Now home to the restored NI Assembly, the building remains a potent symbol of the precarious political process, not least borne out by the thwarted attack by loyalist gunman Michael Stone on 24 Nov 2006.
The building stands at the top of the mile-long Prince of Wales Avenue behind a statue of Lord Edward Carson (Unionist MP regarded as the founding father of the NI State) and is topped by the figure Britannia. The tomb of Lord Craigavon - NI's first Prime Minister - and his wife is on the building's east side.
The surrounding parkland, with its sweeeping city views, is open to the public and has marked paths and an excellent children's playground. Several sculptures include Reconciliation, a small water sculpture depicting a couple embracing across a divide. Copies of this symbol of peace are also in Coventry, Hiroshima, Jerusalem and Berlin.
Stormont Parliament Building Tours
Free weekday guided tours take in the magnificent interior of this iconic building. The tour begins at the main entrance and covers the Great Hall, Assembly and Senate Chambers, Committee Room and Library. And on Mon from 12:00 and Tues from 10:30, part-time politicos among you can take a seat in the public gallery and watch MLAs in action. A small souvenir and coffee shop, and walk around the estate, complete your Stormont experience.
Free hourly tours Mon-Fri 4 July - 2 Sept 2011, 10:00 - 15:00. Rest of year 10.00 & 15.00 only.
William - unfortunately the only way you can take a tour is through your MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly). As you are not a resident, I presume this will be virtually impossible (unless you know someone over here who can organise a tour). Public Tours are available to everyone during September's European Heritage Open Days, but they are extremely popular and book up very very quickly. Meanwhile, feel free to explore the beautiful grounds and walk right up to its doors (with luck you can also take a peak inside the magnificent Great Hall). Belfast IYP Editor.
I would like to have a sight seeing tour of the New N.Ireland Assembly building please as i will be over christmas for three weeks.
The postcode is BT4 3XX - ed.
HiPlease can you give me the post code forThe Stormont Parliament Building, I cannot seem tosource it anywhere ?Kind regards