Throughout Belfast there are many buildings and monuments with associations to RMS Titanic, not least in Titanic Quarter where she was designed and built.
You can learn more about the history of RMS Titanic and the area which is today known as Titanic Quarter by following the heritage trail. THOMPSON DOCK & PUMPHOUSE
The Titanic's Dock tour takes in Thompson Dock and Pump House where the celebrated RMS Titanic had its final fit-out. A must see, The Pump House is one of the few most significant remaining heritage buildings from the Titanic technology era. The original part of the building was constructed in the 1880s to serve the Alexandra Graving Dock. It was extended significantly to cater for the massive new Thompson Graving Dock, which opened in 1911. Long and rectangular, designed in late Victorian eclectic style, the building featured the most advanced state-of-the-art engineering of its day. Its hugely powerful pumping engines, housed deep in the building, could drain a full dock of 23 millions gallons of water in 110 minutes. A series of underground tunnels leading from near the pumps, could take workers beneath both docks. The Pump House, which still operates, is now, like the Thompson Graving Dock, part of the Northern Ireland Science Park.
Guided tours will be available every Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 2pm lasting approximately 1 hour.
Outside of these hours visitors are still welcome to visit to view and walk along the Dry-Dock and view the exterior of the Pump-House and HMS Caroline (no charge). Private pre-booked tours for groups of 20+ are also available. Tel: 028 90737813
E: titanicsdock@nisp.co.uk
W: www.titanictrail.com
SS NOMADIC
S.S. Nomadic is a unique piece of history. She is the last 'White Star Line' vessel afloat in the world and is directly linked to the most famous ship of all time R.M.S Titanic.
Built alongside Olympic and Titanic in Belfast, during 1910/11 at Harland & Wolff, she was designed with one purpose in mind; to carry 1st and 2nd class passengers out to the three 'OLYMPIC' class liners; R.M.S. Olympic, Titanic and Britannic. These huge vessels were too large to moor alongside the dock in Cherbourg, so they laid anchor out in the harbour and passengers were taken out by Nomadic and her smaller sister 'Traffic'. More importantly, some of her interior fixtures and fittings are identical as those on the famous liners and were made and installed by the same craftsmen.
Nomadic served in both World Wars, then returned to her original duties and continued in service until November 1968, when she ferried passengers out to Cunard's Queen Elizabeth for the last time.
Bought by a French businessman, she was converted into a floating restaurant and moored just opposite the Eiffel Tower, Paris from the early 1970's until 1999 when she was forced to close due to legislation change by the Paris port authorities.
In January 2006, Nomadic was purchased at auction by the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development, who returned her to Belfast. At the beginning of August 2009 Nomadic returned to her birthplace at the Hamilton Dock to undergo restoration. Click here to see live webcam footage of SS Nomadic in Hamilton Dock.
The Nomadic Charitable Trust has been set up to oversee the full restoration of this historic vessel. TITANIC TRAIL WALKING TOUR
AwakinTM your senses on a unique Journey of Discovery. Enliven your visit to Belfast with Awakin's new self-guided multimedia walking tour, ‘The Titanic Trail'.
The first of its kind in the world, the tour operates using GPS technology and offers quality interpretation blended with an interactive treasure trail for families and individuals to immerse themselves in.
Starting at Belfast Welcome Centre, you will be guided around Belfast's rich Industrial and Maritime heritage using the revolutionary NodeTM Explorer. Belfast Welcome Centre are offering a 25% discount off each multimedia tour device.
Please quote the promotional code of ‘TT1006' to obtain discount.
For more information on the Belfast Titanic Trail:-
Tel: 00 44 (0) 28 9024 6609
E: info@belfastvisitor.com
W: http://www.gotobelfast.com/
BOAT TOUR
The Lagan Boat Company offers a unique boat tour with views from the river of such buildings as the former Drawing Offices where RMS Titanic was designed, the slipways from where she and her sister ship RMS Olympic were launched and the Thompson Graving Dock where she was outfitted. Expert commentary is provided by members of the Belfast Titanic Society.
W: http://www.laganboatcompany.com/ BUS TOUR Belfast City Sightseeing open top buses depart regularly from Castle Place at the heart of Belfast City Centre. Learn how Belfast was born during a time of industry and engineering, how it survived famine, disease, World War II aerial bombing raids and of course the political troubles, to now being one of the most exciting cities in Europe.
W: http://www.belfastcitysightseeing.com/ |
