Botanic Gardens & Palm House

The Botanic Gardens have been Belfast's favourite green space since the 1830s. At their centre stands the Palm House, a graceful curved glasshouse of iron and glass designed by Charles Lanyon and built before London's great Kew glasshouses — a genuine landmark of early Victorian engineering.

Inside the Palm House, a tropical ravine and a cool wing hold palms, birds of paradise and seasonal flower displays. Outside, the lawns, rose gardens and mature trees are the social heart of the student quarter, hosting picnics, open-air concerts and the city's biggest festivals.

With the Ulster Museum on its edge and Queen's University next door, the gardens tie together an easy, walkable afternoon in south Belfast — and on a sunny day the lawns are as good as anywhere in the city to simply sit.

Visitor tips

• The Palm House and the Tropical Ravine both have free entry.
• Big concerts occasionally close the park — check before travelling.