Private Political History and Murals Tour Belfast

Walk the Peace Wall and hear Belfast's divided history from those who lived it

A private political history tour of Belfast covers the Peace Wall, Shankill Road, Falls Road and Crumlin Road Gaol with a local guide in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour runs roughly 90 minutes and includes hotel pickup within Belfast (with an extra charge if your location is more than a kilometre from City Hall). You exit the vehicle at the Peace Wall to walk the walls and sign a message, then drive past the old prison and courthouse while the guide explains where people were held and sentenced during the Troubles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Belfast Peace Wall10m
2. Shankill40m
3. Falls Road Belfast40m
4. Crumlin Road Gaol5m

Explore Belfast's political history and murals

• Walk the Peace Wall and learn history
• Sign a good luck message
• Explore Shankill Road and learn about Loyalist paramilitaries
• Explore Falls Road and learn about Republican paramilitaries
• Drive by Crumlin Road Gaol and Court House

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves through Belfast in a private vehicle with a guide who can speak to what happened here from lived experience. You'll stop at the Peace Wall to step out and walk the barrier that still divides the Unionist Shankill Road from the Nationalist Falls Road. The guide explains why the walls went up and what they mean to the people on either side. You get to sign a message on the wall itself, something visitors often do as a gesture toward the future.

On Shankill Road, the guide walks you through the history of Loyalist paramilitaries, the community, and the specific events of the Troubles that unfolded there. The murals tell stories of the people involved and those who died. Falls Road follows the same structure from the Republican perspective: the reasons behind the uprising, the paramilitaries, the people, and what happened during those decades. Seeing both roads in sequence, with a guide who can explain the context of each, is what makes the political geography of Belfast legible instead of just a series of walls.

The tour passes Crumlin Road Gaol and the courthouse from the outside. You don't enter the prison, but the guide explains its role in the conflict, who was held there, who was sentenced, and why those details matter to understanding what the Troubles were. The whole route takes roughly 90 minutes. The vehicle is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible if you request it in advance. Infant seats are available on request as well.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup within Belfast (additional charge if over 1 km from City Hall).
• stops at the Peace Wall, Shankill Road, Falls Road and Crumlin Road Gaol.
• a private guide who lived through the Troubles and speaks English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

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 38 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Premier Tours Ireland

Is this one for you?The tour is mostly from the vehicle with one walk at the Peace Wall, so it suits anyone who wants the political history and the murals without a full day of walking. Book this one if you want a guide who was actually there during the Troubles: that lived experience is what separates it from a standard historical overview.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Peace Wall in Belfast?

The Belfast Peace Wall is a barrier that still divides the Shankill Road (Unionist) from the Falls Road (Nationalist). On this tour you walk up to it, learn why it was built and what it represents to each community, and you can sign a message on the wall itself.

Will I learn about specific events from the Troubles on this tour?

Yes. The guide covers murders, bombings, rioting and collusion from the late 1960s onward, tied to the specific locations you visit: Shankill Road, Falls Road and Crumlin Road Gaol. The murals along both roads tell stories of paramilitaries and the people who died.

Do I have to walk much on this tour?

Most of the tour happens from the vehicle, but you do exit and walk the Peace Wall itself. The rest of the route (Shankill, Falls Road and the pass by Crumlin Road Gaol) is viewed from the car, so the physical demand is low.

Is the guide someone from Belfast?

Yes, the guide is a local who lived through the Troubles, which is why the stories carry the weight they do. The tour is conducted in English.

How much does hotel pickup cost if I'm staying outside the city centre?

Hotel pickup within Belfast is included, but if your location is more than one kilometre from City Hall, an additional charge applies. Check your specific address at checkout to see if the extra fee will apply.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible and all areas and surfaces are accessible. Request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle when you book, and the operator will arrange it in advance.