WHEREVER you look in Belfast, history looms large. The Troubles, its shipbuilding industry, pubs and folk music. But it’s also a place that’s unmistakably modern - there’s the TV and film industry where Game of Thrones was produced, exotic new restaurants and even a Pride parade the weekend I visited.
10 The Titanic Hotel is a fitting tribute to Belfast's shipping legacy Credit: Tourism Ireland/ Titanic Hotel 10 Inside are incredible rooms, including the Harland Bar Credit: Tourism Ireland/ Titanic Hotel 10 Nothing beats a coffee or a drink with the sun streaming in Credit: Tourism Ireland/ Titanic Hotel 10 Crumlin Gaol is a must-see on any trip to Belfast Credit: Tourism Ireland The contrast between the old and new is evident wherever you go, including the Titanic Hotel, where I was lucky enough to stay during my trip. The building once housed Harland and Wolff’s office, where plans for the Titanic and other famous ships of their day were drawn up. It’s now been transformed into a modern luxury hotel, which pays tribute to the iconic vessel with its decor.
Every wall is adorned with paintings, blueprints and posters advertising Titanic’s shipping company, White Star Line. Even names of the public spaces pay homage to the shipbuilding heritage, including the Wolff Grill where I enjoyed a delicious three-course dinner on my first night, and freshly-cooked breakfast throughout my stay. My room was comfort personified, and mirrored the layout of a swanky ship cabin, .