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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · Northern Ireland

Belfast Castle

Also known as: Caisleán Bhéal Feirste

In or near Belfast.

Victorian♿ Wheelchair: limited4.5 · 6,884 Google reviews

Belfast Castle — mansion in Cavehill country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Belfast Castle, castles in Northern Ireland

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
York Street · 3.8 km
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Belfast Castle, the nearest railway station is York Street, located 3.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is BT15 5GR. Please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Belfast Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1879. Designed by Charles Lanyon. Built in the Scottish baronial architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade A listed building. Address: BT15 5GR. Wikidata describes it as: "mansion in Cavehill country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland". Coordinates: 54.6427°, -5.9423°.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2025

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Official information

Belfast Castle is located at the foot of Cave Hill and offers stunning views of the Belfast skyline. Visitors can explore the surrounding natural woodland and parkland, as well as enjoy dining options and event facilities within the castle.

From the Wikipedia article

Belfast Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhéal Feirste) is a mansion located in Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in a prominent position 400 feet (120 m) above sea level. Its location provides unobstructed views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. There have been several structures called "Belfast Castle" over the centuries, located on different sites. The current "castle" is a Victorian structure that was built between 1867 and 1870 on the slopes of Cave Hill, and it is Grade A listed. The main entrance into the Belfast Castle Demesne is now where Innisfayle Park meets Downview Park West, just off the Antrim Road (part of the A6). The original main entrance into the current demesne was formerly on the Antrim Road itself, where Strathmore Park now meets the Antrim Road.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Architecture

Since the construction of the current Belfast Castle in the late 1860s, its sandstone walls and towers have been restored. The castle was designed and built in the Victorian version of the Scots Baronial style, which was an architectural style that originally developed out of French-inspired Gothic styles during the Renaissance in Scotland in the sixteenth century. Scots Baronial style castles were typically built on asymmetrical plans and included high roofs, towers, and turrets to display the owner's status. The new Belfast Castle was constructed in the late 1860s using pink Scrabo sandstone from near Newtownards in the north of County Down, along with Giffnock sandstone dressings from…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
54.6427, -5.9423
District
Belfast
Postcode
BT15 5GR
Parliamentary constituency
Belfast North
Established
1879
Nearest railway station
York Street3.8 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Crest, Belfast Castle - geograph.org.uk - 957784📷 4

Viewpoints · Northern Ireland

Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle is a viewpoint in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕belfastcastle.co.uk
Path on the way to McArt's Fort, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 8107147📷 3

Natural landmarks · Northern Ireland

The Millennium Maze

The Millennium Maze — a other in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.

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Sculpture - geograph.org.uk - 445345📷 3

Theatres · Northern Ireland

Lyceum Cinema

Lyceum Cinema in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

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Chapels · Northern Ireland

Chapel of the Resurrection

Chapel of the Resurrection — chapel in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.

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Old boundary post, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 3893958📷 3

Forts · Northern Ireland

McArt's Fort

McArt's Fort — a other in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.

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McArt's Fort

Vineyards · Northern Ireland

McArt's Fort

McArt's Fort — a UK vineyard in northern ireland, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.

Where to eat & stay near Belfast Castle

Places to stay

Bearnageeha ("Barney") mural, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 3186796📷 5

Hostels · Northern Ireland

Willow Lodge Residential Short Breaks Services

Willow Lodge Residential Short Breaks Services — a hostel in northern ireland.

Freebelfasttrust.hscni.net
Bearnageeha ("Barney") mural, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 3186796📷 5

Hostels · Northern Ireland

Somerton Road Children's Home

Somerton Road Children's Home — a hostel in northern ireland.

Free👶belfasttrust.hscni.net
Location of OS Flush Bracket OSNIBM 1010 - Belfast City Hall - geograph.org.uk - 7453707📷 7

Hotels · Northern Ireland

DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast City Ten Square

DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast City Ten Square — a hotel in northern ireland. Brand: DoubleTree.

hilton.com
Hilton Belfast📷 3

Hotels · Northern Ireland

Hilton Belfast

Hilton Belfast — a hotel in northern ireland.

hilton.com
Grand Central Hotel

Hotels · Northern Ireland

Grand Central Hotel

Grand Central Hotel — a hotel in northern ireland.

Bandstand, Jordanstown - geograph.org.uk - 3522335📷 5

Caravan parks · Northern Ireland

Jordanstown Loughshore Caravan Park

Jordanstown Loughshore Caravan Park — a caravan park in northern ireland.

antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Places to eat & drink

Beauty and the beast - geograph.org.uk - 4546466📷 5

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

McHugh's Bar

McHugh's Bar in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Castle Street, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 8173461📷 7

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

Kelly's Cellars

Kelly's Cellars in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

kupi.com
Belfast City Centre - Victoria Square Entrance off Victoria Street - geograph.org.uk - 3710398📷 5

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

Kitchen Bar

Kitchen Bar in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Belfast City Centre - The Crown Liquor Saloon - Upper Level Dining Area - geograph.org.uk - 3703574📷 7

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

Crown Liquor Saloon

Crown Liquor Saloon in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

nicholsonspubs.co.uk
The Rose and Crown, Lower Ormeau Road - geograph.org.uk - 4355076📷 3

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

Red Lion Pub bombing

Red Lion Pub bombing in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Free🐕wikiwand.com
Nos 37 ^ 39 Malone Road, Belfast (July 2018) - geograph.org.uk - 5858162📷 5

Historic pubs · Northern Ireland

The Botanic Inn

The Botanic Inn in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

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Castles · North West England

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More castles in this region

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Castles · Northern Ireland

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Castles · Northern Ireland

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Altinaghree Castle — castle in Northern Ireland.

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Castles · Northern Ireland

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Antrim Castle — 17th century house in Antrim, Ireland, now demolished.

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Castles · Northern Ireland

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Belfast Castle?
Belfast Castle is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (postcode BT15 5GR).
What is Belfast Castle?
Belfast Castle — mansion in Cavehill country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
How do I get to Belfast Castle?
The nearest railway station is York Street, about 3.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode BT15 5GR.
When was Belfast Castle built?
Built or established in 1879. Designed by Charles Lanyon.
Who owns Belfast Castle?
Belfast Castle is owned by Belfast City Council.
Is Belfast Castle a listed building?
Belfast Castle is officially recognised as Grade A listed building listed.
Does Belfast Castle charge admission?
Belfast Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Belfast Castle?
The nearest railway station is York Street, about 3.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BT15 5GR.