2 minute read
Queen’s Quarter
THE QUEEN’S QUARTER:
THE BEST OF STUDENT LIFE
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Alisha Ratcliffe, BA English
The Palm House, Botanic Gardens
THE QUEEN’S QUARTER: THE BEST OF STUDENT LIFE
The beauty of student life in Belfast is that everywhere is walkable. In fact, you won’t need to spend much on travel as everything you need is right on your doorstep. That means you’ll have more to spend on enjoying life outside the lecture theatre. Known as ‘Queen’s Quarter’, between the Lisburn and Ormeau roads and Stranmillis Embankment, it’s the most vibrant district of Belfast. You’ll find everything from hotticket cultural events and party nights to international festivals and world cuisine worth queueing for.
A COSMOPOLITAN COMMUNITY
Our friendly student community and buzzing entertainment scene welcomes you from the day you arrive. From classical concerts at the Whitla Hall to legendary club nights, not to mention pub quizzes and poetry readings, Queen’s Quarter is bursting with venues that attract the best from the worlds of theatre, dance, music, film, arts and literature. Botanic Gardens, just a short walk from McClay Library, is host to big-name gigs. It’s no wonder Queen’s Quarter plays a huge part in both the Belfast International Arts Festival and the Belfast Film Festival.
AN ART-LOVER’S PARADISE
The University is home to a variety of arts locations, the Naughton Gallery, the Seamus Heaney Centre and the Brian Friel Centre for Theatre. We even have our own cinema, the QFT (Queen’s Film Theatre), presenting the best in classic and new world films for over 50 years. Some favourite spots also include the Ulster Museum; the comedy nights at The Belfast Empire, and the Lyric Theatre.
Botanic Gardens
A MULTICULTURAL AND CREATIVE HUB
There’s an incredible range of cafés and restaurants around the University. For example, on nearby Botanic Avenue, you can sample food from Japan, Korea, Nepal, China, the Middle East, India, Italy, Mexico and, of course, Northern Ireland – all washed down with home-grown craft brews. You’ll also find vintage and independent shopping, the famed No Alibis indie bookstore is here as well as the Crescent Arts Centre – a creative hub for artists, designers, illustrators and crafters.
GREEN SPACES AND URBAN PARKS
Nestled in the centre of all this is Botanic Gardens, a beautiful city park where you can explore the Palm House or the Tropical Ravine. In fact, if you’re in search of nature at Queen’s the nearby Lagan Towpath offers an unspoilt stretch of riverbank with forest walks and meadows that feel a world away from our bustling campus. Known as Lagan Valley Regional Park, it is the only regional park in Northern Ireland and an area of outstanding natural beauty.
