Belfast Black Taxi Tour & Crumlin Road Gaol: Murals & History

Walk the Peace Wall and hear the stories behind Belfast's divided past from someone who was there.

A guided black taxi tour of Belfast combining the city's political murals and the Crumlin Road Gaol, a former prison that held high-security inmates during the Troubles. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours with a local driver guide who explains the history from 1690 through the 1998 peace agreement, and includes entry to the gaol, transport in a London-style cab or executive vehicle, and pickup from Belfast city center. Children are welcome from age 7.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Crumlin Road Gaol1h 30m · entry included
2. Shankill
3. Belfast Peace Wall

Belfast history and mural tours

• Visit Crumlin Road Gaol
• Learn gaol history and prisoners
• Take black taxi tour of murals
• Explore Shankill Road murals
• Walk around loyalist mural area
• See Belfast Peace Wall art
• Visit International Wall murals

The experience

If you're in Belfast for the first time and want to understand what shaped the city, this tour cuts through the noise. You ride in a black taxi with a driver who lived through the Troubles and can explain what you're actually looking at, not a rehearsed script, but the real history of the streets you're driving through. The company is jointly owned by Catholic and Protestant operators, which means the tour stays balanced on a subject where balance matters.

The route starts in the Shankill Road area, where your driver walks you through the loyalist murals and explains what each one represents. You'll hear about the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, then jump to 1969 when the violence started, and finally to 1998 when the peace agreement was signed. From there you move to the Peace Wall itself. Those barriers that were supposed to last six months but are still standing today, now covered in art and messages from visitors. The final stop is the International Wall, where the murals shift to broader themes of oppression, from the 1969 race riots in America to current events.

The Crumlin Road Gaol is where the tour gets specific. This wasn't a regular prison. It held the most feared prisoners of the conflict, and the building itself is part of the story. You walk through it with the knowledge of what happened there, which changes how you read the space. The whole thing takes 2 to 3 hours, and you're moving by taxi the whole time, so you cover ground without the walking fatigue of a standard city tour.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a London-style taxi cab or executive vehicle.
• pickup and drop-off from Belfast city center (extra charge applies at other locations).
• entry into Crumlin Road Gaol.
• experienced driver guide speaking English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 89 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cab tours belfast

Is this one for you?The tour moves by taxi rather than on foot, so you cover the full route without long walks: a real advantage if you want the history without the pace of a walking tour. The 2- to 3-hour length fits a free afternoon or a morning slot before other plans, and the driver's lived experience of the conflict gives you context no museum placard can match.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (7 to 11 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Peace Wall and why is it still standing in Belfast?

The Peace Wall is a barrier built in 1969 to separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods after violence broke out in Northern Ireland. It was meant to be temporary, lasting only six months, but it proved so effective that it was made permanent and extended. The walls still stand today, now decorated with art and messages of hope from visitors around the world.

What will I see on the Shankill Road part of the tour?

The Shankill Road is a Protestant/British area of Belfast where your driver will explain the loyalist murals and their meanings. You'll walk around the area and have time to photograph the murals while your guide describes the history they represent, starting from the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 through the recent Troubles.

What is Crumlin Road Gaol and what will I learn there?

Crumlin Road Gaol is a former prison that held the most feared prisoners of Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The tour includes entry into the gaol, where you'll learn its history as a high-security facility and understand its role in the conflict.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs between 2 and 3 hours total, including the black taxi ride through the murals, the Peace Wall, and entry into Crumlin Road Gaol.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, with accessible transportation options and all areas and surfaces wheelchair accessible. However, the operator does not recommend it for travelers with spinal injuries.