This is a jail that is able to cram a lot of information into a small period of time. Having previously visited jails in Dublin and Cork this was another unique experience. We went 2pm on a Sunday and it wasn't very busy which was nice. read more

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The gaol museum is sobering and very interesting. It was worth the time and effort for sure. We stopped at the restaurant on site, Cuffs, for a bite after the tour. Ok, the food was very good, and the service was good. I did feel more than a little cognitive dissonance eating a delicious meal in a place where men, women, and even children were imprisoned at hard labor, flogged for breaking rules, and fed gruel, bread and water. And a few were hung in the nearby execution chamber. read more

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We visited Crumlin Road Gaol on our final morning before leaving Belfast. The experience provides you with a very interesting audiovisual presentation of 150 years of jail history in a very well maintained/restored prison. Very good, also in connection to the more recent history. read more

Cuff's dining experience was fantastic.....the service was quick, professional, and super friendly. The tour is amazing as well but I recommend you stop into eat before the tour which is located in the same building (bonus). read more

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This was sun an interesting experience and I learned a ton about the history of this prison as well as the history of Ireland. The tour itself took almost 2 hours. The self guided tour has many jail cells that have videos explaining what each room was used for and they share intriguing stories about prisoners. You get to see the gallows , solitary, a padded cell, kitchen, cells for children, and much more. Thai prison was open much longer than it should have been because it never has been updated or atleast it doesn't look like it. The end of the tour you see giant military like vehicles which was also very interesting. I would highly recommend this attraction. read more

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Fascinating that a former prison is now a tourist attraction, filming site for movies, and a turn-key event/party space. I guess there are sections of the property that makes this all work. It's just oddly funny as having walked through the tour and hearing about the stories of hangings and executions and even marriage proposals happening here. Go figure! The Gaol Prison is indeed an attraction in the town of Belfast. With the former Court House directly across the street, now in a deteriorated state, the stories of past history is what makes this place unique. As you walk through the guided tour, you get to see where the prisoners were hung, their confined quarters, and the "sterilization" room. Eerie yet fascinating. It certainly was a sight, seeing the false bottom floor where prisoners were hung and took their last breath. The tales of why they were imprisoned and the attempted escapes were quite interesting as well. The torture devices on display were indeed once part of real history. Very well narrated tour. This is a very different kind of sight to see, that's for sure. read more

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This was the last stop that our Belfast Black Cab Tour guide Paul, took us to see. While on this tour we didn't actually go inside, my brother and I had visited this jail turned museum experience during our previous visit to Belfast, and when I checked in, saw hadn't written a review and so am rectifying that oversight now. The Crumlin Road Jail's started life's as "The County Gaol for Antrim" and from an architectural perspective it's a fantastic example of Victorian penal architecture. It's a 5-sided wall layout, and then within those walls are 4 wings fanning from a central area known as The Circle, or Control Area. The goal was built to house between 500-550 prisoners in their own individual cells and initially also housed women and children. The jail gained its notoriety in the 1970s when a lot of IRA members were sentenced in the court right across the street and then taken via a secret tunnel built underneath the road, to the jailhouse. Also just up the road is the HQ of the Orange Order and you can identify that building by its statue of William of Orange, atop a rearing horse and with a sword held aloft. Apart from being a museum nowadays, the jail is also used for a lot of TV and films shooting. Well worth a visit! Yelp 131 / 2019 read more

The Crumlin Road Gaol - Entrance - Historical Tours Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Went here after a cabbie recommended the tour. So glad that I did. The tour guide, Roy, was quite enjoyable and knowledgeable. There were only three of us on the tour, which was quite pleasant. Apparently at 2pm on a Tuesday is a great time to visit. Only downside was being stuck in traffic afterwards. So much history and sadness within these walls. Apparently they offer paranormal tours, which are held at night, which I will gladly pass on. Not my cuppa. If you are in Belfast, go here, it's only 8.50 if booked online, 9 if purchased at location. They've got a cafe called cuffs that you can visit without a tour as well. read more

The Crumlin Road Gaol - Historical Tours Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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Such a cool spot to visit if you're in Belfast. We really enjoyed our tour here, our tour guide was amazing and informative. I enjoy history and exploring old buildings. They've remodeled the jail nicely. The creepy feelings you get, and the set ups they place in the cells are so cool, giving you an idea of what life as a prisoner was. The death room (I call it) was super creepy! To know people were actually hung there!! Eek!! The girl at the front desk was very helpful and even called to schedule the Black Taxi tour for us. We felt like she went above and beyond for us, as nobody provides that type of customer service where we are from. She said we could leave our rental in their parking lot for the tour. Crumlin Road Gaol is awesome! Highly recommend! read more

Sobering but very interesting. We were fortunate enough to have Claire as our guide. Belfast native and well versed about the Gaol...she brought the history of the Gaol alive. Interesting to note that an American company has purchased a wing of the Gaol to make gin so that should be an interesting venture. If in Belfast you cannot miss this tour. read more

Closed in 1996, the prison is still finding its footing as a historical spot. The history -- including Political prisoners during The Troubles -- is fascinating. I was hoping for more on the actual prisoners, especially Republican and Loyalist factions. There is still time to grow! read more

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If you are looking for a tourist attraction with a twist of the macabre then this is the place for you! On a cold Belfast night, what else would you rather be doing than wandering around an abandoned jail?! I kid you not - I am being entirely sincere when I say that after going on the tour, I can't think of many other things I would rather have done instead. I wish that I could remember the name of our tour guide, as he really was fantastic. As he took us around the jail he gave us just the right amount of detail and was extremely knowledgeable. read more

This evening a group of us were treated to a private tour of the Gaol, a three course Avocado meal in Cuffs Grill Bar and live music by Michael Kerr. The event was hosted by i3 Digital. Adrian, the MD, was telling me that they employ 30 people and one of their clients is The California Avocado Commission, an organisation which has 5000 members. What a great way to pay homage to the avocado.I've visited the Gaol a few times, last time was a few years ago and I must say there have been many good improvements. Firstly there's a dedicated car park further up the road and easy access to reception.Our guide was excellent and certainly knew his history. He showed us the tunnel, the circle, the 4 wings, some cells, the execution room and hanging ropes (17 men were executed here). Also he showed us roughly where the bodies were buried. He also explained that when first few men were executed it was in public and this was treated as a party and lots of drink was consumed. The next day after the hanging was over people suffered with a "hang-over"!! If your lucky you might see the ghost of Isobel or the warden!!!!After our tour we were treated to a lovely 3 course avocado based meal to celebrate National Avocado Day!!The restaurant itself was very intimate with low ceilings and there was a nice vibe about the place.The menu was a set menu. The starter was a salad of smoked chicken, a fan of avocado with leaves and a raspberry dressing. The presentation was lovely and the sharpness and sweetness of the dressing worked well with the creamy avocado however I didn't detect any smokiness in the chicken, which was moist and succulent.The main course was poached salmon, broccoli, carrot, potato dauphinois served with avocado cream. Again presentation was good, all the components were piping hot, vegetables were crunchy, dauphinois was superb, salmon was nice and firm and the avocado cream really brought the dish to life. The portion size was perfect.Instead of dessert we were served a California Avo Colado. This is a twist on the classic pina colada and consisted of pineapple, cream, avocado and rum. I chose the Mocktail (no rum). Again a refreshing, creamy and tasty drink.The staff were fantastic and a credit to the restaurant. As an Avocado fan I loved the meal!! read more

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Have been on this tour twice already, took my dad for the second time. A really informative tour round the old prison where you can see typical cells, the tunnel between the jail and the courthouse and where the prisoners were hanged. A really interesting tour for Belfast, and at £5.00 per head for an hour and a half you couldnt ask for better! read more

Very interesting guided tour of a jail from the 1800s that operated until the 1990s. You will be shocked it was in operation that long after seeing the conditions. Nice history! read more

Eoghan the tour guide really made this! I love old jails (really that should be gaol), I love the stories and the weird feeling you get in these old buildings, when you walk in the footsteps of wardens and criminals. Learning all about the gaol through the ages, the changes. Fascinating. When I return to Belfast, I look forward to coming here again. Will be interesting to see the wardens housing block renovations as well. Just a shame that the court house couldn't get jazzed up to its former glory too. read more

Great stop during our quick day in Belfast. Our tour Guide Danny was fantastic. Great story teller and very informative while keeping things entertaining! Very neat to see the jail untouched after its closing. Would highly recommend! read more

It's funny how you never visit the places in your own city you'd visit if you were on holiday. This is probably why it took so long for me to visit Crumlin Rd Gaol. I'm glad I did, it was fascinating. Our guide was really informative, saying his father had actually served time in the gaol, which gave a good personal account. The tour was well organised, taking us from where we would have been taken as inmates just arriving in the gaol to the end- if the death penalty was being carried out. That bit was quite dramatic, and before going into it (and not to spoil it for visitors) you are given the option to opt out of this part, but it is worth seeing. I was surprised at the size of the place, and it will be interesting to see how the museum develops if they get to restore the courts across the road. They also do night tours and special concerts which I might try next time. In all it was a great way to spend a morning in the local history I didn't know about, and not at all gloomy! read more

Claire, our tour guide was so well informed and friendly. She really made the tour fun and educational. I learned so much about the history of Belfast from this tour. I would recommend it to anyone visiting Ireland. read more

Three friends. & I visited from Newcastle England. We enjoyed the tour immensely, very informative & experiences of the inmates brought to life via very knowledgable guide. Spooky at times! read more