Overview
Queen’s Square sits on old ground in Belfast, laid over the culverted River Farset between the leaning Albert Memorial Clock and the Big Fish down on Donegall Quay. It is a free, open crossroads rather than a destination in its own right, and most people pass through on the way somewhere, but it packs in the clock, some 19th-century streetscape and a straight run down to the river. Half an hour covers it.
History and the River Farset
The square started life as Hanover Quay and was renamed after Queen Victoria’s visit in 1849. The Farset, the stream that gave Belfast its name, once ran in the open here; it was culverted in the 19th century and still flows beneath the paving. The Albert Memorial Clock, built between 1865 and 1869 to commemorate Prince Albert, went up on reclaimed, waterlogged ground, and the soft soil under one side let the 43-metre tower settle into its famous lean. Restorers left the tilt rather than straighten it.
What to see and do
- Albert Memorial Clock – the leaning Gothic tower on the square’s edge, carved with lions and gargoyles. The lean shows best seen side-on from across the square. The Department for Communities listing has the building’s official record.
- The walk to the water – the square runs straight down to Donegall Quay and the Big Fish, a printed-ceramic salmon tiled with the city’s history. It is about five minutes each way on public streets; use the marked crossings around the square.
- Along the Lagan – continue along the quay for a walk by the river before heading back.
Practical information
The square is a public space in the city centre and there is no admission charge. There is no parking on the square itself, so use a city-centre car park and walk in. Check on the day for any works or events that affect the pavements and crossings.
Getting there
- On foot – the square is central and reachable on foot from most city-centre hotels.
Nearby
- Big Fish – the ceramic salmon on Donegall Quay, a few minutes east.
- Victoria Square – the domed shopping centre is a short walk away, with high-street brands under a glass rotunda.
Come at the square side-on to the clock in the morning for the cleanest view of the lean, then it is five minutes down to the Big Fish and the river.