Grab Tickets To Explore Crumlin Road Gaol: Book Tickets For The Tour

What to expect

Over 150 years of history and the stories of around 25,000 prisoners can be found in the only Victorian-era prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Many events involving both prisoners and guards are responsible for the building's colourful past, and now visitors can experience it for themselves with walking tours that give a unique insight into the history of Crumlin Road Gaol. This is a self-guided tour that will take you inside the prison.

The history of Crumlin Road Gaol also includes the imprisonment of women and children, and this provides an intriguing and interesting part of your visit. The history also includes events like numerous executions, which are the main reason why the prison was closed down. On your self-guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol (Belfast, Northern Ireland), you also get to explore the tunnel linking the hanging cell, holding cells, C-wing, centre circle, and graveyard to the courthouse on the other side of Crumlin Road.

So, explore all that the self-guided tour has to offer at your own pace and maintain social distancing while enjoying a walking tour of Crumlin Road Gaol. Book Crumlin Road Gaol tour tickets now to begin your visit.

About Crumlin Road Gaol Tours

What is Crumlin Road Gaol?

Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a 19th-century jail that is now open to tourists from all over the world. With tours, events, and even concerts, Crumlin Road Gaol caters to anyone and anything. It is a Grade-A listed jail.

This is your chance to experience this interesting self-guided tour of the only Victorian-era prison of Northern Ireland. Some of the darkest chapters of Anglo-Irish history can be seen on the walking tours of this 150-year-old prison, and it is sure to fascinate all of its visitors. The site also gives visitors on the tour a taste of the life of the prisoners that lived there during its 150-year history. You will find traces of humanity and all of the stories, good or bad, of the prisoners and officers who lived and worked inside the prison.

Like the 25,000 prisoners who lived in the building in Belfast, explore prison life by walking around and getting to know the place's history. Walking tours are there to take you inside the tunnel that connects the courthouse to the insides of the prison. As it is a self-guided tour, you can go through the tunnel yourself and feel every rock and brick to check for historical clues of the people that lived there. There is also a monument. Prison conditions can be experienced inside the gaol building, and you can also go to the C-Wing to see a prison setting during one of your walking tours. There is a cell where the condemned would stay; you can explore this room to learn a bit of history.

At the end, do not forget to go to the gift shop and get some branded and local merchandise for yourself and your family. You surely won't get these authentic souvenirs anywhere else in the city. Visit Belfast to be a part of this tour of the prison. Bring your family on a tour of the city and the building, and book your tickets for the walking tour now. As it is a self-guided tour, there won't be any external groups in your tour, and you can take as much time as you like inside the walls of the notorious Crumlin Road Gaol.

On Friday and Saturday, the Belfast gaol stays open till 6:20 p.m. During the rest of the week, it closes by 3:20 p.m.

Fun fact! Did you know that the word 'Gaol' comes from French? After the Norman Conquest, a lot of Norman French words were added to English, especially regarding law and politics. It is a sign of French influence in this part of the world.

What can I expect from this tour?

Crumlin Road Gaol opened to the public in the year 1846, and prisoners started to be transferred to the prison. For the next 150 years, the Belfast prison was considered a full-fledged prison that was completely operational. The Governor of Crumlin Road Gaol left the prison on March 31, 1996, and the gates of the prison closed for the last time. During all those 150 years of history, the prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland, housed various murderers, loyalist and republican prisoners, and suffragettes. There are many stories from inside the walls of the building, including births, marriages, deaths, escapes, executions, riots, and strikes.

There is probably no other place in Northern Ireland that is as stained with the blood of The Troubles as Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast. This site housed some of the most important people who fought for independence. Even in the darkest days of the prison, there was still hope, and that is what the walking tours of the prison in the city of Belfast are all about. The intricate detail of everything inside is impeccable. You will find and learn new things from every minute detail of every room and cell of Crumlin Road Gaol.

Among the 25,000 prisoners that were housed in the prison, Éamon de Valera, Michael Stone, Martin McGuinness, and Bobby Sands are some of the notable names. You may have even heard of them already. Most members of the prison population were a mix of both catholic and protestant.

Visit Belfast and check out the tunnel, the holding cells, the hanging cell, the centre circle, the C-wing, and the scary graveyard.

Visit Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, and take tours around the crime scenes of the prison. The government owns Crumlin Road Gaol and has renovated the place as an important tourist attraction of Belfast.

What age is this tour suitable for?

There is no sign of any age restriction being placed on a visit to the prison. Everyone can enjoy the tour. However, parental discretion is advised as the prison might disturb some young people.

How long does the Crumlin Road Gaol Tour take?

The self-guided tour is 60 minutes long. However, you may take your own time to enjoy the trip to the prison in Belfast. Visit today.

Crumlin Road Gaol has the same opening hours (10:30 a.m.) every day. The closing hours from Sunday to Thursday are 3:20 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday, the closing time of the prison in Belfast is 6:20 p.m. The prison in Belfast is not open at night. There's no time to rest; book your tickets now!

Directions, Venue Info, And Attendee FAQs

Where does the Crumlin Road Gaol Tour start?

The address of the venue is Crumlin Road Gaol, 53-55 Crumlin Rd, BT14 6ST, Belfast.

How do I get to the tour's departure point?

If you are travelling from London in the UK via car, take the M40 to reach the destination in around 9 hours and 50 minutes. The distance from London to the location in Belfast is 473 mi (761 km).

You can also take a flight from most airports in the UK to Belfast airport, but it might cost a little bit more money.

You can also choose to travel via public transport.

When should I arrive at the departure point?

There is no time given for reporting to the venue. It opens at 10:30 a.m. every day, so check the times accordingly.

Where can I park?

There is parking available at the venue.

Where are the toilet facilities while on the tour?

There are toilets all over the prison. Four sets of accessible toilets are located in the Basement, Governor's Corridor, the Cafe, and the Gate Lodge.

Ask the staff for any help needed.

Is the tour accessible?

Most of the sites are accessible for wheelchairs inside the prison. However, the Tunnel and the Drop Room are not accessible.

Where can I eat on the tour?

Some popular restaurants in the area are Cuffs Bar & Grill, Peppers Indian Cuisine, Blu Restaurant, and Havana Bank Sq.