Is Belfast Castle free to visit?

Entry to the castle's public areas and the Cave Hill Visitor Centre is free; you pay only for food, drink and gift shop purchases.

When was Belfast Castle built?

The present castle was started in 1862 for the third Marquis of Donegall and completed in 1870 to a design by John Lanyon.

Can you walk up Cave Hill from Belfast Castle?

Yes. The castle sits within Cave Hill Country Park, and trails lead up the hill towards Napoleon's Nose and the caves.

Is there somewhere to eat at Belfast Castle?

Yes, the Tavern coffee shop and the bookable Cellar Restaurant are both inside the castle.

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Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle stands on the lower slopes of Cave Hill, about 120 metres above the city, with views across Belfast Lough. Finished in 1870 in Scottish baronial style and gifted to the city in 1934, it is now run by Belfast City Council as a visitor attraction with a free heritage centre, café, restaurant, gift shop and woodland trails.

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Graham Western

From deer park to city landmark

The third Marquis of Donegall commissioned the castle in 1862 for his deer park on Cave Hill. Architect John Lanyon's design took until 1870 to complete and ran well over budget, with the Marquis's son-in-law, Lord Ashley, helping to finish it. The estate passed to the Shaftesbury family, who added the ornate exterior staircase in 1894, and gave the castle to the people of Belfast in 1934. After a long refurbishment it reopened in 1988.

What to do on the estate

The free Cave Hill Visitor Centre in the castle's cellar explains the history and wildlife of the hill. Outside are landscaped gardens, mixed woodland, a forest trail and the Millennium Maze, restored by Cave Hill Conservation Campaign volunteers and a five-minute walk north. Free orienteering maps are available at reception, and the Cave Hill Adventurous Playground is nearby for children aged 3 to 14.

Eating and timing your visit

The Tavern coffee shop works for a quick stop after a walk, and the Cellar Restaurant takes bookings for a sit-down meal. For the full Cave Hill experience, continue up through the country park towards Napoleon's Nose, the cliff profile said to have inspired Gulliver's Travels; allow extra time and sturdy footwear. Clear days give the best views back over the city and lough.

Highlights

Scottish baronial castle by John Lanyon, completed 1870
Views from about 120 metres above the city
Free Cave Hill Visitor Centre in the cellar
Millennium Maze, gardens and woodland trails
Tavern coffee shop and Cellar Restaurant

Good to know

The Cave Hill Visitor Centre is free to enter.
Pick up a free orienteering map at reception.
The castle is a busy wedding and events venue, so some rooms may be closed for private functions.

Frequently asked questions

Nearby

Crumlin Road Gaol

Sources: belfastcity.gov.uk · belfastcity.gov.uk · belfastcity.gov.uk