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Just off Britain’s mainland, Northern Ireland is a great choice if you’re looking for somewhere to study. With amazing food, music and a capital city bursting with creativity, here’s our top 10 things for students to do in Northern Ireland.
1) Giant’s Causeway
Good for: Walking trails, impressive scenery, good weather.
What it is: This famous rock formation is known for its uniqueness and mythical beginnings.
Why you should go: Known to the Irish as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, this jagged formation of hexagonal rocks really is a sight to be seen. The Giant’s Causeway was created from volcanic eruption and has captured the imagination of visitors past and present. The name comes from local folklore, where Irish giant Finn MacCool was challenged to a fight by another giant in Scotland. Legend says that Finn used rocks to make a pathway across the sea (although quickly ran back when he saw the size of the other giant!).
2) Cathedral Quarter
Good for: Daytime culture, great nights out.
What it is: Belfast's Cathedral Quarter is known as the city's creative soul, with cultural venues, restaurants, bars and clubs to take you from day to night.
Why you should go: This historical trading quarter is home to some of the city's most vibrant and exciting cultural venues, bars and restaurants. Within the quarter is St. Anne’s Square, which has many trendy restaurants, as well as the MAC – home of contemporary art exhibitions and live theatre. If you’re looking for a breakfast hangover cure, a cosy pub after a day of sightseeing, or a buzzing bar to start your night out, Cathedral Quarter has what you need. The National pub boasts Belfast’s biggest beer garden, and the Dirty Onion has traditional Irish music every night of the week.
3) Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
Good for: Getting out into nature.
What it is: This rope bridge on the Antrim coast links the mainland to a tiny island you can explore.
Why you should go: Created by fishermen 300 years ago, the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is one of Northern Ireland’s most loved attractions. The bridge is 100 ft above sea level, so crossing can be a bit of a scary experience where you’re open to the elements. As well as the bridge itself, you can walk along the cliffs enjoying beautiful scenery and looking for local wildlife. It’s part of the Causeway Coastal Route, an outstanding area of natural beauty in Northern Ireland and a perfect road trip if you’ve got a car or have family visiting.
4) Titanic Experience Belfast
Good for: Discovering the history behind the Titanic.
What it is: A world-leading visitor attraction telling the story of the infamous ship.
Why you should go: Everyone knows the tragic story of the Titanic, but did you know it was built here in Belfast? The Titanic Experience is built on the very dockland where the epic ship was created. The museum includes six floors of objects and interactive galleries to explore, retelling local industrial history and ship construction, her launch and ultimate place in history. You’ll see what the different cabins and rooms looked like on board, as well as discovering emotional stories from survivors.
5) Game of Thrones Studio Tour
Good for: TV buffs and fantasy fans.
What it is: Explore how one of the biggest TV shows ever was created and brought to life on screen.
Why you should go: You’ve either watched this epic TV show, or you’ve been living under a rock. At the studio tour, experience the world of Game of Thrones and discover how it was made, at the very place it was filmed. It’s the ultimate day out for big and casual fans alike, where you’ll step inside the Seven Kingdoms and walk through the sets of Winterfell, King’s Landing, Castle Black and more. Discover hidden secrets of filmmaking and how dragons, White Walkers and other special effects were created. Plus, you’ll get up close with the costumes of your favourite characters.
6) St. George’s Market
Good for: Tasty food and unique gifts.
What it is: One of Belfast’s oldest attractions, this weekly market is one of the best in the UK.
Why you should go: Open Friday–Sunday, St. George’s Market is home to more than 200 stalls. It’s a chance to try out some of Belfast’s best produce and chat with local traders. As well as food, you’ll find a huge amount of local crafts, antiques, books and unique Irish souvenirs. If you’re there on a Saturday, relax with a coffee while listening to some live local music in the centre of the market. It’s an important part of Belfast’s living history, and the original market dates back to the 1600s.
7) Derry~Londonderry City Walls
Good for: Getting to know the city on foot, history lovers.
What it is: These 17th-century walls are a great way to explore the history and heritage of the city of Derry~Londonderry.
Why you should go: Derry~Londonderry is the only completely walled city that remains in Ireland. The walls were built in the 17th century as defences from England and Scotland and are about a mile long. You can walk the whole way around, giving you a unique viewpoint of the original old town of Derry~Londonderry. There are information boards around the walk, so if you’re interested in history, there’s a lot of it to discover from mediaeval times to the Troubles in more recent years. You’ll see the four gates into the walled city, cannons and artillery, and can also stop off at the visitor centre to explore more.
8) Belfast Peace Wall and Murals
Good for: History lovers and better understanding Northern Ireland.
What it is: Murals on a huge wall that show the history of the divided city.
Why you should go: The Troubles officially ended 20 years ago, but visit Northern Ireland and it’s clear to see divisions remain. One of the most visually striking remnants of this period are Peace Walls, six-metre-high walls separating Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods. Large gates along the walls are still locked at night. The most famous Peace Wall divides the Falls Road and the Shankill in East Belfast. Murals all along the wall depict – depending which side you’re on – calls for peace, reconciliation and community, or political prisoners, stolen land and conflict. You can see more murals on buildings right across the city.
9) Limelight
Good for: Dancing the night away.
What it is: The Limelight is firmly established as the most famous venue for live music in Northern Ireland.
Why you should go: The Limelight is the place to be on a night out in Belfast. Split into five spaces and an outdoor terrace, there’s always something to check out, including live gigs with legendary past shows from the likes of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Slayer, Two Door Cinema Club and Steve Aoki. You’ll find something at the club nights that’ll keep you dancing until the early hours, from cheesy pop to house, techno and disco and the weekly student rave.
10) Benone Strand
Good for: Summer days, watersports and relaxing.
What it is: Stunning golden beach, which on a sunny day looks a bit like Australia.
Why you should go: Benone Strand boasts seven miles of golden sand and beautiful mountain scenery. The weather in Northern Ireland can reach mid to high twenties, when a trip to the beach is always a good idea and Benone Strand is one not to miss. If you’re into watersports, this is the ideal spot, as it’s a favourite for jet skiers and surfers in the summer months. For a more chilled day, it’s also great for swimming, walking and sunbathing.
Key info about Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has two universities: Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University. Don’t be put off by the small selection – Queen's is a member of the elite Russell Group of leading UK universities and has an excellent reputation internationally.
Ulster University is more spread out, with three campuses across the country in Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. It’s one of the top UK universities for work placements and scores highly for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2023).
Northern Ireland is a popular choice for students as it’s more affordable to live there than many other UK cities, but you’ll still get a great student experience.
Thinking about studying in Northern Ireland but not sure what city you might end up in? Learn more about the student cities on offer in the country here:
- Student city guide to Belfast: top 10 things to do
- Student city guide to Derry~Londonderry: top 10 things to do
