The Linen Hall is Belfast’s oldest library, founded in 1788 and housed in a former linen warehouse at 17 Donegall Square North, across from City Hall. Entry is free, and the library’s collections cover Irish and local studies, including an extensive archive on the Troubles. Look for political posters displayed in the stairwell, then take a break at Chapter Coffee, where you can order coffee and a caramel square. Exhibitions, events and tours add ways to explore Belfast’s history.
A library founded in 1788
The Linen Hall began as the Belfast Reading Society in 1788, founded by a group of artisans. It is Belfast’s oldest library and remains a working library, with reference services and a lending collection. The institution takes its name from its home in a former linen warehouse, in an area once associated with the city’s linen trade.
The building’s distinctive greyish-yellow brick gives it a recognisable presence near City Hall. Its history and collections make the library a place to explore Belfast’s past as well as a quiet place to read.
Collections on Belfast and Ireland
The library holds Irish and local studies collections, alongside a substantial Northern Ireland Political Collection. Its archive includes tens of thousands of books and documents relating to the Troubles, making it a major resource for research into the conflict and its history. Political posters displayed in the stairwell offer a visible introduction to this material.
The collection also includes local resources and works by C.S. Lewis. A digital archive called Divided Society, launched in 2018, brings together material connected with the peace process of the 1990s and the 1998 Belfast Agreement. The collections can help visitors follow different parts of Belfast’s cultural and political history in one place.
Exhibitions, reading and coffee
Public access is free, and you can look around the historic building and its exhibitions without taking out a membership. The library also holds events and tours, which provide additional ways to explore its collections and Belfast history. Check its programme before visiting if you want to plan around a particular activity.
For a pause, Chapter Coffee is inside the library. Coffee and a caramel square are among the options mentioned, and the cafe has views over the city centre. It can become busy around lunchtime, so go earlier if finding a table matters. The gift shop is another stop before you leave.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is entry to the Linen Hall free?
Yes. The library is open to the public for free.
When was the Linen Hall founded?
It was founded in 1788 as the Belfast Reading Society.
What can you see at the Linen Hall?
The library has Irish and local studies collections, an extensive Northern Ireland Political Collection and displays of political posters in the stairwell. It also holds exhibitions, events and tours.
Is there a cafe inside the Linen Hall?
Yes. Chapter Coffee is inside the library, with coffee and a caramel square among the options mentioned.
