Botanic Gardens

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens has provided an oasis of calm in this buzzing city since 1828. Today, it’s a popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. Everyone from budding gardeners and nature lovers to amateur photographers will find something to savour here. Best of all, admission is free. Wander the tree-lined paths, relax on the lawns and let your love for this cherished public park bloom.

The 19th-century Palm House was designed by legendary architect Charles Lanyon, who left his indelible mark on Belfast with buildings such as Belfast Castle and the Lanyon Building at Queen’s University, close to the Botanic Gardens. The historic structure is a marvel of engineering and is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear glasshouse. Begonias, geraniums and many more dazzling plants await inside, as well as birds of paradise.

The Tropical Ravine dates back to 1887 but has undergone an extensive restoration in recent years. Brimming with tropical plants, interactive displays and digital exhibits, there’s much to uncover about the extensive plant collection and ongoing conservation work on site.

The gardens are located in Belfast’s Queen’s Quarter, and Queen’s University, also designed by Charles Lanyon, is just around the corner. The 180-year-old campus is a joy to wander around, as is the free-to-enter Ulster Museum, set within the surroundings of the Botanic Gardens. Here, an eclectic collection covering art, natural science and history brings the past vividly to life, from Spanish Armada treasures to decorative pieces of Belleek pottery, a fine porcelain made in County Fermanagh.

As a student area, the Queen’s Quarter is a hotbed of lively bars, cool coffee shops and well-priced eateries. Try the traditional boxty at Holohan’s Pantry for a taste of age-old Irish flavours, then catch a show at The Belfast Empire, a bar, music hall and comedy club all rolled into one.