Dive into History at

Templemore Baths!

Templemore Baths first opened in 1893. Following a remarkable restoration project completed in 2023, the Heritage Centre at Templemore Baths now proudly preserves many of the building’s original Victorian features. Steeped in social history, Titanic and Belfast ship-yard history a visit is highly recommended for locals and visitors alike. You can visit for a guided tour, take a self-guided wander through the building or hire the unique event and meeting spaces, 7 days a week. The heritage aspects of Templemore Baths sit seamlessly alongside a modern public swimming and leisure facility, meaning Templemore Baths is the only Victorian Bath House on the entire island of Ireland still fulfilling it’s original purpose. The ‘Major Pool’ from 1893 is still a fully functional swimming pool, now accompanied by an additional modern pool with spa facilities. The ‘Minor Pool’ is the core part of the heritage exhibition along with the ‘slipper baths’, ‘2nd Class Entrance’ and ‘ticket office’, all part of the award-winning guided tour.

Guided Tours

We offer guided tours for visitors daily. Our experienced guides take visitors through the exhibition and tell them the unique story of Templemore Baths, room by room.

£8 – General Admission
£6 – Concession
£5 – BETTER Members

Guided tours for the public are scheduled most days and are highly recommended.

To book a tour, click the image

**Visit free (self-guided)* during opening times**

*Self-guided groups (8 pax+) must book in advance to ensure availability. Usual self-guided group donation £20, payable by cash or card on-site.

*Self-guided access subject to group guided tours and events.

Group Tours

Special rates for group guided tours: £50 for x15 people, with £5 per person after x15

Discounted rates for schools and special tours available.

Self-Guided Groups: FREE but a £20 donation is usual. All groups MUST BOOK to help the cafe prepare and to ensure availability.

Event Space

The Minor Pool is available to book for meetings, conferences and events. Suitable for up to x200 standing with lift access.

The Boardroom is available for small events suitable for up to x 40.

Contact: templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

School Engagement

Take a trip through time and learn about Victorian Belfast through the last slipper baths in Belfast. Students will learn about about local history and the Belfast Victorians on an engaging tour through the centre.

Available for Key Stages 2, 3 and 4

Contact: templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

Volunteer

Interested in joining our volunteer team at Templemore Baths? Click the image for more information!

More about the experience

Rooted in the Victorian era and bursting with Titanic and Belfast shipyard history, Templemore Baths date back to 1893. Locally known as ‘the swimmers’, the building stands proud and lovingly restored. The Victorian features include; the slipper baths, the minor pool, the ticket office, the 2nd class entrance and the laundry.

A team of expert local guides will help you dive into the building’s fascinating story. On a visit to the space you can expect to learn how Belfast people used Templemore Baths to wash, swim and socialise from Victorian times, during the Belfast Blitz of WWII and through-out Belfast’s rapid 19th century industrialisation. The exhibition is interactive with videos, audio and game-play.

Accessibility

The cafe and Heritage Centre are all at ground level with lift access to the ‘Minor Pool’ for visitors with extra mobility needs. The modern leisure centre side of the building has high levels of accessibility.

Café On-site

What was once the open outdoor courtyard has now been transformed into an attractive enclosed atrium with the Courtyard Cafe at Templemore, offering scones, drinks, light lunches and snacks daily 9am-7pm weekdays and 9am-3pm Saturdays & Sundays.

Location, Parking & Transport

Located about 2km from Belfast city hall, use ‘Templemore Avenue’ stop on Translink Glider G1 to reach us. The Glider stop is 200m walk. Albertbridge Road and Newtownards Road (both 200m walk), are also well severed by pink metro city buses.

There are 30 free on-site car parking spaces including x8 disabled access spaces. On-street parking is also free and ample surrounding the building.

Coaches may drop off on Templemore Avenue. No coach parking on-site but nearby Pitt Park or Connswater Retail Park are convenient.

Fancy a dip?

The Victorian ‘Major Pool’, from 1893, is also now a fully restored swimming pool. The Victorian origins of this building blend seamlessly with it’s adjoining modern leisure facilities.

Click here for present-day swimming & leisure information for Templemore Baths

Background & Further Information

EastSide Partnership manage the heritage space, on behalf of social enterprise leisure operator GLL (Better) who work in partnership with Belfast City Council to mange the building and it’s leisure offer. A programme of tours, workshops and events runs year-round in the Heritage Centre. The local community, schools and visitors are all warmly welcomed.

Belfast City Council invested £12 million in the restoration of this iconic building and £5 million was provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

CONTACT: templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

Templemore Baths