Quote: Belfast, as a city, is very well catered for in terms of parks and public green spaces. One that I like to visit when I’m in the area is Victoria Park.


*Location*

The park is in the east of the city, near to the Park Avenue hotel. In days gone by, the park was extremely tricky to find but it is now well signposted from the main road. Follow these signs, go through the underpass and you will be in the park. The underpass is only wide and tall enough for one car, but generally people are patient about waiting their turn. There is plenty of parking and I’ve never struggled to find a space. There are toilet facilities near the car park.


*Things to do*

My first port of call is always to feed the ducks, geese and swans that frequent the lake and this can be done within a few metres of the car park. Indeed, some of the feathered ones are now so well-fed that they’ve grown a bit over-confident and will walk right up to the car and attempt to mug you for bread. This is worth bearing in mind if you’re bringing nervous children. On a related note, I’ve found that some of the birds can get very snobby about what they’ll guzzle, with the geese in particular turning their beaks up at my proffered slices of white bread in favour of granary rolls. Tsk.

Once past where the birds tend to congregate you can either choose to carry on and walk around the lake, or to cross the bridge to the playing fields. I usually opt for the former, as it’s a nice gentle stroll on flat ground that only takes about half an hour at a moderate pace. On the way there is a children’s playground, a bowling green (I believe you have to be a member to play, but it’s enjoyable to watch, nonetheless), a BMX track, flower beds and rose gardens. As the park is directly under the flight path into Belfast’s George Best Airport and is less than a mile from the runway, you also have a good chance of getting an extreme close-up of the underside of a jet. When these pass overhead they are noisy enough to wake sleeping babies in prams, but not so ear splitting that you’d need to put your hands over your ears. Because the planes fly so low and so close conservation charities ask that members of the public DON’T overfeed the heavier birds, such as geese, but this is largely ignored. One of my favourite things as I walk round is the view of the Harland and Wolff shipyard cranes, Samson and Goliath. These bright yellow behemoths are difficult to miss and the location of the park really gives a good perspective on just how immense they are.

In times gone past it’s sad to say that the water in the lake has been filthy and smelly, but efforts seem to be underway to collect litter and generally clean the area up, which makes it a much more pleasant place to be. Pleasing touches, like poetic inscriptions on benches and a poetry trail also add to the ambience.
Should you be of a more energetic nature, the park also has a number of playing fields which are well used by dog walkers like me, sports teams and parents having a kickaround with their children. They are well-maintained and usually kept to a good standard of cleanliness although those closest to the lake do become a bit boggy in winter, so a pair of wellies are a sound investment. I believe Parkrun is also hosted at Victoria Park, but I am fundamentally lazy so can’t give more specific details.


*Overall*

This isn’t Belfast’s most picturesque park, nor is it the best off for facilities and activities. As an inner-city park, though, it is a pleasant place to spend an hour or two and it is valuable for that, I think.