Belfast Attractions
Description
Venue: City Hall When: Daily; not Sun
Belfast's City Hall dominates Donegall Square in Belfast and is one of the grandest buildings in the city centre. Described as an Edwardian masterpiece, construction on the building actually began in 1898 in response to Queen Victoria's visit in 1849, when she gave it city status.
Covering around 1.5 acres, the building stands in public gardens and is built in Classical Renaisance style in Portland stone around a quadrangular courtyard. Visitors enter via the stone port-cochère into the marble-lined Octogan Vestibule, where there is a marble memorial of Frederick Robert Chichester, Earl of Belfast (1827-1853). On the south-east side of the vestibule are two stunning stained glass windows, memorials to the officers, NCOs and men of the North Irish Horse regiment who died in both world wars.
A grand staircase in Carrara, Pavonazzo and Brescia marbles leads up from here with an elaborate domed ceiling and seven stained glass windows. including one emblazoned with the Belfast coat of arms, and portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on either side.
The Principal Landing and Dome is also decorated in marble, with four main arches leading up to the drum of the dome. This is decorated with signs of the zodiac, plus the ship and the bell from the city's coat of arms. On this level there is also a mural by Belfast artist John Luke, commissioned to mark the 1951 Festival of Britain.
The Visitors' Galleries in carved oak look onto The Council Chamber, also decorated with wood panelling and stained glass windows, plus two chairs used by King George V and Queen Mary at the opening of the first Parliament of Northern Ireland in the Council Chamber at City Hall on 22 June, 1921. The 120-foot Great Hall has a vaulted ceiling and windows that depict three monarchs that have visited the city - King William III, Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The hall was nearly destroyed during a German air raid in 1941, but fortunately the windows had already been removed for safe-keeping and reinstalled at a later date.
There are also ornate reception rooms and an east staircase with several memorials and statues. Outside is the Garden of Remembrance, with a cenotaph, and the public gardens are a popular place to relax in the summer sun.
Free tours of City Hall are given Monday to Saturday and there is also a gift shop. Civil wedding ceremonies take place here and the Last Night of the Proms takes place outside every summer.
Belfast's City Hall dominates Donegall Square in Belfast and is one of the grandest buildings in the city centre. Described as an Edwardian masterpiece, construction on the building actually began in 1898 in response to Queen Victoria's visit in 1849, when she gave it city status.
Covering around 1.5 acres, the building stands in public gardens and is built in Classical Renaisance style in Portland stone around a quadrangular courtyard. Visitors enter via the stone port-cochère into the marble-lined Octogan Vestibule, where there is a marble memorial of Frederick Robert Chichester, Earl of Belfast (1827-1853). On the south-east side of the vestibule are two stunning stained glass windows, memorials to the officers, NCOs and men of the North Irish Horse regiment who died in both world wars.
A grand staircase in Carrara, Pavonazzo and Brescia marbles leads up from here with an elaborate domed ceiling and seven stained glass windows. including one emblazoned with the Belfast coat of arms, and portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on either side.
The Principal Landing and Dome is also decorated in marble, with four main arches leading up to the drum of the dome. This is decorated with signs of the zodiac, plus the ship and the bell from the city's coat of arms. On this level there is also a mural by Belfast artist John Luke, commissioned to mark the 1951 Festival of Britain.
The Visitors' Galleries in carved oak look onto The Council Chamber, also decorated with wood panelling and stained glass windows, plus two chairs used by King George V and Queen Mary at the opening of the first Parliament of Northern Ireland in the Council Chamber at City Hall on 22 June, 1921. The 120-foot Great Hall has a vaulted ceiling and windows that depict three monarchs that have visited the city - King William III, Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The hall was nearly destroyed during a German air raid in 1941, but fortunately the windows had already been removed for safe-keeping and reinstalled at a later date.
There are also ornate reception rooms and an east staircase with several memorials and statues. Outside is the Garden of Remembrance, with a cenotaph, and the public gardens are a popular place to relax in the summer sun.
Free tours of City Hall are given Monday to Saturday and there is also a gift shop. Civil wedding ceremonies take place here and the Last Night of the Proms takes place outside every summer.
Belfast Information
Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau
Address: 47 Donegall Place, Belfast, BT1 5AD
Email: belfastwelcomecentre@nitic.net
Phone: +44 (0) 28 9024 6609
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Looking for things to do around Belfast? Here are some of the events and attractions happening in the area.
| David Byrne |
7 Apr 2009 Belfast Waterfront, Belfast |
| St Patrick's Day |
Mar 2009 (annual) Custom House Square, Belfast |
| The Belfast Wheel |
8 Jul - 31 Dec 2008 City Hall, Belfast |
| Elbow |
26 Oct 2008 Grand Opera House, Belfast |
| World Rally Championship |
29 Jan - 1 Feb 2009 Belfast |
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