Linen Hall Library, Belfast
Linen Hall Library is a timeless cultural gem, established in 1788 as the Belfast Reading Society. Housed in an elegant late-Victorian linen warehouse, it holds the distinction of being Belfast’s oldest and Ireland's last subscription library. Originally founded by driven artisans inspired by Enlightenment ideals, it has evolved from an exclusive reading society into an open, independent institution dedicated to promoting knowledge publicly while preserving its rich heritage.
Its collections are a magnet for history enthusiasts and scholars alike. The Irish & Local Studies archive includes early Ulster printed works and the renowned Northern Ireland Political Collection, with over 250,000 items documenting the Troubles and subsequent peace process. The Northern Ireland Literary Archive offers an intimate look into the region’s literary past, with digital manuscripts from writers such as Louis MacNeice and Joan Lingard. Theatre lovers will also appreciate the extensive Performing Arts Archive, highlighting local drama and cultural expression.
Visitors can explore grand reading rooms with ornate staircases and ironwork balconies, browse the gift shop, and enjoy refreshments in the on-site café serving coffees, light meals, and treats. Entry is free (though donations are encouraged), with full accessibility and helpful staff on hand. A blue plaque commemorates Thomas Russell, United Irishman and former librarian, underscoring the library's deep historic roots.
More than just a library, Linen Hall is a vibrant centre of Belfast’s intellectual and cultural life. It hosts regular exhibitions, talks, and literary events, supported by ongoing membership and community contributions. Whether you're a history buff, literature lover, or casual visitor, it’s a must-see destination-just steps from the iconic Belfast City Hall.
Its collections are a magnet for history enthusiasts and scholars alike. The Irish & Local Studies archive includes early Ulster printed works and the renowned Northern Ireland Political Collection, with over 250,000 items documenting the Troubles and subsequent peace process. The Northern Ireland Literary Archive offers an intimate look into the region’s literary past, with digital manuscripts from writers such as Louis MacNeice and Joan Lingard. Theatre lovers will also appreciate the extensive Performing Arts Archive, highlighting local drama and cultural expression.
Visitors can explore grand reading rooms with ornate staircases and ironwork balconies, browse the gift shop, and enjoy refreshments in the on-site café serving coffees, light meals, and treats. Entry is free (though donations are encouraged), with full accessibility and helpful staff on hand. A blue plaque commemorates Thomas Russell, United Irishman and former librarian, underscoring the library's deep historic roots.
More than just a library, Linen Hall is a vibrant centre of Belfast’s intellectual and cultural life. It hosts regular exhibitions, talks, and literary events, supported by ongoing membership and community contributions. Whether you're a history buff, literature lover, or casual visitor, it’s a must-see destination-just steps from the iconic Belfast City Hall.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Belfast. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Linen Hall Library on Map
Sight Name: Linen Hall Library
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Belfast, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Belfast
Creating your own self-guided walk in Belfast is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
The Troubles and Peace Process Landmarks
Decades past the official end of The Troubles in Belfast, the price of peace in Northern Ireland remains high. One of the means with which to secure it, back in 1969, was erecting a wall to physically separate the capital's warring Protestant and Catholic communities. Known since as the Peace Wall, the structure has become a popular tourist attraction for the multiple murals painted thereon... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Belfast Victorian Architecture Jewels
Described as “modestly scaled, undemonstrative, somewhat solid in aspect, and usually restrained (sometimes even austere) in its use of external decoration”, the urban landscape of Belfast has been influenced by the demands of shipbuilding and linen industry, much as transitioning between culture, arts, commerce, and education. Still, the architectural spectrum of the city is quite broad and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Belfast Introduction Walking Tour
For over a century, the political situation of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has been the source of strife, first between the Crown-loyal Protestants and Irish Catholics, and more recently between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles