Belfast Political Mural Tour: Troubles History in a Black Cab

Murals and the Troubles told by the people who drove through them

A 2-hour private black cab tour of Belfast's political murals and conflict history, led by drivers who transported their communities during the 30 years of the Troubles. You visit the Falls Road, Bombay Street, the Peace Wall, Crumlin Road Gaol and the Shankill, stopping at over 60 murals that mark territory and tell the story of both sides of the conflict. Your guide explains the 1981 hunger strike, the secret peace talks at Clonard Monastery, and the history behind the walls that still divide the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Belfast Peace Wall15m
2. Crumlin Road Gaolpassing by
3. Shankill15m

Belfast political mural history tour

• Visit Divis Flats and Falls Road
• See famous mural wall with 60+ murals
• Explore Bombay Street, IRA birthplace
• View Bobby Sands mural and hear hunger strike story
• Visit Clonard Monastery peace talks site
• See Belfast Peace Wall and peace quotes
• Pass by Crumlin Road Gaol and courthouse
• Explore Shankill Road history and bonfires
• Photograph loyalist murals on Shankill Road

The experience

What makes this tour different is who's driving: these are the original black cab operators who had to navigate their communities through bullets and bombs during the Troubles, risking their lives every time they sat behind the wheel. They're not reading from a script. They lived it. Over the course of two hours, you'll see the Divis Flats where the riots of 1966 sparked the conflict, Bombay Street where the Provisional IRA was born in 1969 after thousands were burned out, and the Falls Road with its 60-plus murals that shift with world events: Nelson Mandela, Ukraine, Palestine. Each wall painting marks territory and tells a political story.

The tour takes you to both sides of the divide. On the Falls Road you'll stand in front of the Bobby Sands mural facing the library (once an RIC and Black and Tans station), while your guide walks you through the 1981 hunger strike. You'll see Crumlin Road Gaol, built in the 1800s as a hanging jail, where IRA prisoners staged famous escapes and the building itself was attacked with RPGs. The Peace Wall, first erected by the British Army in 1969, still runs through the city. Tourists and world leaders have written their peace messages on it. Then you cross to the Shankill, one of Belfast's oldest roads dating back to 445 AD, birthplace of the UVF and UFF, where your guide explains the history from William of Orange to today, and if you're there near July, you'll see the notorious bonfires being built.

Pickup is from Belfast city center within 1 km of City Hall. The tour runs in English and suits all fitness levels. Children must be with an adult. If you're arriving by plane, train or cruise ship, airport and port pickups are available for a cash surcharge paid on the day.

What’s included

• Pickup from Belfast city center within 1 km of City Hall.
• a live English-speaking guide who drove during the Troubles.
• stops at the Falls Road, Bombay Street, the Peace Wall, Crumlin Road Gaol, Clonard Monastery and the Shankill.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

AgesAdult (16 to 95 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Belfast famous black taxi tours

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or families who want to hear the Troubles explained by someone who was actually there, rather than by a guide reading from notes. The black cab format keeps you close to the guide and lets you ask questions as you move between sites: ideal if you want context and conversation, not just a list of stops.

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Top questions

What exactly are the murals I'll see on the Falls Road?

The Falls Road has over 60 murals that change constantly to reflect current world events and political moments. You'll see images of IRA history, figures like Bobby Sands and Nelson Mandela, and scenes from Ukraine and Palestine: each one painted as a way of marking territory and telling the story of the Republican tradition.

Who were the Troubles and how long did they last?

The Troubles were 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland that shaped Belfast's entire landscape. The tour starts at the Divis Flats, where riots in 1966 sparked the violence, and takes you through sites like Bombay Street (where the Provisional IRA emerged in 1969) and the Peace Wall (built by the British Army in 1969 and still standing). Your guide lived through this period and explains how it unfolded.

What is the Peace Wall and why is it still there?

The Belfast Peace Wall is a barrier first put up by the British Army in 1969 to separate communities. It still runs through the city today. Presidents, celebrities and tourists write messages of peace on it, turning it into a symbol of hope, though it remains a physical reminder of the division.

Will I visit the inside of Crumlin Road Gaol?

Crumlin Road Gaol is a stop on the tour where your guide explains its history as a hanging jail (operating until the 1960s) and the famous IRA escapes and RPG attacks that happened there during the Troubles. The tour passes the building. Entry to the interior is not included in this cab tour.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not familiar with Irish history?

Yes. Your guide is someone who lived through the Troubles and will explain the history as you visit each site: the conflicts, the key figures like Bobby Sands, the secret peace talks at Clonard Monastery, and how the murals and walls came to be. No prior knowledge is needed.