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Belfast Lad Tours have been independently rated in the top 5% of 5 Star rated tour companies worldwide. Or guides deliver quality tours of the best scenery and sights that Ireland has to offer and we depend on our customers ratings on our tours to enable us to maintain our high standards. Our customers independently rate our tours through the worldwide touring agency ‘Tours by Locals’ who placed us in the top 5% of quality tours in the world. You can contact us at any time on our tours before or after your tour experience and we also offer free downloadable resources including local history articles from our guides who are also authors in their own right. Don’t take our word for it on the quality of our tours just check out our ratings online!
Thomas from California's Review
“If I could could give this man more than 5 Stars I would, his passion and knowledge are second to none. This was the best trip my wife and I have ever been on.”
Donna from Washington's Review
“This day we spent in Belfast with Frank (Francis H.) was one of the highlights of my entire trip. I could not have asked for a better day. So fortunate to be able to experience Belfast this way. I feel like I made a friend for life.”
Rachael from New York's Review
“Frances was an outstanding guide. We saw the beautiful coastline and ancient castles too. We would highly recommend him as this was the perfect day.”
Seb from Honolulu's Review
“The best thing is having a private guide, he asked what was important for us to see. I didn’t care too much about touring Bushmills, we drove by, but skipped it and spent more time at Giants Causeway and the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. For the price we paid for 6 of us – there was just nothing on the ship as far as excursions that would’ve compared. Everyone must do this tour while in Belfast!”
“We gained so much in not only seeing exciting locations but also just got a very memorable experience that we will never forget and took home with us a greater understanding and knowledge of Northern Ireland. I recommend this tour and Frank as a tour guide you will NOT be disappointed by, no matter how bad the weather may be.” Genette (New York)
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Top notch tour by a top notch guide! Frank is SO knowledgeable. He really makes an effort to provide a balanced tour of the conflict. His passion for history and his willingness to share his own personal stories make the tour very engaging. And Frank is kind and considerate of his clients. Frank's tours cannot be beat! Thank you, Frank!
We did a 1.5 day ancestral tour with Francis and I can't imagine a better start to our trip. He looked into our family history with the information we provided and was able to find the cottage that my family lived in as well as access to Shane's Castle for a private tour of my 7th great-grandfather's home. He took us on a tour of the real Ireland. The beautiful countryside, the rich history, and he was so knowledgeable and kind. We were blown away. He is quite literally the best tour guide we have ever had.
My wife and I were 8 years old when the Troubles began in 1966. We both remember hearing the news and seeing the images on the news. We both remember the words "IRA," "Belfast," "Ulster," "bombing" being constantly in the news and and, until we took Frank's our, were all we knew about the Troubles. In 90 short minutes, Frank opened our eyes to the almost unbelievable situation that remains in Belfast. We had no idea. We assumed Protestants and Catholics lived together, albeit with some remaining tensions. We did not know that they were separated physically, socially, economically, and academically by "the system." Without biasing his personal story and the history of the Troubles one way or the other, Frank opened our eyes to the sad reality and injustice that still prevails in Belfast. I feel compelled to do something to help.
In Dec 2022, Frank led my group of 8 university students from the United States on a 3-hour tour of sectarian neighborhoods in the Falls and Shankill Roads areas. We crossed the Peace Wall, critically examined memorial sites, and saw on-location sites used in Branaugh's film Belfast (2021). Frank provided an informed and measured academic perspective for our group, who had been studying the legacy of the Troubles. His tour was by far the students' favorite part of our trip because he infused the intellectual context of the tour with his own personal connections to the events he describes. I highly recommend Frank for his professional knowledge as well as his engaging storytelling.
Hi Jessica, I'm delighted you enjoyed the tour and your students got to see hear and experience the story of the Troubles. It was a please to take you around and you will always have a welcome here in Belfast so hurry back. Best wishes,Frank
I recently went on the Christmas Ghost Story and Belfast Dark Dander tour and I really enjoyed it. Francis has such a vast knowledge of the history of Belfast and the ghost story were fascinating, but most of all, Francis is a natural at giving a guided tour. The history beneath our feet is incredible and Francis helps bring this to life with his research and how he tells it's history. I highly recommend his tours to you. Cant wait to book my next tour with him.
Frank was our tour guide for a day in Scotland and another day in Belfast. He was AMAZING!!!!!!! He took care of everything and even picked us up at our hotel. His knowledge was imense especially on our Belfast day. We had no idea how much we didn't know about the history nor the current events! Frank gave us an in-depth history of Ireland and even tied it back to the US. His knowledge in the Titanic Museum was so extensive! There was no way we would have learned so much even if we read every board in there. We were beyond impressed and we whole heartedly recommend Frank's tours!!!!
Many thanks Jenny and Dann, it was a real pleasure to take you both around. I have sent through the pics and a couple of videos I took on the day - Surprise!!!
Just returned from an excellent EHOD tour of Brown’s Square, Belfast. Our guide Francis has a wealth of information and stories. A local man, his passion for and knowledge of the area was great. We even had a short and brilliant organ recital in a church along the way. Found out so much and really enjoyed it. Thank you Francis.
Many thanks for your kind review. I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you on one of our Talk, Walk and Tipple tours soon..
Frank took us on a tour of the Belfast Brewery Quarter.
It was an amazing insight into the history of beer in Belfast
and some other incredible tales. I highly recommend this
tour and can't wait to attend more in the future!
Cheer's Chris, it was great craic!
Frank's encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm brought the history of Belfast's Brewery Quarter alive. Highly recommended!
Many thanks for your review Steve, its always a pleasure to tell people the wonderful history of Belfast's Brewery Quarter!
Completed the Bridges & Squares tour with Frank from Belfastlad. The tour represents everything that is good about that wonderful city. Learn about the history of Belfast, how it evolved from the rivers. We learn about it's troubled times, but it's filled with positivity for the future. All told with Belfast humour and many surprises and laughter along the way. A great introduction to the City of Belfast, passionately delivered by Belfastlad. 5* in every way.
I'm glad you enjoyed our tour Peter it was a pleasure to show you our beautiful city. As you yourself are a professional tour guide and an expert on the RMS Titanic perhaps you would consider coming on board with the Belfastlads?