Belfast Parks and Gardens

(Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK)



Belfast Parks and GardensBelfast is certainly a city offering a large quantity of green spaces, with various gardens and public parks around both the city centre and the suburbs.

The Belfast Botanic Gardens reside in the university area, where they are especially important and historic, being created in the early 1800s and drawing crowds of visitors ever since. Situated just a short distance to the east of the Botanic Gardens and close to the very heart of the city, Ormeau Park serves as the city's oldest municipal parkland. Ormeau opened to the general public in 1871 and boasts much in the way of natural woodland, native wildlife and sports facilities, such as basketball and tennis courts, bowling greens and playing fields suitable for football games. During the summer months, the seasonal bedding plants put on quite a show.


Belfast Parks and Gardens

Belfast Botanic Gardens

Address: Stranmillis Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 4902
Close to the Ulster Museum, the many impressive attractions at the Botanic Gardens include an imposing Victorian Palm House filled with exotic plants and important plant collections. Other highlights include ponds, giant water lillies, a 'Tropical Ravine', a raised walkway, a cool house dating back to 1840 and numerous scenic picnic spots.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00, later during summer months
Admission: free

Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

Address: Upper Malone Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9027 0466
The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is situated in the south of Belfast and covers a vast area. Attractions here include a famous Rose Garden, which contains an enormous collection of traditional roses, featuring more than a quarter of a million summer blooms and important rose trials. Offering something quite different to the rose beds, the Japanese Garden is full of oriental features, including lanterns, maples and bamboo.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk

Tropical Ravine House

Address: Botanic Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 4902
The Tropical Ravine House, previously known simply as 'The Glen', is located in the city's university area, within the grounds of the impressive Botanic Gardens. Full of exotic plants, large ferns, citrus trees, enormous bamboos, numerous colourful flowers, trailing plants, pathways, and many important collections of plants, the Victorian-style Tropical Ravine House is more than 100 years old and serves as a popular attraction in its own right.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00

Antrim Castle Gardens

Address: Clotworthy Arts Centre, Randalstown Road, Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9442 8000
The grand Antrim Castle Gardens are located in nearby Antrim, to the north-west of Belfast, where they boast some of the most memorable water gardens in this area. Dating back to the 17th century, visitors will find many attractive avenues lined with lime and hornbeam hedges, canals, large areas of marginal plants, water lilies, secluded seating areas and informative guided tours.
Open hours: daily - 09:30 to dusk
Admission: free

Belvoir Forest Park

Address: Belvoir, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9049 1264
Belvoir Forest Park, in South Belfast, is rich in native flora and fauna and contains many natural beauty spots. Managed by the Forest Service, this park has become the home of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, due to the diverse range of birds that have made this area their home. Walking trails connect the Lagan Valley Regional Park and the towpath running alongside the Lagan River.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Cave Hill Country Park

Address: Antrim Road, Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9077 6925
Cave Hill Country Park is located in north Belfast, close to the city centre, where it incorporates both Carr's Glen Linear Park and the Castle Estate. Attractions include woodland walks, mountainous areas offering spectacular panoramic views of the cityscape, bog areas, open spaces and many scenic walking trails.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Grovelands

Address: Stockman's Lane, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 0202
The Grovelands, on the southern side of Belfast, features some particularly picturesque landscaped gardens. This vast park has many collections of plants and flowers, pathways, seating areas, picnic facilities, rock gardens and manicured lawns, and is conveniently close to the city centre.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Lagan Meadows

Address: Knightsbridge Park, South Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9027 0348
The Lagan Meadows can be found within the southerly Knightsbridge area and comes with many areas of natural beauty, including woodland trails, meadows, wild flowers and large trees. This is a charming natural spot and a good place to find peace and quiet, in pleasant surroundings. Nature trail leaflets are available, leading you along scenic routes.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Ormeau Park

Address: Ormeau Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9023 9026
Ormeau Park is situated in the south of Belfast, within the Ballynafoy area, where it remains the city's oldest park whilst also being one of the largest. Visitors can expect to find riverside walks, playground areas for children, many flower borders, mature trees and shrubs, and seating areas.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Redburn Country Park

Address: Old Holywood Road, Jackson's Road, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)28 9181 1491
The Redburn Country Park comes with attractive gardens and is located within the north-easterly outskirts of the city, in nearby Holywood, between Knocknagoney and Ballykeel. Redburn is home to large areas of grass and open spaces, stunning panoramic views, and many interesting pathways and garden walks.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free