Botanic Gardens of Belfast

Belfast, United Kingdom

The Botanic Gardens of Belfast opened in 1828 as the private Royal Belfast Botanical Gardens. It continued as a private park for many years, only opening to members of the public on Sundays prior to 1895. Then it became a public park in 1895 when the Belfast Corporation bought the gardens from the Belfast Botanical and Horticultural Society.

Occupying 28 acres (110,000 m2) of south Belfast, the gardens are popular with office workers, students and tourists. The gardens' most notable feature is the Palm House conservatory. It was completed in 1840. It is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear cast iron glasshouses in the world. The Palm House consists of two wings, the cool wing and the tropical wing. Lanyon altered his original plans to increase the height of the latter wing's dome, allowing for much taller plants. In the past these have included an 11 metre tall globe spear lily. The lily, which is native to Australia, finally bloomed in 2005 after a 23-year wait. The Palm House also features a 400-year-old Xanthorrhoea.

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Founded: 1828
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in United Kingdom

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Martin McBride (7 months ago)
Pleasant gardens with delightful ornamental flower displays - a lot quieter than it once was and now hosts festivals and music events throughout the year but especially during the Summer months. Winding paths and different gardenscapes are available - the newly refurbished Tropical Ravine is worth a visit
Aileen P. (7 months ago)
Beautiful and maintained garden with a greenhouse, rose garden, and many paths to explore. The entrance is within the Queen's College Belfast campus, so it's easy to walk to from the Belfast City Centre or access via public transit. The hours are typically 7:30 a.m. to sunset, so the daily hours are posted at the entrance. There is also a bell that sounds when it's time to exit the garden. The garden closes early for special events. There are concerts too in the large green space, so check out the schedule before you go!
Ali Abulhassan (7 months ago)
The Botanic Garden is a splendid escape into nature, renowned for its extensive variety of trees and serene ambiance. This garden is not just a treat for botany enthusiasts but also a peaceful retreat for anyone looking to relax amid natural beauty. A notable feature of the garden is the statue of Lord Kelvin, adding a historical touch to the lush surroundings. Additionally, the onsite coffee shop offers a delightful spot to unwind and enjoy a coffee while soaking in the garden's tranquil beauty. Whether you're a local or a visitor, the Botanic Garden is a must-visit for a refreshing dose of nature and tranquility.
Joanne Dougherty (8 months ago)
Beautiful city park featuring two large greenhouse. The tropical ravine and the palm house. The age and sheer size of some of the plants and trees is very impressive. There are lots of benches available near by, picnic benches and there is almost always a coffee cart (near the museum entrance) and an ice-cream van. Today we didn't visit the rose gardens, but kids chose to play with a ball we brought with us. A lovely park to spend an afternoon.
Legends l (10 months ago)
Lovely place to visit and take in all the smells of the plants as well as adoring the different types of plants. The greenhouse is not that huge. Probably 30 minutes would be enough to explore the plants! On the outside you have a park which can be enjoyed especially on sunny days. There is a toilet block in the park which is free to use. There are some other activities in the park just as you would typically find in city parks. It is a calming place. Suitable for all ages, families and individuals. Free to enter.
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