Days Out NI
Museum Belfast

NI War Memorial Museum

Free Cathedral Quarter museum on Northern Ireland's Second World War story

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OpenMon to Fri 10am to 4:30pm, Sat 12pm to 4pm
FreeAdmission
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1 hourHow long
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NI War Memorial Museum — Free Cathedral Quarter museum on Northern Ireland's Second World War story.

  • Getting in: Free entry, walk straight in.
  • Opening: Mon to Fri 10am to 4:30pm, Sat 12pm to 4pm.
  • Family: Yes, all ages welcome.
  • Tours: Self-guided; workshops and events run through the year.
  • Food: No café on site; plenty of options in the Cathedral Quarter.
  • Parking: No dedicated car park; use city-centre car parks nearby (check before you go).
Plan your visit

What you will see inside

The displays focus on Northern Ireland's home front during the Second World War. The Belfast Blitz of April and May 1941, one of the worst raids outside London, is told through objects and survivor accounts. Other sections cover the tens of thousands of American troops based here ahead of D-Day, the Ulster Home Guard, the shipyards and aircraft factories that fed the war effort, and the wartime work of local women. An accredited collection of artefacts, artworks and photographs runs alongside an oral history archive of personal testimony.

Free entry No booking needed Self-guided Belfast Blitz exhibits Family-friendly Cathedral Quarter location
Good to know before you go:

The museum runs a regular programme of workshops, talks and seasonal events alongside its permanent displays, with some marking key wartime anniversaries. Check their listings before you visit to see what is on.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free entry, walk straight in
Opening
Mon to Fri 10am to 4:30pm, Sat 12pm to 4pm
Tours
Self-guided; workshops and events run through the year
Age limits
None
Food
No café on site; plenty of options in the Cathedral Quarter
Family-friendly
Yes, all ages welcome
Parking
No dedicated car park; use city-centre car parks nearby (check before you go)
Accessibility
Contact the museum about reasonable adjustments; call 028 9032 0392
How long to allow
Around 1 hour
Address
21 Talbot Street, Belfast, BT1 2LD
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
Free entry, walk straight in
What are the opening times?
Mon to Fri 10am to 4:30pm, Sat 12pm to 4pm
Is it good for kids?
Yes, all ages welcome
Are there guided tours?
Self-guided; workshops and events run through the year
Is there parking?
No dedicated car park; use city-centre car parks nearby (check before you go)
Getting there

NI War Memorial Museum is at 21 Talbot Street, Belfast, BT1 2LD. No dedicated car park; use city-centre car parks nearby (check before you go). Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

About the NI War Memorial

The appeal for a Northern Ireland War Memorial was launched in 1943, while the Second World War was still being fought, to honour those affected by the conflict. The result was both a memorial and a living museum dedicated to telling the story of Northern Ireland's wartime experience.

Today the museum holds an accredited collection covering the Belfast Blitz, the American military presence, the Ulster Home Guard, local industry and the role of women, supported by an oral history archive of first-hand accounts. It is run by the Council of the Northern Ireland War Memorial, a registered charity (NIC 103635), and the building also provides free meeting space to ex-service organisations.