NEARLY
70%
OF PEOPLE RECOMMENDS BELFAST AS A PLACE TO LIVE
Northern Ireland has changed significantly in the last decade and is now a thriving city full of fresh exciting opportunities, competitive housing prices, an excellent standard of living, world-class education and the friendliest of people. There is a real sense of community here, so you won’t be long in feeling at home.
Belfast has a rich history, and it is apparent around the city with a different story everywhere you look. During the Industrial Revolution, the city was famous for tobacco, ropemaking, linen, and shipbuilding. You will see many of the beautiful Victorian buildings in the city centre that were used as outlets for linen. It is here that the Titanic was built over three years at the Harland and Wolff shipyard which is still one of Europe’s largest heavy engineering facilities.
House prices in Northern Ireland are much cheaper than the UK average and offer highly competitive living costs for buyers and renters alike. In 2021 the average house price in NI was only £159, 109 compared to £270,708 elsewhere in the UK. Northern Ireland also offers the highest residential investment in rental yields: the average for a standard flat in Belfast is 8.9% compared to 5.1% in London. You will be welcomed by the kind and good-natured people of your new neighbours and will feel the strong community spirit instantly. Northern Ireland is also renowned throughout the UK for its outstanding primary and secondary education, with primary pupils being the world best in primary maths. We are also home to two world-class universities: University of Ulster, and Queen’s University.
Thanks to the wonderful National Health Service, Northern Ireland’s healthcare services have a good reputation and ranks better than New York, and Hong Kong. You can have peace of mind that you’ll be in the best hands when it comes to health care.
Northern Irish weather can be unpredictable and wet as it is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Irish Sea, but you can count on a maritime climate so you can count on plenty of time outside. Right across Northern Ireland you’ll find an endless number of places to explore and experience our beautiful country and abundant wildlife including beaches, gardens, caves and forest and country parks where you can do everything from surfing to birdwatching.
There is a huge variety of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants to cater for all tastes. Whether you are looking for street food at the markets, an old Irish Stew from traditional pubs, or a tasting menu from a Michelin Star, Belfast has it all. Veggie and vegan options are also plastered all over the city, with many establishments offering alternative menus.
Belfast is bursting with art and music and is home to some of the world’s famous poets, musicians, and writers. You can enjoy an abundance of arts venues, historical theatres and world-renowned gig venues which house many exhibitions and other events year-round. Experience art, theatre and dance at The MAC, live music at the Crescent Arts Centre, comedy at the Pavilion and playwrights at the Lyric Theatre and The Grand Opera House.
If you are more interested in your history books, there are plenty of museums that explore the diverse history and life of Northern Ireland including Crumlin Road Gaol, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, The Ulster Museum, and the Titanic Museum. But the history doesn’t stop at museums, head on down and get yourself down to a pub, where the happy locals will chat away, and the venues will speak for themselves. From the iconic 200-year-old Crown Bar, or the largest whiskey collection in Northern Ireland at the Duke of York, to trad sessions at The Sunflower, the pub scene has enough history to last at least few pints.
Walking around Belfast you will notice there is a great deal of street art and graffiti that frames the city which all just adds to the city’s uniqueness. Meanwhile political murals in West Belfast offers a fascinating and emotional look at the city’s troubled history. Belfast is a city like no other and you won’t find yourself short of things to do, with exciting events, amazing opportunities and good craic looming around every corner.
