Skip to Content

Getting around

Student at lights in front of City Hall
GET AROUND
On foot

Most of you will spend the majority of your time in the area around the main University campus, and the longest journey will be no more than 10 minutes.

Even if you choose not to live in University accommodation, you'll still be within a mile of your lecture theatre when you step out of your front door. You'll have two social hubs nearby – Botanic and Stranmillis – and the city centre itself is only a 15-minute walk from Queen's.

Plan your travels around Belfast

Bike in front of the Lanyon
GET AROUND
By Bike

The Belfast Bikes scheme came to Queen's in 2015, with three docking stations on campus. You can locate them outside the Students' Union, the McClay Library and Elms BT9 Student Village.

The scheme enables you to collect a bike from one docking station and leave it somewhere else in town. Membership is very reasonable for a full year and of course used bikes are widely available if you'd rather take yours home after a lecture.

Hiring a Belfast Bike

Big Loop Bikes logo
Big Loop Bike Hub

In partnership with Big Loop Bikes, our new Bike Hub provides a range of services to help cyclists get around campus and the city faster, easier and safer.

  • Students can lease a bike for the academic year for £84
  • Staff and students can purchase a refurbished second-hand bike
  • A range of servicing options are available, including puncture repair, gear and brake fixing and full service availability
  • Book a service through the Hub's website
  • A range of cycle safety equipment can be purchased, including lights, locks and helmets
Taxi
GET AROUND
By Taxi

Taxis are easy to book and find in Belfast and can be a convenient but expensive transport option.

Two of the main local taxi companies in Belfast are ValueCabs and FonaCab. You can book online, by phone or by downloading and booking on the app.

It is also possible to use Uber in Belfast. You will need to have an Uber account to book an Uber taxi. Click here for more information on Uber.

Taxi fares are metered and rates depend on the day and the time. Long waiting times may incur an additional charge. Most taxis accept payment by card.

train
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
TAKING THE BUS AND TRAIN

Queen’s is a five minute walk from Botanic Train Station on the Bangor, Larne, Newry and Derry~Londonderry lines. Coach and bus services arrive at Great Victoria Street, which is also connected by rail (or alternatively is a ten-minute walk).

The Enterprise Train service runs from Dublin to Belfast with an average of 8 trains per day with an estimated travel time of 2h09. Trains from Dublin to Belfast depart approximately every 1h40mins. A regular bus service also runs from Belfast Europa station to Dublin city and Dublin airport.

All public transport in Northern Ireland is organised by the Translink company. Visit their website for more information on fares, timetables, journey planners and online ticket bookings. Below is a list of their main services:

  • NI Railways: Northern Irelands train service provider has services running from Portadown, Bangor, Larne, Derry / Londonderry, Portrush and Dublin.
  • Ulsterbus: Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast, including Dublin.
  • Ulsterbus Goldline: Providing direct services to and from cities across Northern Ireland, including Derry / Londonderry, Coleraine, Newry and Armagh.
  • Metrobus: Providing travel throughout the greater Belfast area.

Student Discount

If you are aged 16-23 you can avail of the ylink card which offers a 1/3 discount of all fares on both train and bus services provided by Translink.

Read more Read less
a red toy car on a road
BY CAR
Driving to Queen's

Queen’s is located in south central Belfast and as such is close to the both Northern Ireland’s main motorways, connecting it easily with the rest of Ireland.

Travel Times to Queen's

The table below highlights the distance and approximate journey times for a number of cities and towns across the north and south of Ireland.

Starting Point / Location Journey Distance (Miles / Kilometres)* Approximate Journey Time**
Dublin 103 / 166 1 hour 45 minutes
Derry / Londonderry 75 / 120 1 hour 30 minutes
Coleraine 57 / 91 1 hour 10 minutes
Newry 39 / 62 45 minutes
Antrim 20 / 33 30 minutes
Lisburn 9 / 14 20 minutes
Galway 230 / 370 3 hours 45 minutes
Enniskillen 81 / 133 1 hour 30 minutes

 

* All distances are based on a central starting position within the city/town named and on your final location being the main Queen's Campus (The Lanyon Building or McClay Library)
** All Journey times are approximate and are subject to traffic/road works and other potential delays. It is advisable that you check the conditions before commencing your journey and plan alternative routes accordingly.

SAT NAV address

If you are planning on driving to Queen's and have a SAT NAV available you can use the following address:

Queen's University Belfast,
University Road,
Belfast,
BT7 1NN,
Northern Ireland, UK

Read more Read less
plane
FLY TO
Belfast International Airport

Located 13 miles (21 Kilometres) northwest of Belfast.

Getting from the airport to the City

  • By Bus: The Airport Express Bus Service (Service 300) operates a regular service on weekdays and weekends. The bus leaves from the bus stop located opposite the terminal exit. More information

 

  • By Taxi: The International Airport Taxi Company, official taxi operator for the Belfast International Airport, are available for hire 24 hours a day 7 days a week outside the right hand door of the airport Exit lobby.  Only taxis approved by Belfast International Airport are permitted to use the taxi rank.  A list of sample fares is displayed in the exit hall of the terminal building. A taxi share scheme to Belfast is available for those who wish to use it. For bookings, contact the Belfast International Airport Taxi Company on +44 (0)28 9448 4353. For more information and to book online visit www.belfastairporttaxis.com.

For additional travel arrangements visit the Belfast International Airport Website

Read more Read less
Flybe plane touching down at George Best Airport in Belfast
FLY TO
George Best Belfast City Airport

Located just three miles (5 kilometres) from Belfast City Centre.

Getting from the airport to the City

  • By Bus: The Airport Express Bus Service ( Service 600) operates every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 40 minutes on Sunday from outside the airport to the Belfast Europa Bus Centre adjacent to the Europa Hotel, in the heart of the city. The service, Airport Express 600, operates between 5.45am and 9.25pm.
  • By Train: When travelling to the airport by train, you'll want to disembark at Sydenham train station.Translink operates a rail service (0600-2300) Monday-Saturday to Central and Victoria Street Stations every 20 minutes. The service is hourly on Sundays (0900-2200). Connections are available from Central Station to the rest of the rail network in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. A shuttle bus service operates between the airport terminal and the rail halt at Sydenham. Please go to the information desk and ask for the service. You'll be instructed to wait by the taxi rank where the shuttle bus will collect you.
  • By Taxi:Approved taxis operate from the Airport taxi rank outside the terminal building. Wheel-chair accessible taxis are available. The approximate cost of a taxi to Belfast City Centre from Belfast City Airport with our approved taxi provider is £10.00 (including £2 surcharge). All fares are subject to a £2 surcharge). For more information or to book a taxi, (028) 90 809080 or visit the Value Cabs website.

For additional travel arrangements visit the George Best Belfast City Airport Website

Read more Read less
Stena Ferry
SAIL
Take the Ferry to Belfast

Fast ferry services including Stena Line and P&O Ferries make multiple daily crossings from Northern Ireland to ports in Scotland and England. The two main Belfast routes are from Liverpool and Cairnryan, both provided by Stena Line. An alternative route runs from Holyhead to Dublin, with excellent motorway connections between there and Belfast.

Stenaline Ferries  P&O Ferries

exterior of the Titanic Belfast Visitor Centre
WHERE TO STAY
Belfast is a small, welcoming city with plenty of places to stay.

Visit Belfast, the city's official visitor website, lists all available accommodation: hotels; guest houses; bed and breakfast; hostels; and self-catering.

Visit Belfast

Aerial view of the campus
PARKING AT THE UNIVERSITY
Due to its city location, parking at the University is limited, so we advise you to use public transport where possible.

However, if you require access to the campus by car, please contact the Disability Services Officer in advance of your visit to arrange access.

Find out more about disabled parking at Queen's