Tall Ships return for biggest event ever staged in Belfast this week. PIC: KELVIN BOYES/PRESSEYE
THE Tall Ships Maritime Festival which starts today, Thursday, July 2, in Belfast.
And over 500,000 people are expected to pack the city to watch the Tall Ships race which runs until Sunday, July 5.
Here is some traffic and travel information to advice:
Public transport
We recommend that you leave your car at home and hop on the bus or train with Translink. Visitwww.translink.co.uk/tallships/ for details of their bus and train services and travel offers.
Park and ride
If you’d like to take your car, there are two designated event park and ride sites. These can accommodate up to 4,000 cars, with a Translink shuttle bus service taking you to and from the event. The buses are fully accessible vehicles and will depart every five minutes.
Costs: Adults £2.50, children under 16 and senior citizens are free of charge.
Boucher Road Playing Fields park and ride
If you’re travelling from the south and west (M1), your nearest park and ride site is Boucher Road Playing Fields. View map
Opening times
- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July: 11am – 10pm
- Saturday 4 July: 9am – 11.30pm
- Sunday 5 July: 9am – 5pm
Boucher Road park and ride will close at 10.30pm on Thursday and Friday.
Airport Road West park and ride
If you’re travelling from the north and west (M2), Greater Belfast and County Down, your nearest park and ride site is Airport Road West (Ikea exit). View map
Opening times
- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July: 11am – 10pm
- Saturday 4 July: 9am – 11.30pm
- Sunday 5 July: 9am – 5pm
Airport Road park and ride will close at 10.30pm on Thursday and Friday
Please note, access to the event sites is only permitted during event opening times.
Shuttle bus services
City centre shuttle bus
If you decide not to walk the short distance from the city centre to the event, there will be a free Translink shuttle bus service between Wellington Place, near the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre opposite Belfast City Hall, and Pollock Dock. The shuttle buses are fully accessible vehicles and will depart every five minutes.
Operating times
- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July: 12noon – 10pm
- Saturday 4 July: 10am – 11pm
- Sunday 5 July: 10am – 5pm
Finishing times
- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July: 10.30pm
- Saturday 4 July: 11.30pm
Event shuttle bus
Once you’ve arrived at the event, you can travel between Pollock Dock and Queen’s Quay (Odyssey Arena) via the free event shuttle bus service, departing every five minutes from designated areas. The shuttle buses are fully accessible vehicles.
Operating times
- Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July: 12noon – 10pm
- Saturday 4 July: 10am – 11pm
- Sunday 5 July: 10am – 5pm
Car parking
Belfast city centre car parking
Over 10,000 city centre car parking spaces are available within a maximum of 15 minutes’ walk from the Tall Ships event. You can find more information about city centre car parks on www.belfastcentre.com
Blue badge parking
Park and ride
There will be designated areas at each park and ride site for blue badge holders and their vehicles. Anyone who wants to use this service must be a blue badge holder, with their badges clearly visible in the windscreen of their vehicle at all times. Spaces will be located close to the park and ride entrances, pay points and bus access. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Corporation Square
There will be a designated area at Corporation Square for blue badge holders and their vehicles. Anyone who wants to use this service must be a blue badge holder, with their badge clearly visible in the windscreen of their vehicle at all times.
All car parking spaces have now been reserved. If you have reserved a space, which you no longer need, please call theVisit Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609.
Please note:
- Only one space can be booked per blue badge registered vehicle.
- Only one day during the event can be booked per blue badge registered vehicle.
- Parking is not available for minibuses, coaches or camper vans.
- You will be required to display your blue badge on arrival at Corporation Square and throughout your stay.
- You must approach Corporation Square from Corporation Street.
- If, after booking, you no longer need your parking space, please tell the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre as soon as you can.
Odyssey Arena
Blue badge parking is available at the Odyssey Arena car park (35 spaces), on a first-come, first-served basis.
City centre parking
Blue badge holders parking in the city centre can use the city centre shuttle bus service (details above).
Belfast Harbour Estate
The concession for blue badge holders to park on single and double yellow lines in the Harbour Estate and event areas will not apply during the Tall Ships event.
Coach parking
There will be coach parking spaces available at an overflow car park run by Titanic Quarter. It will be open from 10am daily. A charge of £15 per coach should be paid in cash on the day of arrival.
For more information, please contact Visit Belfast on 028 9024 6609 or email info@visit-belfast.com
Walking
The Tall Ships site is only 15 minutes’ walk from Belfast City Centre (City Hall) and will be well signposted.
Cycling
If you choose to cycle to the event, there are temporary bike parking facilities at the Odyssey car park and at City Quays 2 (Corporation Square). Or you can park your bike in the city centre and take the free shuttle bus or walk to the Tall Ships site.
There are also two Belfast Bike locations at the event sites: Odyssey Arena and Corporation Square.
Cyclists should be aware that they may have to dismount from their bikes in areas with large crowds.
Boat
Anyone with a leisure craft who wants to enter Belfast Harbour during the festival period must apply through Belfast Harbour’s application process. Contact Paul Hayes, Deputy Harbour Master by email at tallships@Belfast-harbour.co.uk
If your application is successful, Belfast Harbour will confirm the agreed procedures and your leisure craft will be able to enter the harbour and circulate within the area bounded by the M3 bridge and Ballast Quay.
Unfortunately, due to the number of event vessels, it will not be possible to allow visiting leisure vessels to berth in the harbour area. No leisure craft will be permitted in this area on Sunday 5 July as the Tall Ships will be preparing for the Tall Ships Parade.
Road closures, temporary road measures and parking restrictions
Road closures
The following roads will be closed to unauthorised traffic throughout the four days of the event. These restrictions have been put in place to ensure a safe environment for all people attending and working at the event whilst minimising disruption to all stakeholders living and working in the area.
All closures will be in place during the following hours:
- Thursday – 10am to 10pm
- Friday – 10am to 10pm
- Saturday – 8am to 11pm
- Sunday – 8am to 6pm
Queen’s Quay
Queen’s Quay will be closed from the junction with the Queen Elizabeth Bridge through to the junction with Queen’s Road.
Queen Elizabeth Bridge
The inner lane of this bridge, from the start of the bridge leaving the city centre, will be closed and coned off throughout the event.
Corporation Square
Corporation Square will be closed from the junction with Corporation Street through to Donegall Quay. Access will be maintained for businesses.
Donegall Quay
Donegall Quay will be closed from the junction with Albert Square through to Corporation Square.
Temporary bus lanes
Temporary bus lanes will be in effect in the following areas:
- Whitla Street
- Garmoyle Street
- Waring Street
- Donegall Quay
- Queen Elizabeth Bridge
- Sydenham Road
Parking restrictions
Parking restrictions at and near the event sites will be strictly enforced in advance and throughout the event opening times each day.
In particular in the following areas:
- Duncrue Street
- Whitla Street
- Garmoyle Street
- Dock Street
- Waring Street
- Donegall Quay
- Sydenham Road
- Queen’s Road
- Airport Road
- Airport Road West
- Heron Road
The concession for blue badge holders to park on single and double yellow lines in the Harbour Estate and event areas will not apply during the Tall Ships event.
Please see details on alternative blue badge parking at the event.
Traffic and travel information
For up to date information on possible traffic disruption, visit the Traffic Watch website or follow @PSNITraffic on Twitter
