Belfast City & Region Guide
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Winter 2020-21 Belfast City & Region Guide facebook.com/ visitbelfastcity Hello! twitter@visitbelfast Christmas in Belfast Whatever is on your Christmas list, you’ll find everything you need in Urban Art Belfast at prices you’ll love. Explore this flourishing 10 and evolving street 16 art scene. Winter Walks The opportunities to recharge in Belfast are plentiful and 20 picturesque. Maritime Mile Discover the rich history and tradition of the city’s 28 shipbuilding heritage. 46 The Directory Sightseeing tours, restaurants, cafés, A Taste of Belfast or gastropubs... Book your table and tuck we’ve got it all 18 in for a taste sensation! covered. With special thanks to our strategic and corporate partners Translink, Diageo NI, Value Cabs, Victoria Square, Belfast One, Titanic Belfast, Hastings Hotels and Belfast Waterfront. Belfast City Guide is available free Belfast City Guide is produced by Tel: +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Disclaimer All information in this from the Visit Belfast Welcome Visit Belfast Fax: +44 (0)28 9024 9026 guide is correct at the time of Centre and outlets across the city. 9 Donegall Square North Email: [email protected] publication but is subject to change Belfast BT1 5GB www.visitbelfast.com without notice. Check online for Designed by McCadden Northern Ireland latest info at visitbelfast.com VISITBELFAST.COM 3 STAY SAFE WELCOMING YOU TO BELFAST 4 VISITBELFAST.COM Coronavirus (COVID-19) Please adhere to the social distancing guidelines. The Visit Belfast and our tourism and use of face coverings is now hospitality partners have been working mandatory in certain indoor settings across Northern hard to ensure that the city is ready to Ireland. This includes shops, welcome visitors. Belfast is renowned shopping centres, public and private transport for its resilience, innovation and services, taxis, airplanes, creativity – and we have adapted to public transport stations and airports, banks and provide people with the confidence to some government offices. return to the city safely. To check current information on Coronavirus guidelines Partnership is at the heart Our city guide provides all for Northern Ireland, visit: of everything we do – the information you need nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/ Belfast is ready to offer the to discover everything that coronavirus-covid-19 warmest of welcomes and Belfast has to offer, from incredible experiences the the city centre right through Many providers have pre- city is already known for to its eclectic quarters and booking systems and new in a responsible, safe and the greater region beyond, regulations in place to keep sensitive way. Our partner each with something you safe. Please be sure to businesses are COVID special to uncover and check individual websites prepared in every aspect enjoy. From history to art to avoid disappointment, of their visitor experience. to relaxing green spaces to or contact the Visit Belfast great food, friendly faces Welcome Centre where one and everything in between, of our travel advisors will uncover the heritage behind be happy to help the city that built Titanic 028 9024 6609 and enjoy serene coastal paths, charming villages and stunning Royal Palace gardens in the regions, just a short drive away. For more information, visitbelfast.com VISITBELFAST.COM 5 BELFAST BUCKET LIST MUST SEE: Check out our essential list of places not to be missed this Christmas in Belfast. EXPERIENCE 01 EXPERIENCE 03 Christmas in Belfast Maritime Treasure Trail As the city sparkles for the Take a real-life adventure festive season, discover that will fuel the imagination enchanting light displays and get you exploring the and some great socially most interesting parts of distanced family events, Belfast’s iconic waterfront from walking trails to Santa while discovering its experiences. seafaring history, vibrant quaysides and historic docks. SEE MAP E2 TOUR 05 Discover Some Urban Art MARKETS 04 The Cathedral Quarter St George’s Market offers a distinctly varied Browse stalls full of the and modern street art finest fresh produce, local scene. Take some time to arts and crafts and delicious stroll around the area to hot food at the charming view these amazing pieces Victorian St George’s Market of art and don’t miss the every Friday, Saturday and fabulous ceiling of colourful Sunday. umbrellas in the alley off 02 SEE MAP D4 Commercial Court. SHOPPING 02 Victoria Square An exceptional shopping experience with spectacular 360° views across the city from The Dome. Four levels of shopping, including House of Fraser department store, and great places to eat and drink. SEE MAP D4 04 6 VISITBELFAST.COM 10 EXPERIENCE 06 TOUR 08 Titanic Belfast Belfast Cathedral This state-of-the-art Pay a visit to this magnificent HERITAGE 10 visitor experience tells the place of worship at the story of the Titanic, from heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Stormont Estate construction to her launch Quarter, known locally as Enjoy a stroll around the and subsequent place in St Anne’s Cathedral – a stunning Stormont Estate history. treasure trove of history, which is home to the NI SEE MAP E2 art, culture and music. Assembly and Stormont SEE MAP D3 Parliament Buildings, one TIME OUT 07 of the most striking pieces DISCOVER 09 of architecture in Northern Botanic Gardens Ireland. Located between the Ulster Museum stunning Lanyon Building Surrounded by the EXPERIENCE 11 of Queen’s University and beautiful Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum, this the Ulster Museum’s Crumlin Road Gaol beautiful 28 acre park impressive galleries and Try life behind bars with a dates back to 1828 and is interactive discovery zones self-guided tour of the 150 home to the famous Palm bring history, science and year old gaol and learn first- House and Tropical Ravine. art collections to life for hand how this Victorian SEE MAP D7 visitors of all ages. prison evolved through SEE MAP C6 history. SEE MAP B2 GAME OF THRONES 12 Glass of Thrones Trail Find all six of Belfast’s Game of Thrones stained glass windows and follow the trail from the city centre to the very place the show was filmed at Titanic Studios in the Titanic Quarter. VISITBELFAST.COM 7 EXPLORING BELFAST For locations, check out our handy maps on CITY AREAS pages 63-68. Exploring a city can be tricky if you don’t know your way around, or even what to look out for. Get a flavour of Belfast with this taster to help navigate your way around the city’s areas and quarters. CITY CATHEDRAL LINEN TITANIC CENTRE QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER Home to the iconic Packed full of fascinating Belfast was Steeped in memories Belfast City Hall, St architecture, buzzing once nicknamed of a bygone era, the George’s Market and beer gardens, trendy “Linenopolis” as it was Titanic Quarter is now the main shopping warehouse restaurants, the world leader in the a fun and energetic district. You’ll be spoilt cobblestoned streets, production of linen urban waterfront for choice with the and colourful street in the 19th Century. development. Visit or abundance of cool art, this area of town Just south of City take a tour of the cafés, great pubs, contrasts the old Hall, you can enjoy the many historic and trendy bars and an with the new, with St. architecture of the old state-of-the-art Titanic amazing restaurant Anne’s Square, home linen mills which house visitor attractions, scene. Start off in the to the Metropolitan a mix of offices, chic Visit Belfast Welcome Arts Centre (MAC) and bars and renowned or simply stroll around Centre (opposite a piazza of welcoming restaurants. This is a the Maritime Mile to City Hall) to pick up eateries, alongside great part of town to learn more about the information, book tours some of the oldest enjoy dinner and drinks. city’s shipbuilding and find out everything streets in Belfast. heritage. to make the most of your visit. QUEEN’S GAELTACHT EAST THE QUARTER QUARTER SIDE SHANKILL The area around The centre for Irish EastSide was once Straddling North Queen’s University language, music the beating heart of and West Belfast, is a treasure trove and culture is in the the city’s industrial the Shankill is home of eclectic shops, west of the city. An past with thousands to a wide collection of painted murals boutiques, cafés, Cultúrann showcases of people employed cultural Irish Gaelic in linen mills, rope depicting the social bars and art galleries. and political history Visit the collections traditions and contains factories, engineering a restaurant, gift works and shipyards. of the area. Places of of the Ulster Museum, shop, theatre and EastSide is now interest include the Peace Wall, the Old stroll around Botanic gallery. Explore the thriving once again Gardens. The Shankill Graveyard, stunning Clonard but this time as a dating back to the 14th neighbouring Lisburn Monastery or enjoy the hub of culture and Road offers designer century, the Shankill 3 mile Divis Summit creativity. Make the Memorial Park and the shopping, cafés, Trail, a specifically EastSide Visitor ancient Bullaun Stone. artisan delis, salons designed loop walk on Centre your first stop, The Spectrum Centre, and wine bars. Divis Mountain with with information on a major landmark in the spectacular views key attractions in area, hosts a range of over Belfast. east Belfast. events and exhibitions. 8 VISITBELFAST.COM CHRISTMAS IN BELFAST Belfast has something for everyone, from little somethings to say thank you, treats and surprises for friends, to special gifts for family and loved ones. Whatever is on your Christmas list, you’ll find everything you need in Belfast at prices you’ll love. 10 VISITBELFAST.COM CHRISTMAS IN BELFAST Belfast’s retailers are Good to Go with hand sanitising stations and measures in place to ensure social distancing in-store, so you CastLECOurt BELFast RestauraNT can shop safely for those last CastleCourt shopping centre VOUCHERS minute gifts.