Ulster Museum — Attraction in Belfast

In the heart of Belfast’s Botanic Gardens lies a wonder-filled gem that’s part time machine, part dragon's lair, and part caffeine haven — welcome to the Ulster Museum.

Our visit began, as all good adventures should, with a spot of lunch and a lovingly brewed coffee in the museum café. There’s something particularly poetic about sipping a flat white while preparing to walk with dinosaurs — it gives you a sense of calm before the (prehistoric) storm.

Fueled and curious, we set off into the museum proper, greeted by an effortlessly laid-out pathway that guided us like time-traveling explorers through natural history, art, culture, and science. No getting lost, no missed wonders — every display cleverly positioned to be admired, every ancient relic given its moment of glory.

The Dinosaurs and Dragons exhibition was a particular highlight — part Jurassic thrill, part mythic delight — a roaring success with the kids, who darted from fossil to fossil with wide eyes and even wider imaginations. From ancient bones to medieval beasts, they were too mesmerised to even ask for a tablet. Imagine that.

It’s a rare thing to find somewhere that’s as educational as it is exhilarating, and rarer still to find it with free entry. Yes, you heard right — all of this magic, mystery, and mind-expanding marvellousness, without costing a penny.

So if you’re looking for a way to pry those screens from tiny hands and instead give them the world — quite literally — look no further. The Ulster Museum isn’t just a place to visit; it’s a portal to the past, a conversation starter, and a reminder that discovery can still outshine a digital distraction.

Not to be missed. Not even for a game...

Fabulous establishment located close to Queen’s University and immediately adjacent to the gorgeous Botanical Gardens. I was fortunate enough to visit whilst their exceptional Caravaggio exhibit was running during summer of 2024. What an utter privilege! Supper at Emmaus and Taking of Christ both together in one exhibit. It had to be done! Outside of this, the museum has multiple other exhibits ranging from art to science, to history, and a very arresting exhibit on the Troubles. The personal accounts of loss and suffering by real people has to be seen and experienced firsthand. Extremely poignant and stark. If you have kids they will have an enjoyable time in their Discovery Zone, a supervised area where they can view and handle minerals, metals, insects and arachnids (preserved not living!) and more as well as birds, fossils and dinosaurs. Their Egyptian exhibit within the History level was very interesting, especially the mummified remains. The staff throughout the museum were terribly friendly and approachable. They really know how to look after visitors. Considering entry is totally free, it is well worth making a donation to the museum. Their gift shop, whilst not large, is well stocked with gifts and there’s something for all here. Only negative was the cafe. Staff were so nice and helpful but food was not up to scratch. Ordered sausage rolls for three people and they were heated up and served but by the time I queued and paid they were cold. The hot food needs covers. Despite that, lots of choice especially if dessert is your thing! While you are here you might as well visit the Botanical Gardens next door/immediately...

The text contains a historical error regarding the Allied forces. It states: "They faced the Allied forces of Britain, Russia and the United States of America, as well as other countries." The issue here is the mention of "Russia" instead of the Soviet Union. During World War II, Russia was part of the Soviet Union (USSR), which was the official entity that fought against the Axis powers. Referring to "Russia" alone is inaccurate because the USSR included multiple republics beyond just Russia. It would be more correct to write. They faced the Allied forces of Britain, the Soviet Union (which consisted of 15 republics), the United States of America, as well as other countries. In terms of percentage of the population lost, the Soviet republics that suffered the most were: • Belarusian SSR – lost about 25% of its population, one of the highest casualty rates of any country or region in World War II. • Ukrainian SSR – lost around 16-17% of its population due to combat, occupation, the Holocaust, and forced labor. These figures illustrate the devastating impact of the war on the Soviet Union, with Belarus and Ukraine suffering particularly heavy losses relative to their total populations. This is unacceptable to see because it disregards the lives of the people from these countries who suffered while being part of the Soviet Union. This really disappointed me, I...