Belfast: Private Black Taxi Troubles Tour & Peace Wall

Summary

Stories of Belfast’s Troubles, murals and walls told by those who lived them

You’ll ride through Belfast’s most storied streets in a black taxi with someone who lived through the Troubles as your guide. See murals along Falls and Shankill Roads, leave your own message on the Peace Wall, and hear personal accounts at Crumlin Road Gaol. It’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave these neighborhoods.

★★★★★★★★★★

4.91

(102 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“See that wall? I used to drive past it every day, never thought I’d be telling stories about it,” our driver, Joe, said as we rolled along Falls Road. The city looked different through his eyes — not just streets and buildings but memories layered everywhere. The cab smelled faintly of leather and something sharp, maybe old tobacco. We stopped near a mural of Bobby Sands; Joe paused for a second longer than usual, then told us how the hunger strikes felt to people living just around the corner. I didn’t expect to feel so much just standing on a sidewalk.

At Crumlin Road Gaol, we got out for photos. It was colder than I thought it would be — wind sneaking through my jacket sleeves. Joe pointed across the street at the courthouse where prisoners were marched between buildings (“sometimes they escaped,” he grinned). The whole area felt heavy but weirdly alive; someone walked past with groceries, barely glancing at us. When we reached the Peace Wall, he handed me a marker and said, “Go on then — write what you want.” My handwriting looked awkward next to all those messages from around the world (Bill Clinton’s was somewhere up there too), but I left something anyway.

The Shankill side had its own energy — flags everywhere and kids kicking a ball near another mural. Joe talked about growing up here, dodging trouble when he could (“or trying to”). He knew everyone; people waved or nodded as we passed. There was this moment when he described the Bayardo Bar attack — his voice changed just slightly — and I realized how close all of this still is for folks here. Even now, you can feel it in the air sometimes.

I keep thinking about the silence in the cab after certain stories. Not awkward silence — more like everyone needed a minute to let things settle. We ended back near St Peter’s Cathedral with sunlight finally breaking through clouds (classic Belfast timing). If you’re curious about Belfast’s history — not just facts but feelings — this black taxi tour really gets under your skin in ways guidebooks never do.

2h

Step-by-step itinerary

Top questions

How long does the Belfast black taxi Troubles tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

Is hotel pickup included for this Belfast taxi tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you’re within 1km of Belfast City Hall.

Which sites are visited during the Troubles cab tour?

You’ll visit Falls Road, Shankill Road, Crumlin Road Gaol (outside), Peace Wall, and several famous murals.

Can children join the private Belfast political taxi tour?

Yes, children can join but must be accompanied by an adult; infants can ride on laps or in strollers.

Will we go inside Crumlin Road Gaol on this tour?

No, you’ll stop outside for photos and stories but won’t enter during this 2-hour tour.

Are service animals allowed on this Belfast taxi tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on board.

What time can I book my private Troubles taxi tour?

You can choose any start time between 7:00am and 4:00pm.

Do guides have personal experience of Belfast’s Troubles?

Yes, all drivers lived through the Troubles and share their firsthand accounts during the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes private transport in a traditional black cab with a local driver-guide who lived through Belfast’s Troubles themselves; hotel pickup and drop-off within 1km of City Hall; stops at key sites like Falls Road, Shankill Road, Crumlin Road Gaol (from outside), murals including Bobby Sands’, St Peter’s Cathedral area and time to write your own message on the Peace Wall before returning at your chosen time slot.