FAQs

We recommend pre-booking your tickets through the 'Book Tickets' button at the top of this page to guarantee entry on the date you plan to visit. We can still admit walk-ups on the day, however, pre-booking helps us manage the number of people on-site to ensure everyone has the most enjoyable experience. 

If you are visiting with a Membership Plus card, you do not need to pre-book your ticket.

Groups of 15 people or more 

Groups should pre-book their trip to the museum. If you go to our dedicated group bookings page, you will get everything you need to know and ways to book.

For any queries related to booking online please call our booking line 028 9042 8428.

The museum is closed on Mondays, except NI bank and public holidays. We are open Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 16:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 16:00. 

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. In extenuating circumstances, please call our booking line on 028 9042 8428 our team will work with you as best we can to reschedule your visit.

The museums have operated as two separate museums for a number of years now as the Ulster Folk Museum and the Ulster Transport Museum. This means we no longer do a dual ticket that gets you into both museums on the same day as one experience. The Ulster Transport Museum has a separate website (ulstertransportmuseum.org) and you can book a ticket for that museum here.

Yes, we take bookings for groups of over 15 people – and you get a 10% discount! We have a dedicated page for group bookings, find out all you need to know and how to book here.

We are able to scan your ticket on entry either from a printed ticket or on a smartphone or tablet. Proof of booking is required to enter the museum. If you forget your pre-booked tickets, we can check your booking reference but this may take a little longer to check at admissions and delay your visit.

The only discount scheme we are part of is Membership Plus. You do not need to pre-book your ticket, just show your membership card at admissions. If you have any queries in advance of your visit, please call our booking line on 028 9042 8428.

For affiliate member organisations such as Irish Museums Association, Art Pass or International Council of Museums, please call our booking line on 028 9042 8428 to book your ticket.

No, unfortunately since the change to Universal Credit, we are unable to offer discounts.

Yes. Visitors with a registered disability can enter the museum for free and access helpers or carers accompanying them on the day are also offered free entry. Carers/helpers cannot come for free on their own. Visitors may be asked to confirm their eligibility by presenting one of the following:

• Award letter from the Department for Communities
• PIP award letter
• Mod disability pension card / notice. 
• Disabled Drivers Blue Badge card
• Disabled persons' bus pass

We have a limited number of mobility scooters and wheelchairs available for any visitor with additional accessibility needs. These can be booked in advance by emailing us. Please state that this is for the ‘Ulster Folk Museum’ in your email.

No, adhering to company policy, all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

We estimate that most of our visitors will tour the museum anywhere between 2.5 to 3 hours. There is no time limit to your visit once you're in and you can enjoy the museum at your leisure. If you are also planning to visit the nearby Ulster Transport Museum on the same day, we recommend you leave a further two hours for this and you’ll need to make a separate booking via the Transport Museum website here, as the museums operate separately now.

Please refer to Translink's website for the most up-to-date travel information for buses and trains.

The Cultra train station, on the Bangor-Portadown line, stops right beside the Ulster Transport Museum across the road from the Folk Museum. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Folk Museum. Please note the walk is uphill, so if you have any accessibility requirements please call us on 028 9042 8428 before your arrival and we'll help you.

The 502a or the 502b Ulsterbus from Laganside Buscentre in Belfast City Centre goes to Ulster Folk Museum. 

We have a dedicated page on 'getting here' - click here for all the information you need.

Our preference would be that you do pre-book, as it helps us manage the number of visitors to expect in the museum on any given day. You will notice in the booking portal, via the 'Book Tickets' button at the top of this page, that your ticket shows up as £0.00 whether you have an Individual Membership or Family Membership. 

If you prefer to book over the phone please call 028 9042 8428 (Monday - Friday, 09.00 - 16.00. Note these are our membership admin opening hours, not the museum opening hours).

HMRC has deemed priority booking to be an additional benefit to members and therefore we are unable to offer priority booking for members.

We would ask that members bring their membership card with them so our visitor team can either validate your pre-booked ticket on arrival or record your admission on our system. We can also accept a member’s photographic ID for validation of tickets.

When you arrive at Cultra Station, you will come across the Transport Museum first. From there, it’s a 15 minute walk to the Folk Museum. Please note the walk is uphill, so if you have any accessibility requirements please call us on 028 9042 8428 prior to your arrival and we can look into arranging one of our mobility scooters or wheelchairs to be received at the Transport Museum.

We have two mobility scooters available as well as battery powered wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs, all of which are bookable ahead of your visit by emailing [email protected].

Whilst most of the site is accessible for wheelchair users, there are a small number of exhibit buildings that are inaccessible due to the historic nature of their design. Our team will be more than happy to provide further information on these areas before you set off and during your journey.

Yes and it is located where the Ballinderry Pound Forge / Blacksmith’s House is (no. 24 on the map). The facility includes:

• Complete showering facilities (wet room)
• Non-slip floor (no changes in levels/steps from point of entry)
• Electrically operated hoist
• Electrically controlled sink to allow height adjustment

You can request a key to access this facility from our Visitor Services team.

We estimate that most of our visitors will tour the museum anywhere between 2.5 to 3 hours. There is no time limit to your visit once you're in and you can enjoy the museum at your leisure. If you are also planning to visit the nearby Ulster Transport Museum on the same day, we recommend you leave a further two hours for this and you’ll need to make a separate booking via the Transport Museum website here, as the museums operate separately now.

Single-use visitor maps are available on your arrival to help you navigate the museum safely. 

Yes, we can provide guided tours for larger groups of up to 20 people on request by contacting [email protected]. There is an additional charge for this (£120 per group of up to 20).

If you're coming as a group of 15+ people, we have a dedicated group bookings page where you will get everything you need to know ahead of your visit and how to book.

Dogs are allowed in outdoor spaces at the Ulster Folk Museum however they must be kept on a short lead at all times. And we ask that you please pick up after your dog. Dogs are not permitted into the exhibit buildings unless your dog is an assistance dog.

Assistance dogs are specifically trained and required to provide a service to their owner/user. This includes:

• Guide dogs that assist visitors with visual impairments.
• Hearing dogs or signal dogs that help visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Service dogs that are not specifically trained for visual or hearing impairment, but are trained to do other work, such as provide mobility and assistance to certain visitors.

Our sister site, the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh (ulsteramericanfolkpark.org), is a completely different museum and its dog policy should not be confused with ours for the Ulster Folk Museum.

We appreciate you thinking of the environment! You can open the map on your smart device here.

No.

Yes, we have public toilets throughout the museum, which are managed and cleaned on a regular basis. Please ensure you follow the guidance we have put in place for everyone’s safety when using our toilets. We are still asking visitors to respect other visitors' space and to keep in mind that several disabilities are hidden when it comes to using adapted toilets.

There is also a Changing Places toilet located where the Ballinderry Pound Forge / Blacksmith’s House is (no. 24 on the map). The facility includes:

• Complete showering facilities (wet room)
• Non-slip floor (no changes in levels/steps from point of entry)
• Electrically operated hoist
• Electrically controlled sink to allow height adjustment

You can request a key to access this facility from our Visitor Services team.

Our main visitor car park is open and free for all visitors. The rural car park is closed to the public. There is also an overflow car park located at the bottom of the hill when you first enter the site beside the security barriers. Parking is free and you can find more information on how to find us here.

At the moment, we don't have an e-charging (or EV charging point) for electric vehicles, but there are two public charging points down in the Transport Museum car park. Just be aware you'll have to make your way up to the Folk Museum which is about a 15-minute walk and is all up hill.

Currently, we don't have any bike racks on-site or area to park bikes.

Ballycultra Tearoom will be open during museum hours offering a selection of hot and cold food and refreshments. When you arrive, just place your order at the counter, take a seat and our staff will deliver your order to your table. Cashless payment is advised but cash is also accepted.

Yes you can bring a picnic to enjoy using one of the many picnic benches located on the museum site. We do not allow the lighting of fires for BBQ on the museum site.

We would ask that you put all your rubbish in the bins provided or take your rubbish home with you. Please leave picnic areas clean and tidy for other visitors.

Yes, the gift shop is open to visitors. Unfortunately we are unable to allow visitors to try on personal items such as jewellery and scarves but we are offering a full refund on all items (excluding earrings and food) up to 60 days on presentation of receipt and all returned sale items will be held off sale for 5 days. Every purchase supports the work of our museum.

While contactless payment is accepted, we still accept cash payments in GBP Sterling and Euro (notes only). Any change will be given in GBP Sterling.