Belfast Historic Waterfront and Maritime Mile

Belfast Historic Waterfront and the award-winning Maritime Mile is a place where water meets land, heritage meets innovation, culture meets commerce, industry meets the world; a vibrant, accessible, heritage destination for current and future generations to enjoy.

River Life

Belfast Harbour is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, from seals and fish to eels and more than 180 species of birds from across the world.

Embark on an adventure along the Maritime Mile Blueway Trail, where your navigational skills will guide you on your very own waterfront journey. Along the way, discover the fascinating natural heritage of Belfast’s waterfront and the wildlife that calls it home.

Find Out More

Belfast Historic Waterfront as a Heritage Place

In October 2025, Belfast Historic Waterfront was selected by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as one of six new places across the UK and only one of two in Northern Ireland, alongside Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, to benefit from a major multi-million-pound investment. Led by Maritime Belfast, this designation, awarded under the Heritage Places initiative, represents a significant milestone for Belfast and a generational opportunity to connect more people with the heritage of the River Lagan and the places where they live, work and visit.

Find Out More

Quays, Docks and Slipways

Belfast Historic Waterfront and the Maritime Mile tells the story of Belfast’s remarkable maritime history through the quays, docks and slipways that shaped the city’s identity as a global centre of shipbuilding and trade.

Donegall Quay

One of Belfast’s earliest remaining quays, Donegall Quay was built in the early 1800s and named after the…

Clarendon Dock

The oldest remaining docks in Belfast Harbour are the Clarendon dry docks, built in the 1800s, by…

Thompson Dock

The huge dry dock was built specifically to house the Olympic Class liners that Harland & Wolff had…

Art Trails

Stretching from City Quays along the River Lagan to Titanic's Dock & Pump-House, the Maritime Mile is home to a remarkable collection of sculptures and installations created by some of Ireland's most celebrated artists.

Group of three people posing for a phone at one of the stained glass windows on the Glass of Thrones Trail.

Glass of Thrones Trail Map

Find the locations of the Game of Thrones®-themed stained glass windows in Belfast, and follow the trail…

Stained glass window as part of the Glass of Thrones trail.

The Gateway Nest, City Quays Garden

A sculpture titled The Gateway Nest marks the entrance to City Quays Gardens. Inspired by both a bird’s…

Belfast Buoys

These distinctive navigation buoys celebrate the city’s maritime heritage. They are estimated to be…

Historical Buildings

Belfast's historic waterfront buildings, from the grand Victorian Harbour Commissioners Office and elegant Custom House to the beautifully preserved maritime churches of St Joseph's and Sinclair Seamans, form an architectural testament to the city's rich 19th-century maritime heritage and the seafaring traditions that shaped generations of dock workers, sailors, and…

Titanic Quarter Attractions, Stays and Eats

Belfast Historic Waterfront and the Maritime Mile is also home to Titanic Quarter, an area filled with state-of-the-art Titanic and maritime visitor attractions, hotels, sporting activities and tours for the whole family to enjoy.