trail and then enjoy coffee & cake (or something stronger!) in the beautiful Drawing Office – all without booking a room.
The Titanic Hotel Belfast
Located in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, the historic Harland & Wolff Headquarters and Drawing Offices have been converted into the world’s most authentic Titanic hotel experience. This is the exact place where the Titanic was designed and built.
Offering four star luxury, the Titanic Hotel Belfast is now a beautifully restored listed building.
Architecturally stunning and full of artworks and artefacts, this is the place to visit in Belfast for those interested in the story of the Titanic, history enthusiasts and lovers of beautiful spaces.
The Art & Heritage Trail
Titanic Hotel Belfast: A bit of background. What is now a hotel used to be the heart of the famous Harland & Wolff shipyard . The building and surrounding area closed in the late 1980’s and left in slow decline.
In 2016, a plan was devised to create a unique hotel from the derelict buildings, giving new life to a Belfast landmark. The design of the hotel was shaped by the history of the location and is a tribute to the story of Harland & Wolff.
Now, hotel guests and visitors alike are invited to explore this beautiful maritime heritage building. The easiest way to do so is by following the free Art & Heritage Trail.
The trail guides visitors to points of interest around the building, including many beautifully preserved original features. It also introduces the people behind the facts and figures with passenger portraits, rare vintage images and contemporary artworks.
Highlights of the trail for me included:
- The original revolving doors of the entrance lobby, surrounded by floor-to- ceiling marble. These doors were reserved for the use of senior management only.
- The curved glass telephone exchange. The heart of all H&W communication and where the call confirming the sinking of the Titanic was received.
- The twin Drawing Offices- one is now a bar and lounge, the other a ballroom.
- Modern furnishings painted with striking portraits of Belfast shipyard workers by local artist Terry Bradley.
- The heritage staircase with a wrought iron balustrade in the design of a flax flower. A nod to Belfast’s linen industry.
Titanic Hotel Belfast: The Twin Drawing Offices
The twin Drawing Offices were built by Harland & Wolff at a time when the company was forging a name as one of the world’s best ship builders. These light, cathedral like spaces are where the golden age of ocean travel was designed.
The Drawing Offices were built as a statement piece and as part of the Titanic Hotel Belfast, they remain so. Victorian era, three-storey high and with ornate barrel-vaulted ceilings, the Drawing Offices are also quite unique; they are the only remaining example of this style of shipyard design in the world.
Drawing Office One
Now used as an events space and ball room but open to the public when not in use, Drawing Office One is the perfect place to experience the scale and light of these unique spaces.
The spectacular design of long windows and skylights was as intentional as it is impressive, allowing draughtsmen and designers to take advantage of the natural light. The Drawing Offices were also a showroom, with in-house craftsmen creating the plasterwork, joinery and details in order to show prospective clients just what could be done.
Don’t miss the wall display of original items salvaged during restorations.
Drawing Office Two
In my opinion, the most beautiful public space in the hotel and the perfect place to end your tour.
Once a Drawing Office like the other, this is now a relaxed but beautiful bar-lounge. Don’t miss the Villeroy & Boch tiles around the bar; these are an exact replica of those used for the Titanic’s swimming pool and First Class bathrooms.
If you look up you’ll see the beautiful barrel vaulted ceiling and ornate touches but also an internal window. Behind this is the Presentation Room, a lavish room designed to impress including a view over the Drawing Office and see the draughtsmen at work.
If you visit the Titanic Hotel Belfast in the morning you can enjoy coffee & cake or a cream tea by indulging in the Morning Treats menu, served from 9am-12pm. Scones are served freshly baked and warm with jam, cream and butter alongside your choice of hot drink. Delightful!
Expect to pay about Ā£16 for a cream tea for two, no need to book.
If you’re visiting later in the day there is a Drawing Office food menu and an impressive offering at the bar, including a fabulous Belfast and Titanic inspired cocktail selection.
Plan Your Visit
Find the Titanic Hotel Belfast at Queens Road in the Titanic Quarter, directly opposite the Titanic Experience building.
Weekday mornings are the best time to visit, the hotel and surrounding area gets very busy over the weekends.
Bonus Tip: It rains in Belfast. Quite a lot. If you’re caught out, you can rent an umbrella from the lobby of the Titanic Hotel Belfast, Ā£2 for 48 hours. Find the self service machine by the main entrance.
The Titanic Hotel Belfast is genuinely one of the most beautiful, most welcoming spots in the city. You don’t need to be staying to enjoy the heritage, atmosphere and beautifully restored building.
If you’d like to look at booking a stay or for a glimpse at the room selection, you can view and book Titanic Hotel Belfast here.
Looking for more Belfast and Northern Ireland travel inspiration? Check out some of my other posts:
Explore the Unique Sinclair Seamen’s Church, Belfast
Belfast City Guides: The Cathedral Quarter
Linen Hall Library: The Oldest Library in Belfast
Helen x
It looks like a great experience to stay here, definitely unique š
You’re so good at this! Always full of positive and fun deas. Thank you!
Aw, that’s such a lovely comment. Thank you, Margaret!
Stopping by the Titanic Hotel in Belfast is one of the best things you can do in the city, especially as you can walk around the hotel and see many of its wonderful heritage rooms. Over the years, we’ve done it many times and always enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day š Aiva x
Thanks, Aiva. It really is a beautiful old place. I feel like repeat visits are a good idea because you’ll find new details each time!
That sounds like a reasonable price for cream tea in such beautiful setting. They even have umbrellas for rent, very convenient. Spending the night here would be amazing but it is good to know that you can visit it without staying over
I loved how welcoming they were to none residents, Titanic Hotel Belfast is really part of the character of the city. Thanks for dropping by, Tanja!
This is such a great recommendation, I’ll definitely remember it if I go to Belfast. I might even investigate the cost of a room!
Oh I’d love to see how you’d photograph it! There was a few times where my mind and eyes wanted to capture something but the old iphone camera wasn’t playing.
The rooms actually aren’t too bad all things considered, but I couldn’t justify when I live just about in walking distance!
Oh, I hadn’t realised you were living in Belfast
Only for a few more weeks. Had the chance to spend a year here so came for a little adventure. Next stop is Kent for a few years.
I remember walking past the hotel but we didnāt go in. Too much to do! Next time maybe.
I think it’s a bit dwarfed by the Titanic Experience building next door! Definitely one for any future trips.
Just fantastic! I’ll get to Belfast one of these days, Helen xx
I hope you do, lots of walking and cake opportunities!
A beautiful hotel Helen. We enjoyed lunch there and a tour round before flying back home.
It’s a great pre departure option, especially if flying out of the city airport. The Titanic Hotel is such a beautiful spot!
What a wonderful place to visit (and stay). The scones look really good!
The morning menu is delightful and such a beautiful place to enjoy it. A grand way to spend a morning!
Agreed
This entire building looks like an absolute dream. Beautifully designed, fabulous history, priceless antiques and archive pieces. Visiting to see some of this and have tea and scones feels like an absolute must, though honestly I’d be tempted by a stay too. Love that you can rent an umbrella and that it is at a very reasonable cost. Belfast has just shot up our to-do list, Helen.
The way the hotel is designed around the history of the site is genuinely impressive- it’s a tribute rather than a theme. I hope you make it Belfast, it’s a wonderful city.
Wow, this place itself looks like a vacationā¦and then you step outside! š¤©
It’s a beautiful hotel, like stepping into another time and place! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, appreciate it.
It’s brilliant that you can see so much, without staying at the hotel, though that would be very nice of course. Truly a stunning timeless interior.