VISIT BELFAST City Guide Autumn 2019
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Autumn 2019 facebook.com/ visitbelfastcity Hello! twitter@visitbelfast Taste the Island As part of Taste the Island’s celebration of Irish food and drink, we’re inviting Festival Fever you to join us on a flavour adventure. Fantastic festivals to 10 14 brighten up Autumn. Season Ticket Find out when all the 18 action kicks off. Titanic City Uncover the true 26 legend of Titanic. 46 The Directory Sightseeing tours, Christmas Guide restaurants, cafés, Unwrap our 12 days pubs or clubs… 38 of Christmas. we’ve got it 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 BELFAST BUCKET LIST MUST DO: Check out our guide to the best Belfast events not to be missed! MUSIC 01 CULTURE 04 CINEMA 07 The Belfast Culture Night Cinemagic’s 30th International Tattoo 20 & 21 September Anniversary Festival 6 & 7 September Cathedral Quarter 1 October – 3 November SSE Arena The city’s biggest cultural Various Venues Bands and performers from celebration returns with The best in new world four different continents a host of unique and cinema, action packed with will take part in this annual special events around talent lab and creativity Ulster-Scots music and Cathedral Quarter. corner masterclasses dance extravaganza. culturenightbelfast.com with television and film ssearenabelfast.com professionals. cinemagic.org.uk HERITAGE 02 FESTIVAL 08 European Heritage Open Days Belfast International 14–15 September Arts Festival Various Venues SPORT 05 15 October – 3 November Get the unique opportunity Various Venues to look inside over 400 Belfast City A festival of contemporary properties across Belfast Half Marathon arts and cultural events and beyond. 22 September including theatre, dance, discovernorthernireland Join over 5,000 participants classical and roots music, .com/ehod for this flat and fast 13.1 mile visual, film and digital arts route, which weaves its and literature. FAMILY FUN 03 way throughout the four belfastinternationalarts corners of the city. festival.com Autumn Fair belfastcitymarathon.com 14–15 September Botanic Gardens FESTIVAL 06 A weekend of outdoor family fun packed with Belfast Restaurant Week displays, live music, a 23–29 September variety of stalls and kids Various Venues activities. Ditch the dishes this belfastcity.gov.uk/events September and enjoy a seven day-long celebration of the city centre’s fantastic culinary offering. belfastrestaurantweek.org 4 VISITBELFAST.COM 13 SPORT 14 Friendship Four CELEBRATION 09 CHRISTMAS 12 29–30 November SSE Arena Halloween Belfast Lights Up Returning for its fifth year 27–31 October for Christmas in Belfast, teams from New Various Venues 16 November Hampshire, Northeastern, Spooktacular fun for all the Belfast City Hall Colgate and Princeton family with loads of creepy Welcome in the festive will battle it out to win the events taking place across season as the city is filled coveted Belpot Trophy. the city. with Christmas cheer and friendshipfour.com visitbelfast.com twinkling lights. visitbelfast.com/ PANTOMIME 15 10 christmas ENTERTAINMENT Christmas Pantomimes Lady Boys of Bangkok November / December MARKETS 13 2–17 November Various Venues Custom House Square Belfast Christmas Market Bring all the family along The dazzling divas are back 16 November – for this much loved coming of age celebrating 22 December festive tradition, where being 21 with their brand Grounds of Belfast City Hall comedy and mayhem are new show ‘The Greatest Indulge in the fantastic guaranteed. Show Girls’. smells, sights, crafts, visitbelfast.com/ ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk food, drinks and festive christmas atmosphere at the annual MARKETS 11 Christmas Market at Belfast City Hall. Twilight Market visitbelfast.com/ 12–13 November christmas St George’s Market Soak up the festive atmosphere with live music by local entertainers, chef demonstrations, local food and drink producers and local arts and crafts. stgeorgesmarket.com VISITBELFAST.COM 5 BELFAST BUCKET LIST MUST SEE: Check out our essential list of places not to be missed this autumn in Belfast. EXPERIENCE 01 DISCOVER 04 Titanic Belfast Ulster Museum This state-of-the-art Surrounded by the visitor experience tells the beautiful Botanic Gardens, story of the Titanic, from the Ulster Museum’s construction to her launch impressive galleries and and subsequent place in interactive discovery zones history. bring history, science and SEE MAP E2 art collections to life for visitors of all ages. SEE MAP C6 HISTORY 02 HERITAGE 06 Belfast City Hall SHOPPING 05 Stormont Parliament Visitor Exhibition Victoria Square Buildings This exciting exhibition An exceptional shopping Home to the NI Assembly showcases the journey experience with spectacular and one of the most from the city’s past to 360° views across the city striking pieces of present, sharing the from The Dome. Four levels architecture in Northern vibrancy and diversity of of shopping, including Ireland. Take a free tour, Belfast City Hall across six House of Fraser department relax in the gift & coffee themed zones. Audio tours store, and great places to shop or enjoy a walk around also available. eat and drink. the stunning Stormont SEE MAP D4 SEE MAP D4 Estate. MARKETS 03 St George’s Market Browse stalls full of the finest fresh produce, local arts and crafts and delicious hot food at the charming Victorian St George’s Market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. SEE MAP D4 04 6 VISITBELFAST.COM 10 TIME OUT 07 EXPERIENCE 09 Botanic Gardens Crumlin Road Gaol Located between the Try life behind bars with stunning Lanyon Building a tour of the 150 year old of Queen’s University and gaol and learn first-hand the Ulster Museum, this how this Victorian prison MARITIME 11 beautiful 28 acre park evolved through history. HMS Caroline dates back to 1828 and is SEE MAP B2 Discover the fascinating home to the famous Palm history of this World War House and Tropical Ravine. TOUR 10 One survivor and learn SEE MAP D7 Discover some Urban Art about life of the crew 100 years ago through a range TOUR 08 The Cathedral Quarter offers a distinctly varied of exciting interactive Belfast Cathedral and modern street art exhibits. Take a personal audio tour scene. Take some time to SEE MAP F1 of Belfast’s magnificent St stroll around the area to Anne’s Cathedral. Discover view these amazing pieces GAME OF THRONES 12 its rich historic artefacts of art and don’t miss the and learn about the people fabulous ceiling of colourful who helped to shape this umbrellas in the alley off sacred place. Commercial Court. SEE MAP D3 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 07 Quarter. VISITBELFAST.COM 7 EXPLORING BELFAST For locations, check out our handy maps on CITY AREAS pages 63-67. 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 LINEN CATHEDRAL TITANIC CENTRE QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER Home to the iconic Belfast was Packed full of fascinating Steeped in memories Belfast City Hall, St once nicknamed architecture, buzzing of a bygone era, the George’s Market and “Linenopolis” as it was beer gardens, trendy Titanic Quarter is now the main shopping the world leader in the warehouse restaurants, a fun and energetic district. You’ll be spoilt production of linen cobblestoned streets, urban waterfront for choice with the in the 19th Century. and colourful street development. Visit or abundance of cool Just south of City art, this area of town take a tour of the is absolutely buzzing cafés, great pubs, Hall, you can enjoy the many historic and trendy bars and an architecture of the old at night. It contrasts state-of-the-art Titanic amazing restaurant linen mills which house the old with the visitor attractions, scene. Start off in the a mix of offices, chic new, with St. Anne’s Visit Belfast Welcome bars and renowned Square, home to the be wowed by science Centre (opposite restaurants. This is a Metropolitan Arts in W5, explore the City Hall) to pick up great part of town to Centre (MAC) and a 100 year old history information, book tours enjoy dinner and drinks piazza of welcoming of HMS Caroline or and find out everything before an entertaining eateries, alongside catch a show, concert to make the most of show at the Grand some of the oldest or Ice Hockey game your visit. Opera House. streets in Belfast. at the SSE Arena. 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, bars Cultúrlann showcases of people employed cultural Irish Gaelic in linen mills, rope depicting the social and art galleries.