Four hours in Belfast

Belfast was a powerhouse of the industrial revolution; a major producer of linen and the location of the world’s biggest shipyard, Harland and Wolff. The site where the Titanic was built has undergone extensive regeneration and is home to the city’s preeminent tourist attraction, Titanic Belfast, dedicated to the city’s industrial history and telling the story of the ill-fated vessel, from the details of its construction to the personal stories of the passengers. While you’re in this neck of the woods look out for one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the striking yellow Samson and Goliath shipbuilding cranes. titanicbelfast.com

From the Titanic Quarter, walk along the waterfront or, if pressed for time, jump in a cab and head towards the heart of the city itself. Belfast has a burgeoning food scene and St George’s Market is a great place to sample the fantastic produce for which Northern Ireland is becoming increasingly renowned. There are markets in this Victorian building Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with fresh fruit and vegetables, an overwhelming array of fishmongers and butchers, street food, breads and beverages. Organised tours are also available via Taste & Tour for those who want a really in-depth perspective of the Belfast food scene. tasteandtour.co.uk

Continuing into the centre, make your way to the resplendent City Hall, with its distinctive green copper domes. Constructed from Portland stone, this Baroque Revival building was completed in 1906 and there are fascinating free guided tours available. By taking a tour, visitors can gain access to the parts of the building that are otherwise off limits to tourists. However, the grand interior, which includes stained glass, Italian marble, handsome wood panelling and statues and paintings of Belfast’s good and not so good, is worth visiting whether on a tour or not. belfastcity.gov.uk

While Belfast’s troubled past can seem a world away, evidence of it is still dotted throughout the city in both its architecture and its murals. A trip to see the Falls and Shankhill Roads, and the Peace Wall that divided Nationalist and Loyalist inhabitants, is an eye-opening experience and essential for getting a true understanding of the city. The best way to do this via a Black Cab Tour, which lasts around 90 minutes. The tours provide a human perspective of Belfast’s history and the stories behind the murals. Most tours will tailor the route to suit and can pick you up and drop you at a convenient central location. belfastblackcabtours.co.uk

Pubs are a forte here, as a trip to the Cathedral Quarter will quickly assure you. This area is home to some of the best, all within easy proximity of each other. The cobbled streets are a delight to wander and, as evening falls, drinkers and the sounds of live music spill out of the doorways. For a different sort of mural, head to the Duke of York in the Half Bap area, with its softly lit, memorabilia-filled interior and street art on the walls outside. Restaurants abound, too, with Hadskis a local favourite set in an old iron foundry. The menu is a tempting selection of European dishes that showcases Northern Irish ingredients. hadskis.co.uk