belfast

What to see
What to see
Essential Belfast
If you’re on a whistle-stop day trip, join an open top
bus tour for a 90min scoot round the major sights including
Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic and Crumlin Road
Gaol. Shoppers should head to upmarket Victoria
Square. Then, if you’ve time to spare, head north on
Metro Bus N°1, jumping off at Belfast Castle, Belfast
Zoo and Cavehill Country Park for unbeatable views
across the city and NI.
Stay on the right track with these keys (from p.11):
WB = West Belfast EB = East Belfast
SB = South Belfast NB = North Belfast
BUS Tours
Two companies run 90min hop-on, hop-off open-top bus
tours of Belfast. Tickets last 48hrs and tours dip into the
Titanic Quarter, head West to the Shankill and Falls Roads
then return to the city centre via the Queen’s Quarter. Live
commentaries are as entertaining as they are enlightening,
with local guides cracking Troubles-related jokes only
a native could get away with. The Belfast City Sightseeing
Bus Tour also stops at Stormont Parliament Building (up to
15:00) and the Titanic & City Bus Tour heads north to Belfast
Castle. £12.50/10.50, 4-10 £6, family (2+3) £31, U4 free.
Y Both companies offer discounts for on-line bookings
and also run Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones tours.
Belfast City Sightseeing Bus Tour QC-1,
Castle Place, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 1321, www.belfastcitysightseeing.co.uk.
Dept. 10:00 - 16:00.
Titanic & City Bus Tours QC-1 High St (beside
Office shoe shop), tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 1912,
www.citytoursbelfast.com. Dept. 09:45 - 16:45.
Buildings & Curiosities
Albert Memorial Clock
Belfast’s most prominent timepiece was built from 1865-
1870 in memory of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince
Albert, who died in 1862. The 43m-high landmark is
famous as Belfast’s very own leaning tower. Like many
structures in the city, it was built on reclaimed land on the
River Farset’s somewhat squishy foundations and the clock
tower currently leans 1.25m to the left. A two-year £multimillion
restoration project saw craftsmen working ‘round
the clock’ to spruce up its sandstone, polish its two tonne
bell and add gold leaf to its four faces. The area around
the clock was once the stomping ground for ladies of the
night ‘servicing’ visiting sailors.QC-1, High St.
Belfast City Hall
A magnificent sight, especially when viewed from Royal
Avenue, this imposing Portland stone and copper-domed
building was completed in 1906 as a symbol of Belfast’s
new city status. Queen Victoria stands at the front, and the
grounds are dotted with many more statues and monuments,
details of which can be found on a large map at the
gates. In 1995 the building provided a dramatic backdrop
when President Clinton switched on the city’s Christmas
lights. Check out The Bobbin cafe, whose name reflects
Belfast’s linen-making past, and No Mean City exhibition.
And take a free 45min guided tour for a behind the scenes
glimpse at this iconic building.QC-2, Donegall Square,
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/cityhall. The Bobbin cafe Mon-
Fri 09:00 - 16:30, Sat 09:00 - 16:00. Tours Mon-Fri 11:00,
14:00, 15:00; Sat 14:00 & 15:00. YKh
Belfast Masts
Each of these eight 16.2m high copper structures is named
after a White Star Line ship built in Belfast, among them
Olympic, Britannic, Nomadic and, of course, Titanic. The
masts feature large-scale banners and info panels at each
base. QC-2, Donegall Place.
CS Lewis statue
Stood fittingly outside Holywood Arches Library, this lifesize
statue is called The Searcher. It depicts the Belfast-born
Chronicles of Narnia author as Narnia narrator Digory Kirke
stepping into a wardrobe - no doubt in search of his mystical
land. Sculptor Ross Wilson unveiled the bronze statue
in 1998 - the centenary of Lewis’ birth.QG-2, Holywood
Rd, M3. EB
Custom House
The chiselled heads of Neptune, Britannia and Mercury
gaze down from this stately 1850’s Italianite building
whose sweeping steps have long been a platform for
protests and speeches galvanising the working man. Look
out for the bronze sculpture of a Speaker representing this
oratorical past. Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope used to
work here, and is commemorated with a Blue Plaque. The
pedestrianised Square provides a sparkly space for Sk8er
Bois, science toys, illuminated fountains tracing the reclaimed
River Farset, Belfast’s oldest drinking fountain for
horses and the occasional al fresco event.QD-1, Custom
House Square. Though usually closed to the public, the
building opens during September’s European Open
Heritage Days.
Belfast Visitor pass
Explore more and save money with this 1-3 day tourist
discount card. The Adult/Child Pass costs £6.30/3.65
(one day), £10.50/5.75 (two days) or £14/7.50 (three
days) and includes unlimited bus and rail travel on all
scheduled Metro, NI Railways and Ulsterbus services
within a specially designated Greater Belfast Zone. Discounts
on tours, attractions, souvenirs, eating out and
lots more goodies are also included. To find out more
visit the Belfast Welcome Centre (p.5) or buy on-line at
www.translink.co.uk. And look for the Y symbol on
our listings for some of the participating companies.
Lagan Valley Regional
Park
This tranquil series of parklands runs for 18km along
the River Lagan between Belfast’s Stranmillis and the
neighbouring city of Lisburn. A network of walks, running
and cycling paths transports visitors through a
myriad of heritage sites, nature reserves, parkland and
riverside trails: there’s no dreamier way to spend a sunny
afternoon.Qoff F-4, www.laganvalley.co.uk.
Giant’s Ring
This 2700BC late Neolithic site is Belfast’s very own
small-scale Stonehenge and Ireland’s largest ritual enclosure.
The 200m-diameter site is enclosed by a 3mhigh
circular earthwork with five entrance gaps: climb
to the top for great views of the surrounding city and
countryside. In the centre of the earthwork stands a
megalithic chamber with five standing stones and a
tilted capstone. Experts believe the site was originally
a meeting place or cult centre, and records indicate it
was an 18th century venue for horse races.
Shaw’s Bridge
This five-arched stone bridge was built in 1709 with
stones most likely taken from the ruins of a nearby
fort. It was originally an oak bridge built by Captain
Shaw in 1655 to allow Oliver Cromwell’s gunners to
cross the River Lagan. Today it attracts young romantics,
families and dog walkers content to soak
up its peaceful atmosphere and enjoy a Mr Whippy
ice cream.
Harland & Wolff Cranes
Wherever you go in Belfast there’s no escaping Samson
and Goliath, two giant, moveable yellow cranes looming
over what was once the world’s biggest shipyard. These
engineering heavyweights stand at 96m and 106m high,
140m wide and were built in 1969 and 1974 respectively.
Belfast’s shipbuilding industry may have dwindled but the
cranes are still used for H&W’s heavy engineering projects
and have been preserved as historic monuments. Only the
chosen few can take the lift to their summit for spectacular
city views. So resign yourself to enjoying Belfast’s most
iconic landmarks from ground level.QG-2, Titanic Quarter,
www.harland-wolff.com. EB
Queen’s University
Designed by Charles Lanyon and opened in 1849, this gothic
masterpiece is said to be based on Oxford University’s
Magdalen College. It is regarded as one of the best universities
in the British Isles and its Chancellor, former US Senator
George Mitchell, was a major architect of the Good Friday
Agreement. Famous alumni include President of Ireland
Mary McAleese, Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney
and scientist Lord Kelvin whose statue is in nearby Botanic
Gardens. Pick up the free, informative walking tour leaflet
at the Queen’s Welcome Centre where you can also buy a
range of Irish and QUB-branded souvenirs. Guided tours
can be arranged in advance.QB-4, University Rd, M7,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9097 5252, www.qub.ac.uk/vcentre.
09:30 - 16:30, Sun 10:00 - 13:00. YhSB
Cathedrals
St. Anne’s Cathedral
Dating back to 1776, the original St. Anne’s Church was
demolished in 1903 making way for a new Hiberno-
Romanesque-style Cathedral of Belfast. The foundation
stone was laid in 1899 and the cathedral built in five stages
across two centuries. The West Front, featuring Ireland’s
largest Celtic cross, was completed in 1927 and dedicated
to the victims of World War I. Though dedicated to St.
Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Cathedral
was originally named after Lady Anne Hamilton, wife of
the founder of the original Parish Church. The Anglican
Cathedral often holds inter-church services and past visitors
have included Royalty and Heads of State. It is also
the burial place of Unionist MP Lord Carson, regarded as
the founding father of the NI state. The Cathedral was extensively
refurbished in 1998 and, in 2007, a stainless steel
72m ‘Spire of Hope’ added to the roof.QC-1, Lwr Donegall
St, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 8332, www.belfastcathedral.
org. Mon-Sat 08:00 - 18:00, Sun 08:00 - 16:00 (closed to
tourists Sun 11:00- 12:30). h
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cathedral
This neo-Gothic twin-spired Cathedral off Falls Road was
built in 1866 for the city’s increasing Catholic population.
28 Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com
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August - September 2014 29