English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文
Civic building
Belfast City Hall
Grade A listed civic building in Donegall Square, home of Belfast City Council.
A mini guide to
Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter
Civic landmarks, historic pubs and the alleys of the Cathedral Quarter
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
Civic landmarks, historic pubs and the alleys of the Cathedral Quarter
Belfast's centre is compact enough to cover on foot. Donegall Square is the civic heart: Belfast City Hall is a Grade A listed building, and the Linen Hall Library, the city's oldest library, stands on the north side of the square. The Grand Opera House, the Ulster Hall and the Crown Liquor Saloon, a Victorian gin palace owned by the National Trust, are a few minutes' walk to the south.
The Cathedral Quarter lies to the north-east, around St Anne's Cathedral and the narrow Belfast Entries, alleys that still hold pubs from the Victorian era and earlier. The MAC arts centre is here too. Towards the River Lagan, St George's Market is the last surviving Victorian covered market in the city, and the Big Fish sculpture sits on Donegall Quay.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Cathedral
St Anne's Cathedral
Romanesque-style Anglican cathedral on Donegall Street that serves two dioceses and anchors the Cathedral Quarter.
Directions Website Report a problem with St Anne's Cathedral
Historic building
Custom House
B+ listed building completed in 1857 and used by several government departments, near Donegall Quay.
Clock tower
Albert Memorial Clock
Clock tower in Queen's Square, completed in 1869 and one of Belfast's well-known landmarks.
Theatre
Grand Opera House
Theatre designed by Frank Matcham and opened in December 1895, with an oriental-style auditorium.
Historic pub
Crown Liquor Saloon
Victorian gin palace on Great Victoria Street, refurbished in 1885 and owned by the National Trust.
Directions Website Report a problem with Crown Liquor Saloon
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk the Entries
The narrow alleys off High Street and Ann Street, such as Joy's Entry and Winecellar Entry, link several historic pubs. Look for the street names on the walls.
2
See the Crown Bar
The Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street is a National Trust property run as a pub. Check the National Trust page for visiting details.
3
St George's Market
The covered market on May Street is run by Belfast City Council. Check the council's page for the days and hours when it opens.
4
Ride the Glider
Translink Glider buses connect the city centre with the Titanic Quarter (G2) and with east and west Belfast (G1), so you do not need a taxi for the waterfront.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter
Northern Ireland
More areas to explore
13 sights · 12 places to eat
Titanic Quarter & East Belfast
Shipyard heritage on the Lagan, then C. S. Lewis, Stormont and east Belfast high streets
Open the mini guide →
14 sights · 18 places to eat
The Causeway Coast
Basalt columns, ruined castles and sea cliffs between Portrush and Ballycastle
Open the mini guide →
16 sights · 20 places to eat
Derry~Londonderry
A walled city on the River Foyle with museums, cathedrals and a footbridge across the water
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter (area photo): Bryn Holmes, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Belfast City Hall: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0, source
- St Anne's Cathedral: The original uploader was Stuart at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Custom House: Michael Dibb, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Albert Memorial Clock: Romeparis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Grand Opera House: EstherWikipedian, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Crown Liquor Saloon: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0, source
- St George's Market: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Belfast Entries: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Linen Hall Library: Man vyi, Public domain, source
- Ulster Hall: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The MAC: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Clifton House: Portwilliamborn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Malachy's Church: Dropinn5799, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Belfast Central Library: Erl Johnston, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The Big Fish: StasiÓ Stachów, CC BY 3.0, source
- Waterfront Hall: Man vyi, Public domain, source
- Titanic Quarter & East Belfast: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The Causeway Coast: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0, source
- Derry~Londonderry: Mario Falcetti, CC BY 4.0, source
- The Mournes & Newcastle: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fermanagh Lakelands: Joli, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Northern Ireland