Don't snub the Titanic family staycation that's right on your doorstep
There’s no rule against being a tourist in your own city or country, so go for it!
Sheena is the Editor of Belfast Live and was one of the first reporters recruited for the launch of the brand in 2015.
I’ll be honest, when it comes to going on a family hotel break, I tend to look for places not that close to home, I guess because travelling an hour or more feels like a proper break away.
But a staycation closer to home has changed my opinion when we stayed at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast recently with our two children, aged 7 and 4.
Again, I’ll admit I’ve been to the Titanic Hotel for events, and probably because I’ve always been there while working, I’ve never thought of it as somewhere to take the kids, but I was wrong.
It has so many great things going for it that make it a lovely spot to spend the night with the family. The location, for one, is still within walking distance of the city centre, but there is so much outdoor space away from the traffic that you can let the kids roam on their bikes and scooters without worrying about cars, something which is highly unusual for a city hotel.
The staff were fantastic, and ensured we had all we needed when we checked in and gave us some great tips on places to explore in the area.
The children were extra delighted with their personalised cookies and beautiful fruit platter, which greeted us on arrival to the spacious room. The room had two large double beds, which could easily have slept more than two adults and two children.
After checking-in and demolishing the fruit platter and cookies, we set out to explore and top of our list was W5 at Odyssey Pavilion. I’d been saying for ages we would bring the children here but just never got around to it, so it was the perfect chance for them to explore somewhere I’d also not properly had a look around in years.
I was so impressed by how much there was to see and do in W5, and that’s outside of the great Dinosaur exhibition and show they have running this summer. It was a fantastic attraction for the children who were able to get up close and personal if they wanted with the dinosaurs during the show, which my seven-year-old was more than game for while our four-year-old was happy to just observe from a 'safe' distance.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve visited W5 but it’s an incredible spot to bring children of all ages. So much imaginative play, informative and interactive exhibits, I was wondering if we would ever be able to leave as the children loved it so much.
When we did manage to pull them away (thanks to some rumbling tummies), I was delighted to see that the choice of food spots in the Odyssey had vastly improved, and there really was something for all tastes.
We headed back towards the Titanic hotel for yet more exploring, and enjoyed a great walk/scoot along the Slipways and exploring all the Game of Thrones doors along the way. We even hit lucky the weekend we happened to be there, Tourism NI had a pop-up mini-golf feature just outside Titanic Hotel complete with other fun games for everyone to enjoy.
With more energy burned off, it was time to refuel. We were booked into The Wolff Grill in the Titanic Hotel, which now has a new Executive Chef, Alastair Fullerton. I had heard rave reviews, so I was eager to try it for myself.
Again I was a little worried it wasn’t suitable for children but my fears were alleviated as soon as we arrived and were shown to our table. The waiter immediately brought the kids ‘Junior Sailors’ menus which doubled as colour and activity sheets, and already on the table was a large pot of colouring pencils, complete with a sharpener, that might sound silly, but it was a genius inclusion for me. You’ll understand if you’ve dined out with kids before and the crayons/pencils are broken, leading to frustrated children and parents who just want to dine in peace!
The staff were very attentive, and we ordered the children’s food to be served with our starters. I opted for the Duck Confit Spring Roll with Watermelon, Pineapple Salsa, and Pickled Ginger, while my husband chose the Soup of the Day, which was Mushroom. My Spring Rolls were an explosion of flavours, and to be honest, it was too much for me to finish for a starter, but I really enjoyed it.
The interesting bowl the soup was served in became a bit of an attraction even to neighbouring tables, and my husband remarked the soup was just as good as the presentation in the ‘space ship’ as my children called it.
Our eldest opted for the mini cheeseburger sliders and fries while the youngest chose sausages and chips. Again portion sizes were huge, my son was served two huge slider burgers, and he shocked me at how well he managed to almost eat them both, along with a portion of fries.
The youngest also devoured her sausages which were really tasty and not at all greasy, which is just what you want.
For the main course, I chose the Oregano Butter Roast Breast of Chicken, Valpolicella, Mushrooms, and Parmesan, while my husband chose the 10oz Irish Beef Ribeye, which was served with grilled vine tomatoes and chunky chips.
My chicken was really tasty, I’m not a mushroom fan, mainly the texture puts me off but I don’t mind the flavour they bring to a dish and these did just that. The main course was the perfect amount for me that I could finish and still have a little room left for something sweet.
I swallowed my pride as a Tyrone woman and ordered the Armagh Apple and Berry Crumble with custard for dessert, and it was divine. Although the berries weren’t in the crumble but just on the side of the plate, it was still really tasty with the creamiest custard.
Of course, the children loved their ice cream bowls, which disappeared in seconds, while my husband chose the Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart, which he said was decadent but not overpowering.
The whole vibe of the Titanic Hotel was so relaxing. The children enjoyed exploring the hotel and reading all about the ship and its history. Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the great hospitality establishments we have right on our doorstep and dismiss them because they’re too close to home, but this was one Titanic adventure we won’t forget, and one I’d definitely recommend as a fab staycation. There’s no rule against being a tourist in your own country, so go for it!
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