Located in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter beside Belfast Cathedral, the War Memorial Gallery is a ‘must see’ for anyone with an interest in Northern Ireland’s role in the Second World War. The museum tells the story of the Belfast Blitz, the Ulster Home Guard, the role played by women in the war and the presence of US forces from 1942 to 1944.

Visitors can try on wartime uniforms and view interesting pieces from the collection including the Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland which was issued to US Servicemen warning that “you will probably find yourself drinking more tea in a week than you have in all your previous life!”

The centre-piece of the gallery is a bronze sculpture depicting a mother guiding her child through the ruins of Belfast on the morning after a devastating air raid in April 1941. An evocative memorial screen recalls the names of over 1,100 people who lost their lives in the Belfast Blitz. A magnificent stained glass memorial window and two books of remembrance recall the local lives lost in the two World Wars.

Temporary displays and exhibitions ensure that regular visitors will always see something different on each visit.