EastSide

Templemore Baths

Dive into History at Templemore Baths!

The Heritage Centre at Templemore Baths opened in 2023 following a remarkable restoration. Many of the original Victorian features from 1893 have been preserved in this unique building. Today, the heritage aspects of Templemore sit seamlessly alongside a modern 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’ dating from 1893 is now a fully functional swimming pool, bridging the Victorian era with modern-day.  The ‘Minor Pool’ is a core part of the heritage exhibition along with the ‘slipper baths’ and ‘2nd Class Entrance’.

Temple Baths Victorian Architecture Belfast
Guided Tours £8 /  £6 (concession)

Guided tours for the public are scheduled most days and are highly recommended. Check tour times and BOOK HERE

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 & School Groups

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. 

Contact us with your school or group requirements: templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

Unique Room Hire

The ‘Minor Pool’ is available to hire as an exhibition, meeting and event space and is suitable up to x200 pax. This space has high standards of accessibility with lift access. 

The former coroner’s court is now a x40 pax ‘Boardroom’, also available to hire. Please note, this space is only accessed by a steep heritage staircase, which may not be suitable for all visitors.

Room Hire / Event enquiries, please contact:  templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

 

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.  

Cafe 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

Find Us

Contact Us

Guided Tours

To book a guided tour please click the image above.

Event Space

The Minor Pool is available to book for meetings, conferences and events. Contact: templemorebaths@eastsidepartnership.com

Schools Engagement

A schools engagement programme for Key Stage 2, 3 & 4 pupils will be developed and we look forward to welcoming pupils and teachers to the space soon.

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering at Templemore Baths Heritage Space please visit: www.eastsidepartnership.com/volunteer