Across Northern Ireland, lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease and heritage is starting to re-open.

As people plan days out and summer holidays, we’ve put together a list of five heritage sites that are well worth a visit.

There are so many fantastic museums, parks, libraries and historic sites to choose from – these are just a few ideas to inspire you to support your local heritage.

1. Linen Hall Library

Founded in 1788, Linen Hall Library is the oldest library in Belfast, located at the heart of the city just across from Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square.

It houses a unique collection of historic books and runs a number of events and projects each year, delving deep into local stories and heritage.

We supported the library with emergency funding throughout the last year and are delighted that, from Monday 24 May, they are welcoming visitors again.

2. Titanic Belfast & SS Nomadic

The world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, based in the aptly named Titanic Quarter in Belfast, re-opens on Thursday 29 May.

Explore Titanic’s history by booking a tour of the gallery, or hop on board the SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star vessel, docked just in front of the main building.

We were delighted to support the attraction with a £1.63million grant from the Heritage Recovery Fund, which we delivered on behalf of the Department for Communities.

3. Whitehead Railway Museum

Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is looking forward to welcoming visitors for train rides at its Whitehead site from Saturday 29 May. The museum will open fully in early June.

Paying a visit is a great way to explore the heritage of Northern Ireland’s railways whilst enjoying a day out with family and friends.

After being closed for most of the pandemic, National Lottery support helped Whitehead Railway Museum start up their engines again.

4. National Museums Northern Ireland

From Tuesday 25 May, the Ulster Museum, Ulster Transport Museum and Ulster American Folk park will re-open. The Ulster Folk Museum will follow on Saturday 12 June.

Explore key moments in Northern Ireland's history, discover the story of transport and social change, or step back in time and follow the trail of thousands of emigrants from Ulster to the American Frontier.

Book your ticket now to visit one of the National Museums Northern Ireland.

5. Creggan Country Park

Thanks to funding from our Heritage Recovery Fund, Creggan Country Park in Derry/Londonderry have been busy maintaining the landscape and getting it ready for a busy summer.

The park is a lovely place to go for a summer stroll in nature and soak up a bit of fresh air.

They also offer watersports, outdoor pursuits and environmental education events for the community.

 Keep an eye on their Twitter for more details.

Find out more

To stay updated about news of our Northern Ireland projects and funding:

• follow us on Twitter and Facebook - and use the #HeritageIsOpen hashtag to tell us about openings near you
• sign up to our newsletter and select the ‘Northern Ireland’ option
• keep an eye on our dedicated Northern Ireland web page