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About Victoria Park
Victoria Park is open 24 hours, seven days a week. The park has a lake which is home to water birds such as swans, geese, ducks, herons and migrant waders. There are two walking trails around the lake. The playing fields have soccer pitches, a bowling green and a cycling and BMX track. We have installed public access defibrillators for park users.
Getting to Victoria Park
The park is in east Belfast. You can get to the park by the underpass and pedestrian entrances on Airport Road from Sam Thompson Bridge and the Sydenham bypass.
If you are travelling by bus from Belfast city centre, take Metro bus number 3 and get off at Inverary Drive, or plan your journey with Translink (link opens in new window).
History of Victoria Park
The idea of creating a public park near the Connswater River in east Belfast was first suggested by the Harbour Commissioner in 1854. Progress was slow because the land was very marshy, inaccessible to the public and generally unsuitable for a public park.
After many meetings, surveyors' reports and drainage schemes, Victoria Park opened in 1906. It was landscaped by Charles McKimm, who also built the Tropical Ravine in Botanic Gardens.
An outdoor swimming pool was added several years later. The central area of the park became a popular spot for soccer, bowling and cricket.
Other attractions in the park
Due to the park's rich variety of wildlife, the open water in the park is part of the Belfast Lough ASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest) project. Large numbers of birds congregate at the park, partly because they are used to being fed, and are a threat to low-flying aircraft from George Best City Airport. Aircrafts can be in danger if they collide with flying birds.
We're working with airport authorities, ecological consultants, NI Environment Agency and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to prevent any incidents occurring in Belfast and to make Victoria Park less attractive to the greylag geese. You can help us to reduce the risk to aircraft by not feeding the birds.
A poetry trail, which features ten nature-themed poems written by local primary school pupils and etched onto metal plaques, also provides a pleasant route around the park. Other features include flower and rose beds and horticultural displays.
Park events
To find out what events and activities are on in our parks, go to Park events.
ParkLife Saturday Club at Victoria Park
ParkLife is a fun, free educational programme to encourage children and their families to become more active and involved in outdoor activities in parks and open spaces in Belfast.
This project is run by Belfast City Council in partnership with Ulster Wildlife, aiming to increase children’s interaction with nature at their local park. ParkLife is open to children between the ages of seven and twelve. Children under seven are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.
To join our Saturday Clubs at Victoria Park, email [email protected] for a registration form or call the Outdoor Recreation and Education Officer on 028 9032 0202 ext. 3199.
ParkLife education events usually run on one Saturday in every month.
Parkrun
Victoria Park hosts a 5km parkrun every Saturday at 9.30am and a 2km junior parkrun every Sunday at 9.30am.
Park opening times
Victoria Park is open 24 hours every day.