Selected Highlights
Linen Quarter
Description
The historic Linen Quarter is rapidly becoming one of the most vibrant, must visit areas of the city, with 40 cafés, bars and restaurants, a dozen hotels, three major music venues and some of the best street art the city has to offer.
Located behind Belfast City Hall, and stretching to Shaftesbury Square in the South, the Linen Quarter covers what was once the headquarters of Ireland’s global linen industry. Tourists can still admire the beautiful red brick warehouses, now home to international businesses or award-winning restaurants, music venues and leisure activities.
Key attractions include the Crown Bar, Grand Opera House, Ulster Hall, Flaxx Boardwalk, St Malachy’s Church and The Observatory Bar, uniquely placed on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel, offering stunning views of the City of Belfast, Belfast Lough and the surrounding Hills.
Take a walk through the historic district, known for it’s many pocket parklet’s and urban biodiversity initiatives, and stop for some top-quality coffee and cuisine along the way.
Key Attractions
Home of Hospitality
With over 40 cafes, bars and restaurants in the district you will not be stuck for choice. The 12 local hotels are also open for coffee, drinks, and food and there a number of street food vendors including at Boneyard on Bedford Street. For detailed listings go to the Linen Quarter website at linenquarter.org/explore-lq/ .
‘Great Expectations’ Open Air Gallery – Great Victoria Street
Once known as the ‘ Golden Mile,’ something exciting is happening on Great Victoria Street to return it to it’s former glory. During a self-guided walk along the South Side of Great Victoria Street, visitors will be treated to historic building restorations, iconic new street art murals by local and international artists, and a range of habitat improvements which support urban ecology from birds to pollinators.
A UNESCO City of Music
The Linen Quarter has a deep-rooted musical heritage. Catch a show at the Grand Opera House or Ulster Hall, a live band at the Limelight or an Irish Dancing Peformance at the Points as well as live music at the many bars across the district. Special mention to Fibber McGee’s, who host Irish music seven days a week.
Most of the hotels also have vibrant entertainment programmes that are open to guests and non-residents alike.
Play Pétanque For Free At Blackstaff Square
The Linen Quarter is home to Belfast City Centre’s only public Pétanque Piste, located at Blackstaff Square. Pétanque is an easy to play French boules sport, which can be enjoyed for free by borrowing boules from the nearby Maldron Hotel Reception Desk or using your own. The Piste is surrounded by a number of fantastic eateries and pubs to enjoy after working up a hunger, including James Street, Acton & Sons and Sweet Afton and The Perch.
You can find the rules of Pétanque including a video demonstration on the Linen Quarter BID Website at linenquarter.org/petanque-game-rules/
‘Spinning Yarns’ Walking Tour
Running throughout Summer 2024, this fun and informative walking tour links past and present, helping you see what’s on the streets in a new light and just how much there is to do and enjoy in this unique district.
Along the way, your experienced Belfast tour guide will share many entertaining ‘yarns’ – stories of people and events across 250 years that relate to what you are seeing. For example:
The leisurely route will take in buildings of impressive architecture, iconic entertainment venues, historic and quaint bars, exciting outdoor public spaces and markets, colourful street art, unique gems of shops, great places to eat and drink and much more.
Tickets can be purchased for £18pp from the Visit Belfast website at https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873657328
Key attractions include the Crown Bar, Grand Opera House, Ulster Hall, Flaxx Boardwalk, St Malachy’s Church and The Observatory Bar, uniquely placed on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel, offering stunning views of the City of Belfast, Belfast Lough and the surrounding Hills.
Take a walk through the historic district, known for it’s many pocket parklet’s and urban biodiversity initiatives, and stop for some top-quality coffee and cuisine along the way.
Key Attractions
- Grand Opera House, Great Victoria Street
- Crown Bar, Great Victoria Street
- Grand Central Observatory (highest bar in Ireland). Bedford Street
- Flaxx Boardwalk & Container Kitchen
- Ulster Hall, Bedford Street
- Thomas Thompson Fountain, Bedford Street
- Ormeau Baths, Ormeau Avenue
- The Limelight, Ormeau Avenue
- St Malachy’s Church, Alfred Street
- ‘Great Expectations’ - Open Air Gallery, Great Victoria Street
- Blackstaff Square Pétanque Piste
- Bankmore Square & Wildflower Meadow, Dublin Road
- Linenhall Street Parklets
Home of Hospitality
With over 40 cafes, bars and restaurants in the district you will not be stuck for choice. The 12 local hotels are also open for coffee, drinks, and food and there a number of street food vendors including at Boneyard on Bedford Street. For detailed listings go to the Linen Quarter website at linenquarter.org/explore-lq/ .
‘Great Expectations’ Open Air Gallery – Great Victoria Street
Once known as the ‘ Golden Mile,’ something exciting is happening on Great Victoria Street to return it to it’s former glory. During a self-guided walk along the South Side of Great Victoria Street, visitors will be treated to historic building restorations, iconic new street art murals by local and international artists, and a range of habitat improvements which support urban ecology from birds to pollinators.
A UNESCO City of Music
The Linen Quarter has a deep-rooted musical heritage. Catch a show at the Grand Opera House or Ulster Hall, a live band at the Limelight or an Irish Dancing Peformance at the Points as well as live music at the many bars across the district. Special mention to Fibber McGee’s, who host Irish music seven days a week.
Most of the hotels also have vibrant entertainment programmes that are open to guests and non-residents alike.
Play Pétanque For Free At Blackstaff Square
The Linen Quarter is home to Belfast City Centre’s only public Pétanque Piste, located at Blackstaff Square. Pétanque is an easy to play French boules sport, which can be enjoyed for free by borrowing boules from the nearby Maldron Hotel Reception Desk or using your own. The Piste is surrounded by a number of fantastic eateries and pubs to enjoy after working up a hunger, including James Street, Acton & Sons and Sweet Afton and The Perch.
You can find the rules of Pétanque including a video demonstration on the Linen Quarter BID Website at linenquarter.org/petanque-game-rules/
‘Spinning Yarns’ Walking Tour
Running throughout Summer 2024, this fun and informative walking tour links past and present, helping you see what’s on the streets in a new light and just how much there is to do and enjoy in this unique district.
Along the way, your experienced Belfast tour guide will share many entertaining ‘yarns’ – stories of people and events across 250 years that relate to what you are seeing. For example:
- Where the largest bell in the city rings out from and why it was silenced for a time!
- The venue where Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, sang for his UK debut in 1963, and another where Led Zeppelin in 1971 first played live the famous song ‘Stairway to Heaven’.
- Where linen and other workers would go for their weekly baths before homes were modernised!
- How a modest record shop set up in the late ‘70s is now celebrated in a film, a musical and by colourful street art in an open-air gallery.
The leisurely route will take in buildings of impressive architecture, iconic entertainment venues, historic and quaint bars, exciting outdoor public spaces and markets, colourful street art, unique gems of shops, great places to eat and drink and much more.
Tickets can be purchased for £18pp from the Visit Belfast website at https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873657328
Gallery
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