Glass of Thrones
Find the locations of the Game of Thrones®-themed stained glass windows in Belfast, and follow the trail past the very place the show was filmed at Titanic Studios. The windows were unveiled to coincide with the final season of the show with each one representing a different house or legacy; including the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, Targaryens, White Walkers and the Iron Throne. The designs include the most talked-about scenes from seasons one to seven based on fans’ online searches.
Public Art
The Maritime Mile has public art dotted all along it, with work from renowned local artists. Follow the trail from the City Quays, across the Lagan Weir footbridge and along Belfast’s iconic waterfront to Titanic’s Dock & Pump-House. As you follow the trail to explore a selection of Belfast’s public art, you can also explore the city’s maritime past as you walk in the footsteps of the thousands of dockers who worked in the biggest shipyard in the world.
The Gateway Nest, City Quays Gardens
A sculpture titled The Gateway Nest marks the entrance to City Quays Gardens. Inspired by both a bird’s nest and a ship’s crow’s nest, it symbolizes the site’s maritime heritage and the return of nature.
City Quays Gardens is designed to ‘One Planet Living’ environmental standards, blending maritime heritage with sustainable design. Featuring lush green spaces, amphitheatre seating, outdoor workspaces, and extensive tree planting. The gardens promote wellbeing, social interaction, and agile working.
The Dividers
The Dividers sculpture, made of bronze with a stainless-steel core, stands proudly at 8.3m tall. It was produced in 2002 by local artist Vivien Burnside, framing views of Belfast or outwards to views of the sea.
The Flying Angel
A gleaming bronze and stainless-steel angel reaches out from the bow of a ship built at the side of the Mission to Seafarers building. The figure is the worldwide symbol of the Seafarers’ Mission, a religious charity set up in the mid-19th Century, to provide sailors with shelter and comfort. The Angel, designed by local artist Maurice Harron, is captured here in the act of calming the waves. Find it at Prince’s Dock Street, off Pilot Street and just north of Clarendon Dock.
The Big Fish, Belfast
You can’t miss Belfast’s Big Fish aka Salmon of Knowledge – it’s 10m long! The sculpture was created by Belfast artist John Kindness in 1999 to celebrate the regeneration of the River Lagan. The shiny blue and white scales are made of hundreds of tiny pieces of ceramic, each depicting moments in Belfast’s history.
The Kit
The innovative genius that lay behind the building of Titanic is celebrated in this spectacular 13.5m tall bronze structure. Artist Tony Stallard was inspired by the plastic frames of the Airfix model kits to create this giant model of the legendary liner using its component parts. The Kit was installed in 2009 and is located in Titanic Quarter, closed to where Titanic was built over 100 years ago.
Portrait Bench
Made from steel, these life size portraits celebrate local historical and cultural figures – you’ll immediately recognise silent film actor Charlie Chaplin who travelled on board SS Nomadic in 1952, on his way to premiere a film in England. He is accompanied by a shipyard worker who helped build the SS Nomadic and a French waiter who served on the White Star Line ship.
Belfast Buoys
These distinctive navigation buoys celebrate the city’s maritime heritage. They were recently restored and took up residence on the Maritime Mile in 2019. Each buoy weighs around 3 tonnes and is made of thick steel plates riveted together. The three buoys are estimated to be around 80 years old and were used by mariners to find a safe channel to and from port.
The Titanica
The delicate Titanica sculpture was created by the renowned Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie and installed at the front entrance to Titanic Belfast to mark its opening in 2012. The sculpture is the form of a diving female figure and takes inspiration from the traditional female ship figureheads mounted on the prows of sailing ships. The life-size figure is cast in bronze and represents hope and positivity.
The ’Docker’s Rest’ Mural
The mural was a collaboration between leading local artists Terry Bradley and Friz, and depicts men from Sailortown and the docks, and showcases Belfast’s maritime heritage as well as traditions of murals and hospitality in the city. It was unveiled in 2019, marking the anniversary when the famous ship was launched on 31st May 1911.
You can also spot some of Terry Bradleys work on display at Queens Quay Kisok, featuring five portraits. The works have been inspired by the hardworking men and women of industrial Belfast, and are accompanied by personal stories from former dockers, offering visitors a glimpse into the city’s rich maritime heritage.
The Great Light
As you continue along the iconic waterfront and walk along the Titanic Walkway, you will come to the magnificent Great Light. It is one of the largest optics of its kind ever built in the world and is around 130 years old. It weighs 7 tonnes, is 7m tall and produced one of the strongest lighthouse beams ever to shine!
