The city of Belfast has its fair share of new build hotels, but for the perfect mix of modern and authentic, look no further than Wilton House, a charming self-catering property that has lived many lives throughout its history. Originally a Georgian town house, it’s always boasted beautiful craftsmanship with large sash windows, coloured white bricks and a large panelled front door.
In 1890 it was renovated from house to hotel, but first time around it wasn’t meant to be and it closed and reopened as the Royal National Institute for Deaf people until falling into dereliction. That was until 2019, when a £4.5 million redevelopment saw the building come to life once again eventually re-opening its doors as Wilton House in 2023 and now offering 23 luxury serviced apartments.
The accommodation
Located in central Belfast, guests staying here get a real flavour of the city. Wilton House is a short stroll away from many restaurants, shops and perhaps most importantly in Belfast, great pubs, but more on those later.
Within Wilton House itself there are a range of apartments offering one, two or three bedrooms. Each comes with a smart TV and streaming services, a dining space and living room plus a fully equipped kitchen, as well as a washer/dryer. The idea is that guests can feel completely at home, and we did.
My parents and I stayed in apartment 13; a two-bedroom flat on the second floor. The interior of the flat was beautiful; each room had freshly painted walls in an array of pastel colours, this was in addition to statement furnishings and artwork too.
My favourite rooms were the bedrooms, each with their own colour palette which perfectly complemented the bold-printed headboards and sea of textured cushions. Each bedroom had its own bathroom so the flat never felt cramped – very important on family getaways!
It has to be said the view from our apartment wasn’t as salubrious as the interior. The bedroom and living room windows overlooked a public footpath and patch of brownfield land which was in total contrast to the cosiness of indoors. Having said that the apartment was very quiet at night and high up enough that we didn’t feel overlooked by the outside world.
Convenience is the word when it comes to Wilton House, there’s no reception desk, instead guests use a self-check in machine with a code that’s been emailed to them in advance. This hands-off approach puts the property more in line with an Airbnb versus a hotel, making it the perfect base for a city break.
It’s also easily accessible from both the airport and by car, just note that there’s no guest parking, but plenty of multi-storey car parks nearby.
To do
Out of all the cities we visited on our Northern Irish road trip, Belfast was one of our favourites. There’s something for everyone here, regardless of whether you’re a foodie, culture vulture or Guinness connoisseur.
For a good pint of the black stuff, Maddens Pub is right around the corner from Wilton House and, alongside a perfectly poured pint, here you can enjoy authentic live music and socialise with locals too.
A little further into the city is the Duke of York pub, which also boasts great Guinness and live music, as well as the most charming pub interior. Both the walls and ceilings are chock-a-block busy with trinkets and vintage Guinness artwork; it’s a site to behold and well worth checking out.
We headed to the Duke of York for a nightcap after the most delicious meal at Coppi, a nearby restaurant serving Italian sharing plates. Upon our waiter’s recommendation we ordered the pasta nachos, by no means a classic Italian dish, but it should be. An honourable mention should also be made to the goats’ cheese, leek and sundried tomato pizzette; a plateful of doughy deliciousness.
If, however, Italian isn’t floating your boat, the surrounding restaurants on St Anne’s square had brilliant reviews and are located in a beautiful part of the city.
In a nutshell
Wilton House has lived many lives, but here, it’s found its calling. Whether you’re in Belfast for a brief trip or a longer period of time, these apartments offer somewhere you can feel at home. If you’re seeking accommodation in Belfast, I wouldn’t hesitate to book a trip here.
Factbox
Address: 5-6 College Square N, Belfast BT1 6AR
Phone: 07512 326029
Website: wiltonhousebelfast.com
Images courtesy of Wilton House Belfast.
