Selected Highlights
Visit EastSide
Description
Explore East Belfast's industrial heritage, the streets where Titanic shipyard workers lived and the childhood neighbourhood of famous faces like George Best.
Get active cycling or walking along two city Greenways connected at C.S. Lewis Square at Belfast’s EastSide.
An easy 10 minute Glider or bus trip from the city centre brings you to EastSide Visitor Centre. From here you can navigate the neighbourhood, book a tour or meet an ‘EastSider’. Sports fans can take a tour of the childhood home of football hero, George Best, catch a game at Ulster Rugby’s Stadium or cheer on local soccer team, 'The Glens', at The Oval. If arts and culture are more your thing, EastSiders have a way with words and music, so don’t miss the chance to explore the streets and places that where once home to and inspired C.S. Lewis and Van Morrison!
Located between Stormont Estate and Titanic Quarter, EastSide is bursting with street art, old and new. You could say the walls of EastSide actually do talk as there is a vast array of political and community murals throughout the neighbourhood which are off the usual tourist trail, but are fascinating for anyone keen to understand Belfast’s complex history and contemporary society. If you prefer your art in one place, then there is a growing number of boutique galleries, local craft studios, vintage shops and creative start-up businesses to explore.
Whatever you get up to EastSide, have a great time!
Find out more at www.visiteastside.com
The George Best (self-guided) trail
George Best was proud to be from east Belfast and the people of east Belfast remain incredibly proud of 'Our George'. Spend half a day exploring the places closest to George's heart.
Download the trail here: https://visiteastside.com/listing/george-best-trail
C.S. Lewis Square
Rediscover The Chronicles of Narnia with a walk through C.S. Lewis Square, a public space commemorating the Belfast-born author, C.S. Lewis. Featuring seven bronze sculptures from 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe', including Aslan, The White Witch, Mr Tumnus, The Beavers, The Robin and The Stone Table, it is a stunning display of public art.
C.S. Lewis Square is located at the intersection of the Connswater and Comber Greenways, beside the EastSide Visitor Centre, where visitors can access information on the city's attractions from interactive screens, interpretative panels and a wall map, connecting people to EastSide's famous faces, places and industries.
The Centre also includes a coffee bar, named after East Belfast's famous author C.S. Lewis, affectionately known as 'Jack' to friends and family. JACK Coffee Bar features locally sourced produce and showcases products from local artists and food producers.
C.S. Lewis Square is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are fully illuminated.
Accommodation
The Stormont Hotel, Ashfield Bed and Breakfast and George Best House are great places to stay during your visit to Belfast. They are all situated on main bus routes which make east Belfast and the rest of Belfast extremely accessible. Download the Translink (local transport provider) app for your smartphone for timetables and bus routes.
George Best House
If you fancy an immersive, authentic experience why not stay in The George Best House, the childhood home of a football legend! The home where George lived before travelling to Manchester, and where his mother and father remained, is available as a holiday rental and includes three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room and front and back gardens.
To book a tour or stay visit: https://www.georgebesthouse.com/
An easy 10 minute Glider or bus trip from the city centre brings you to EastSide Visitor Centre. From here you can navigate the neighbourhood, book a tour or meet an ‘EastSider’. Sports fans can take a tour of the childhood home of football hero, George Best, catch a game at Ulster Rugby’s Stadium or cheer on local soccer team, 'The Glens', at The Oval. If arts and culture are more your thing, EastSiders have a way with words and music, so don’t miss the chance to explore the streets and places that where once home to and inspired C.S. Lewis and Van Morrison!
Located between Stormont Estate and Titanic Quarter, EastSide is bursting with street art, old and new. You could say the walls of EastSide actually do talk as there is a vast array of political and community murals throughout the neighbourhood which are off the usual tourist trail, but are fascinating for anyone keen to understand Belfast’s complex history and contemporary society. If you prefer your art in one place, then there is a growing number of boutique galleries, local craft studios, vintage shops and creative start-up businesses to explore.
Whatever you get up to EastSide, have a great time!
Find out more at www.visiteastside.com
The George Best (self-guided) trail
George Best was proud to be from east Belfast and the people of east Belfast remain incredibly proud of 'Our George'. Spend half a day exploring the places closest to George's heart.
Download the trail here: https://visiteastside.com/listing/george-best-trail
C.S. Lewis Square
Rediscover The Chronicles of Narnia with a walk through C.S. Lewis Square, a public space commemorating the Belfast-born author, C.S. Lewis. Featuring seven bronze sculptures from 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe', including Aslan, The White Witch, Mr Tumnus, The Beavers, The Robin and The Stone Table, it is a stunning display of public art.
C.S. Lewis Square is located at the intersection of the Connswater and Comber Greenways, beside the EastSide Visitor Centre, where visitors can access information on the city's attractions from interactive screens, interpretative panels and a wall map, connecting people to EastSide's famous faces, places and industries.
The Centre also includes a coffee bar, named after East Belfast's famous author C.S. Lewis, affectionately known as 'Jack' to friends and family. JACK Coffee Bar features locally sourced produce and showcases products from local artists and food producers.
C.S. Lewis Square is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are fully illuminated.
Accommodation
The Stormont Hotel, Ashfield Bed and Breakfast and George Best House are great places to stay during your visit to Belfast. They are all situated on main bus routes which make east Belfast and the rest of Belfast extremely accessible. Download the Translink (local transport provider) app for your smartphone for timetables and bus routes.
George Best House
If you fancy an immersive, authentic experience why not stay in The George Best House, the childhood home of a football legend! The home where George lived before travelling to Manchester, and where his mother and father remained, is available as a holiday rental and includes three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room and front and back gardens.
To book a tour or stay visit: https://www.georgebesthouse.com/
Top Reasons To Visit
- Sport: Ravenhill & The Oval grounds nearby
- Famous Faces: George Best, C.S. Lewis and Van Morrison
- Walking and Cycling: Connswater Community Greenway
- Public Art and Murals: explore the unique public art in east
- Yardmen statue: Plays tribute to the men who built Titanic
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Harland and Wolff
Did you know that the Harland and Wolff shipyard built over 2000 ships including RMS Titanic? You can take a walk in the footsteps of the Yardmen who built these ships, see where they lived and relaxed, using The Yardmen Trail.
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The Northern Ireland Assembly
The seat of government, sits in Parliament Buildings, located in the grounds of the fabulous Stormont Estate. Learn more about the history of ‘our wee country’ and enjoy a walk in beautiful surroundings. Free tours of the building are available Monday to Friday at 10am and 3pm.
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Walking and cycling
If you enjoy walking or cycling then EastSide is the place to start in Belfast. This is the only part of the city to have extensive Greenways, offering traffic free routes from Titanic Quarter to the Castlereagh Hills and from Belfast City Centre to the village of Comber. You can get from the buzz of EastSide to green open spaces in about the same time it takes to enjoy a locally brewed craft beer.
EastSide has several heritage and themed trails and maps to help guide you around the rich history and culture of the area area and to help you explore the Connswater Community Greenway. https://www.eastsidegreenways.com/greenway-trails-and-books/
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The Van Morrison (self-guided) trail
The Van Morrison Trail, will take you on a journey through the east Belfast of Van’s youth. The 3.5km trail should take approximately two hours to complete, so wear a comfortable pair of shoes and be prepared for the weather – it isn’t always sunny in Belfast! The Trail is a wonderful opportunity for you to visit some of the places that Morrison knew as a child growing up. Many of these places, and the people who lived there, were to shape the character and values of ‘Van the Man’. You will discover on your journey that some of them are referenced in his lyrics and music.
For a full ‘sight and sound’ experience of the Van Morrison Trail, be sure to check out the map that accompanies the booklet. You will notice that there are QR codes alongside a number of the locations. Simply scan each QR code into your smart phone to download a short song extract related to that location.
Download the trail here:https://visiteastside.com/listing/van-morrison-trail
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The CS Lewis (self-guided) trail
The C.S. Lewis Trail will take you to the places that influenced and inspired the young C.S. Lewis.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the 20th Century. He wrote more than 40 books, ranging from children’s fantasy literature to popular theology.
Download the trail here: https://visiteastside.com/listing/cs-lewis-trail
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