How To Visit The Ulster Folk Museum, Northern Ireland: All You Need To Know (2024)
In this post you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting the Ulster Folk Museum in Northern Ireland & what to expect when you get there!
I recently visited the Ulster Folk Museum at the start of June 2024. I hadn’t been since I was young, but I could remember absolutely loving it, & I was really looking forward to visiting again as an adult!
The Ulster Folk Museum is a really unique place where you can immerse yourself into learning about life & traditions in Northern Ireland from times gone by. It’s an outdoor museum, with many buildings, streets & areas to explore.
If you are visiting Northern Ireland, this place should definitely be on your bucket list – especially if you’re interested in learning more about our history & culture!
As a local it’s also a great place to check out during the week or if you fancy doing something different at the weekend.
Here’s some handy information & tips to help plan your visit such as how to get there, where to park, how to book tickets & what you’ll see when you get there!
Where Is The Ulster Folk Museum & How To Get There
Ulster Folk Museum Address: 153 Bangor Road Cultra Belfast Antrim BT18 0EU or click here for Google Maps Location!
The Ulster Folk Museum in Northern Ireland can be found in Cultra, around 8 miles from Belfast City Centre. The neighbourhood of Cultra is located just on the outskirts of the popular town of Holywood.
The easiest way to get there is by car, as you can park directly at the entrance, but you can also get a train or bus from Belfast City Centre.
BY CAR: From Belfast head towards the A2 towards City Arpt/Bangor/Holywood. Follow the A2 for about 10-15 mins, until your reach the turn for the museum which will be on your left just past the Culloden Hotel. You can drive right up to the car park beside the ticket office.
BY TRAIN: From Belfast Lanyon Place Station, take the train towards Bangor Train Station. Disembark at the stop for Cultra. Then walk the 18 minutes to the Ulster Folk Museum.
BY BUS: From Belfast Lanyon Place or Waterfront, catch the 502b bus towards Bangor. Disembark once you reach the stop for the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, then walk 10 further minutes to the entrance. You can also get the 502a bus which has a similar amount of stops.
For all bus & train info be sure to check https://www.translink.co.uk before you go!
Parking At The Ulster Folk Museum
There is plenty of parking at the Ulster Folk Museum & you don’t have to pay – it’s free of charge!
When driving in from the main road you’ll go past the lower car park (or overflow), which has plenty of spaces. If you want to get closer to the entrance however, just keep following the signs for the Ulster Folk Museum & you’ll eventually reach the main car park into the right.
Again there are tonnes of spaces in this car park & you’re right beside the ticket office & the start of the museum.
Opening Hours For The Ulster Folk Museum
The Ulster Folk Museum is open from 10am-5pm from Tuesday to Sunday. They are closed on Mondays. You can find all the current information on opening & closing times via their website.
The Ulster Folk Museum themselves suggest that it will take around 2 hours AT LEAST to see the whole museum, so don’t arrive any later than 3pm to ensure you get the full experience.
We arrived around 1pm & finished up at 4pm, so we actually spent about 3 hours there – but that included stopping for a picnic aswell! We recommend just getting there as early as possible so you don’t have to rush & you can really enjoy it.
How To Book Tickets For The Ulster Folk Museum
The best & easiest way to book your tickets for the Ulster Folk Museum is via the booking system on their website. Just click on General Admission Ticket & it will show you all the various prices depending on your circumstances. That link will also show everything that’s currently on at the museum as well if you want to book anything else on your visit!
Ulster Folk Museum Ticket Costs
Adult – £11.50
Child (5-17yrs) -£7.00 *under 5yrs are free!
Students & Seniors: £9
(other options available on website)
Once you’ve purchased your tickets then all you have to do is head to the entrance & show them at the desk on your phone. They’ll give you a map for the museum at this point as well which is really helpful & if you’ve any questions then this is the best time to ask them!
Note: You can also buy tickets at the ticket office on the day, but they suggest pre-booking so they can keep an eye on how many people are in the museum so it’s not overcrowded.
We decided to go on a Tuesday afternoon & it was actually really quiet. There were some children in groups on a school trip when we arrived but we didn’t see them after that. It was great as we got to explore a lot of the buildings & different areas without anyone else being there!
What To Expect At The Ulster Folk Museum
The Ulster Folk Museum’s exhibitions are mainly located outdoors, covering a large area and featuring four main sections for exploration: The Town, The Field, The Wood & The Hill.
There are lots of historical buildings to wander around, from various different towns & villages around Ulster, all with authentic décor & paraphernalia related to the time period. You’ll definitely feel like you’re stepping back in time – especially if you come across one of the guides who work there who play various different characters from the past!
You can explore farmhouses, schools, churches, fields, cottages, a bicycle repair shop & even a pub to name but a few. Our favourites from the day where Lismacloskey Old Rectory & Garden, Corradreenan Farmhouse & Ballyverdagh National School.
The exhibitions in the town area are all quite close together, but as you move out towards the field, wood & hill – they become a bit more spread out. So do be prepared for plenty of walking! Out in those areas, you’ll be walking along quiet country roads, with old cottages & farmhouses dotted along the paths. You might even spot some cows, horses, sheep or chickens roaming about!
Tip: Expect to do a lot of walking at the Ulster Folk Museum. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing & suitable footwear like trainers or walking shoes! Especially for the country roads & fields.
There are also daily demonstrations on at the museum, showing traditions from the past such as bread making, weaving, carpentry, blacksmithing, printings & basketmaking! Check at reception before you enter to find out what’s on & where to find the makers!
Is There A Café At The Ulster Folk Museum?
If you are feeling peckish or need your afternoon caffeine hit, you’ll find Ballycultra Tearoom in the main town area. It’s number 28 on the museum map.
The café is open from 10am-5pm, everyday (apart from Monday when the whole museum is closed). They serve hot/cold drinks & a variety of food. You can sit inside or there’s a few small tables out in front so you can look across ‘The Diamond.’
You can also bring a picnic with you which we did – you’ll find a few picnic areas in the town & one beside Ballydugan Weaver’s House (39 on the map). If you’re further out near the field, wood, or hill – there are a few benches dotted about which you could stop at too – we found one just beside Coalisland Spade Mill!
If you’re on vacation or you’re in the mood for something slightly stronger – then head to McCusker’s pub on Mill Street (no. 30 on the museum map)!
As long as you aren’t the designated driver, you can enjoy an alcoholic beverage in a really authentic, old Northern Irish pub setting! Just be sure to stay sensible so as not to ruin the rest of your time at the museum! 😂
Other Quick FAQS: Ulster Folk Museum
Do You Need Separate Tickets For The Transport Museum?
Yes! If you want to visit the Ulster Transport Museum (just around the corner from the Ulster Folk Museum), you’ll need to purchase separate tickets. You can book tickets online before you go or purchase them on the day.
How Much Are Tickets For The Ulster Folk Museum?
Tickets for adults are £11.50 (as of June 2024). All prices can be found on the official website.
Can You Bring Dogs To The Ulster Folk Museum?
Yes! Dogs are allowed at the Ulster Folk Museum. However they must be on a lead at all times & kept under control. It’s quite an expansive space, & there are lovely country roads to explore, so it’s a really great place to take them for their daily walk!
How Long Does It Take To Go Around The Ulster Folk Museum?
We spent 3 hours at the museum, however we did stop for a picnic! It’s suggested that you give yourself AT LEAST 2 hours to experience the museum completely.
Other places in Northern Ireland you might like:
- How To Walk The Summit Trail At Divis Mountain
- Visiting Hillsborough Forest Park
- A Very Quick Guide To Visiting Belvoir Park Forest
- How To Visit Inch Abbey, Downpatrick
- A Guide To Visiting Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
- 6 Best Things To Do In Glenarm, Northern Ireland
Bookmark this post for your trip to Northern Ireland! ☘️
