Titanic's Dock and Pump-House

Titanic's Dock and Pump-House Review

Officially known as the Thompson Dock and Pump-House, or the Thompson dry dock, this is Belfast's outstanding relic of the Titanic's legacy and strikingly represents the ship's physical footprint. Built by 500 men over a period of seven years, it was the biggest dry dock in the world and was the beating heart of the shipyard's operation during the construction of the great White Star Liners—Britannic, Olympic, and RMS Titanic. The dock is nearly 900 feet long, could hold 21 million gallons of water, and the Titanic just about fit in. The original steel-casing gate (now showing some signs of rust) that enclosed the dock and kept ships watertight, weighs a staggering 1,000 tons. Visitors can take a 10-minute audiovisual guide in the Pump House. There is no individual access to the pump house: all visitors must be on an accompanied tour. Hot snacks and sandwiches are available in the pump-house café and visitor center (open March-October, daily 10:30-4), where you can buy Titanic postcards and other souvenirs, including a deck-plan poster. The Metro Bus Route No. 26 from City Hall is the easiest way to get to the Pump House, or opt for a 20-minute walk from Belfast city center to Queen's Road (home to the Odyssey Arena and W5 science center).