Falls Road Belfast Black Taxi Tour: The Troubles History

Travel Falls Road with a driver whose colleagues were killed running taxis when the buses stopped.

A 2-hour private black taxi tour of Belfast's Falls Road, Shankill, and Peace Wall, led by drivers with direct experience of The Troubles. You visit Bombay Street and the IRA's birthplace, see hundreds of political murals painted over four decades, and sign the Peace Wall alongside presidents and Hollywood stars. The guide covers 800 years of Irish history, the fight for equal rights, and the hunger strikes of the 1980s.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Belfast Peace Wall20m
2. Shankill30m

Explore Belfast's Troubles history

• Travel Falls Road and visit Bombay Street
• Sign name at Belfast Peace Wall
• View political murals in Republican and loyalist areas
• Visit Clonard Monastery and learn its history
• Explore Shankill Road and hear local stories
• See murals on the International Wall
• Learn about IRA history on Falls Road

The experience

Falls Road stretches several miles through the heart of Republican Belfast, and this tour moves through its main points with a driver who can tell you what it was like when the British withdrew the bus service for over five years. You'll see Bombay Street, where the Provisional IRA was born, and hear the stories of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly, and Bobby Sands. The hunger strikes of the 1980s come alive when the person driving you knew people who lived through them.

The Peace Wall itself is a working monument: hundreds of political murals cover it, painted by locals over more than forty years, and you can add your name to the signatures left by presidents and A-list actors. The International Wall carries over forty murals supporting causes from Black Lives Matter to Palestine and the Kurds. Clonard Monastery, built over a century ago by local and Italian craftsmen, also served as an air raid shelter during World War II and hosted secret peace talks between Gerry Adams and John Hume. The tour then crosses into Shankill, the loyalist stronghold, where you hear how the UVF and UFF fought to keep Ulster British, told by locals who lived that history.

The cab stops for photos and toilet breaks along the way, and you can buy water or other refreshments. Pickup happens within central Belfast, and the tour runs for 2 hours with your group alone in the vehicle.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a black cab for your group only.
• driver guide with lived experience of The Troubles.
• stops for photos at the murals and Peace Wall.
• free pickup within central Belfast.
• access to Bombay Street, Falls Road, Shankill, and the Peace Wall.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 14:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 92 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 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?Book this tour if you want to hear Belfast's recent history from someone who lived it rather than read it in a guidebook. The private cab means your group stays together and the driver can answer questions as they come up, which matters when the stories are this personal.

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Top questions

What is Bombay Street and why does it matter in Belfast's history?

Bombay Street on Falls Road is the birthplace of the Provisional IRA. The tour visits it as a key site in the Republican struggle and the fight for equal rights in Northern Ireland.

Can I actually sign the Belfast Peace Wall like the celebrities do?

Yes, you can sign your name on the Peace Wall itself alongside the signatures of presidents and Hollywood stars who have visited.

What happened during the hunger strikes the guide mentions?

The hunger strikes of the 1980s were a major moment in the Republican struggle for equal rights. Bobby Sands and others died during these protests, and the guide explains their significance as part of the broader history of The Troubles.

Will the tour take me to both Republican and loyalist areas?

Yes. You travel Falls Road and Bombay Street in the Republican area, then cross into Shankill, the loyalist stronghold, to hear both sides of Belfast's divided history.

How long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs for 2 hours and includes stops for photos, toilet breaks, and time to sign the Peace Wall and take in the murals.