Belfast can be reached from the London area by three airlines. British Midland, British European and Easyjet. British Midland fly out of Heathrow and British European out of Gatwick. Easyjet run flights to Belfast from Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead. British Airways no longer fly to Belfast from any airport in the London area.

Belfast has two airports, City airport is about 6 miles from the centre of town and is served by British European Airways and British Midland. Belfast International Airport is 15 miles from the centre of Belfast, Easyjet are based there.

For the purposes of pricing these flights I chose an flights departing on Friday morning/lunchtime, returning Saturday late morning/afternoon. For those in Reading one alternative to the London airports is Bristol, I've also included this. I know we have a few readers on the south coast, they may also want to check out the British European service from Southampton to Belfast City.

These fares were available on Wednesday 15th June. As we get closer to the time they will undoubtedly increase.

No doubt St. Clares Travel will be putting some kind of package together for the LISC. The last time he did so for Belfast people were staying at Jury’s Inn. For those wishing to travel independently, here are a few options. All had rooms available when I checked on Wed 15^th. I cannot yet find any special offers online although from memory some were published in the Belfast papers a few weeks before our last trip there. If I hear anything I’ll let you know.

These are all city center hotels within a few minutes walk of each other. All of these hotels offer pretty well what you would expect by way of rooms. There is no hotel I would particularly recommend over the other. Based on an experience I endured there a few years ago, I personally would never again stay in the Europa.

The home of Ulster Rugby is some four miles out of town, set in a residential area. It is best reached by taxi, cost about £5 from the center. Tickets will be readily available on the night. The choice is quite straightforward seated or standing. Pretty well all the seats are in the main stand which runs down one side of the pitch. You can stand either in front of this or anywhere else around the ground. Only the seated area is covered from the elements. On our last trip there the bulk of our contingent stood on the opposite side of the pitch from the stand, about the 22m line at the end closest to the beer tents. If weather allows that may well again be the preferred location.

My home town has mostly recovered from the civil strife that tore it apart in the latter part of the 20^th century. It is now pretty well as safe (or dangerous) as any other mid-size UK city. Those of you who worry that an English or Southern Irish accent may arouse hostility from the locals can rest easy.

For those of you who are planning to make a weekend of it there is plenty to see and do both in the city itself and the surrounding countryside. Here are some sites to give you some ideas:

Official Belfast Tourist Site
Belfast Net
Northern Ireland Tourist Board

The only one ‘must see’ I would put on everyone’s Belfast list is a trip to The Crown Bar. If this were in any other city in Europe you wouldn’t be able to get into it for the tourists. In Belfast it’s a regular, if ornate, pub.

Due to other long standing arrangements I will not be able to make this trip. To those of you who are planning to go, enjoy the Craic!