Visit

Visit Clifton House, the beautiful Georgian landmark where Belfast’s story begins. Set within tranquil landscaped gardens in the heart of the city, Clifton House is a place where over 250 years of history, heritage, and compassion come vividly to life.

Step inside this impressive 18th-century building and discover the fascinating stories of the people who helped build Belfast — from reformers and revolutionaries to industrialists and inventors. Whether you’re joining one of our fully guided tours;  getting a taster of our history with our self guided tour; attending an inspiring heritage talk, or hosting your own event in our unique historic venue, Clifton House offers an experience unlike any other in the city.

Easily accessible from all main routes into Belfast, our entrance is on North Queen Street, with free onsite parking available for visitors.

Come and explore where the history of Belfast begins – and philanthropy continues.

Find out more about all our offerings below.

Events, Talks & Tours

Throughout the year Clifton House offers a wide range of interesting tours, exploring Clifton Street Cemetery, learning about the hero of Belfast, Mary Ann McCracken and of course experiencing the Belfast Poor House, with our Clifton House tours. Look out for our specially themed tours a different times of the year, which include medical history tours, forgotten women tours, Halloween and Christmas tours.

We also host historical talks at different times of the year, both face to face and, if required, via Zoom. These are delivered by our knowledgeable staff, and by local historians. See below for our latest talks series. Booking is available online.

View all events

Upcoming events

Clifton House Gift Vouchers

For the history lover in your family or friend group, we now offer £10 or £20 Clifton House Gift Vouchers, which can be purchased online and printed at home. The vouchers can be redeemed against the cost of any Clifton House talk or tour, and is valid for 12 months from time of purchase.
Buy here

Mary Ann’s Poor House Tales

Mary Ann McCracken (1770 – 1866) was a remarkable woman who, throughout her life, fought for the rights of the poor and disadvantaged in her hometown of Belfast and further afield. Her life is inextricably linked to the Belfast Poor House.
 
Mary Ann was just six years old when she first visited the Belfast Poor House. From that day on she worked tirelessly to support and uplift the poor, and her influence within the house left a legacy that can still be felt today.
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Self-Guided Audio and AR Tour Experience

Mary Ann’s Poor House Tales is a 30-minute self-guided audio and AR tour experience of Clifton House, during which you will hear all about her work and endeavours, her family, and the people who shaped her journey. You will also learn about some of the people who Mary Ann helped and supported; residents of the Poor House whose stories deserve to be told. As you listen to these stories and explore the house, you will stroll through the same hallways that Mary Ann walked every day.
 
This tour experience includes augmented reality (AR), bringing Mary Ann’s Poor House tales to life. Glimpse into the nursery school, set up by her and the Ladies Committee; see into the basement, where Mary Ann ensured women and children learnt a skill and trade to escape poverty; and gaze out the window into 18th Century Belfast, and spot the ships masts as Mary Ann would have seen as a child.
 
Please note: Clifton House remains a working building, hosting conferences, talks, and events in addition to tours. For this reason, availability for self-guided tours will change on a weekly basis. We recommend checking in advance to confirm available tour times and make your booking.
 
This new experience has been funded by Belfast City Council and Belfast Charitable Society. 
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Plan Your Visit

Clifton House is open Monday to Friday for events and room hire, and at weekends (times vary) for public tours, including our Self Guided Tour. 

As a working building, Clifton House does not facilitate ‘drop in’ style visits. Check our What’s On page for our latest events news or to book a private tour or talk. To visit our Archive, please visit Our Archive page and use the booking form to make an appointment. 

For further details on how to get here, our free onsite parking, public transport access and more, see below.

By Car

Visit Clifton House, the impressive Georgian building set in tranquil landscaped gardens in the heart of Belfast. We offer tours, talks and unique venue hire facilities.

The entrance to Clifton House is on North Queen Street.  It is very well connected by main arterial routes coming into the city. There is a free onsite car park available for visitors.

Find out more about about what we have on offer at Clifton House, below.

By Bus

Clifton House is a short walk away from a number of local bus routes, and other main ‘stops’ including Ulster University, Belfast Library and Donegall Street.

For up to date travel advice, or to plan your journey, visit translink.co.uk or contact Translink on 028 9066 6630

Hop On Hop Off

Clifton House is a short walk from Stop 19 on the Hop on Hop Off Belfast Sightseeing bus. When booking apply promo code ‘CLIFTON’ at the checkout to save 10% off the tour cost.

Accessibility

We appreciate that not all disabilities are visible, so if you require further information or assistance on your visit to Clifton House, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Visit our Accessibility page for more details on access to Clifton House.

Private Talks & Tours

Private Talks

Are you a member of a local history society, U3A, PROBUS group or similar organisation? Then why not consider having a talk delivered by one of our expert team?

Clifton House have developed a number of historical talks, based on original research from the vast archive we hold. Talks can be delivered in person or via Zoom to your group, event or organisation.

See the full list of topics here. If you are interested in organising a talk, please contact us.

Contact Us

Private Tours

Clifton House can cater for private tours of the building and/ or Clifton Street Cemetery for your organisation or group. Private Mary Ann McCracken walking tours can also be arranged. These can be facilitated at a time that suits you, including weekends.

Tours can also be tailored to suit your group, based on the wide ranged of themes available, including our medical history tours, hidden women tours, plots and plotters 1798 tours, to name but a few. 

If you are interested in booking a private tour, please use the form below to provide us with some essential details. We hope to see you soon. 

Book a private tour

Private Tour Booking

School visit and Children's Corridor

School Visits

At Clifton House, we believe the best way to learn history is to experience it. We offer schools the chance to explore over 250 years of real stories about people, community, and change. Our curriculum-linked tours and talks are designed to spark curiosity, support classroom learning, and encourage pupils to think about how kindness, innovation, and social responsibility have shaped our city.

Every school visit helps continue our mission — supporting the charitable work of the Belfast Charitable Society that tackles disadvantage in North Belfast and beyond. By visiting Clifton House, your pupils don’t just learn about history — they become part of it.

You can now also bring more of our history into your classroom via our Key Stage Two Learning Resource. Contact us for further details.

Interactive School Tours, using Augmented Reality

Bring the past to life with a school visit to Clifton House. Our interactive, curriculum-linked tours offer pupils an unforgettable opportunity to explore local history where it actually happened.

Topics can include:

  • What life was like for children in the Poor House
  • Famous people linked to Clifton House, such as Mary Ann and Henry Joy McCracken
  • Exploring family history and genealogy
  • The importance of archives and artefacts in understanding the past
  • Discovering Clifton Street Cemetery and its stories
  • How the Great Famine shaped Belfast and its people

Each tour lasts about 1 hour. We can accommodate class sizes of up to 30 pupils, and our experienced guides can tailor their approach to suit age and ability levels.

A visit to Clifton House is more than a history lesson — it’s a chance for pupils to develop empathy, curiosity, and an appreciation for how community and care have shaped Belfast through the centuries.

School Talks – We Can Come to You!

If your class can’t visit us in person, we can still bring the story of Clifton House directly to your classroom. Our online school talks provide an engaging, interactive way for pupils to connect with Belfast’s history from wherever you are.

These sessions can:

  • Enrich current school topics in History, Citizenship, or Local Studies
  • Include time for pupils’ questions and discussion
  • Be delivered via Zoom or your preferred online platform

Talks typically last up to 1 hour, making them an ideal addition to your history lessons or special project weeks.

How to Book Your School Visit or Talk

Booking a visit or virtual session is easy. Simply email us at info@cliftonbelfast.org.uk with the following details:

  • Age and size of your class
  • Purpose of your visit or talk (e.g. to enhance a specific topic)
  • Any relevant classroom themes or learning outcomes
  • Your preferred days and times

Our team will then get in touch to confirm arrangements and tailor the experience to your pupils’ needs.

Book a school visit