{{Short description|Distinctive cultural zones within the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} [[Image:Queen's University Belfast by Paride.jpg|thumb|Queen's University Belfast, the centrepiece of Queen's Quarter]] [[Image:Statue, Custom House Square, Belfast (2) - geograph.org.uk - 412529.jpg|thumb|Custom House Square is a major cultural feature of Cathedral Quarter]]
The '''Belfast quarters''' are distinctive cultural zones within the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, whose identities have been developed as a spur to tourism and urban regeneration. These "quarters" differ from the traditional districts into which Belfast is divided.
The term "quarter" does not refer to one fourth (or one quarter) of the city, nor is every area in the centre of Belfast part of one of the quarters. Instead, each "quarter" reflects something about a neighbourhood's history and locale, with the "quarter" label being something that has come into general use in recent years.
Belfast's official tourism website describes four quarters in the city.
==Cathedral Quarter==
Cathedral Quarter takes its name from St. Anne's Cathedral and has taken on the mantle of the city's key cultural locality.<ref name="Cathedral Quarter">{{cite web |title=Exploring Belfast's cultural life |publisher=Belfast City Council |year=2007 |url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/culturallife.asp?menuitem=culturallife |accessdate=25 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714005049/http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/culturallife.asp?menuitem=culturallife |archivedate=14 July 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> It boasts a yearly visual and performing arts festival. Custom House Square is one of the city's main outdoor venues for free concerts and street entertainment.
==Titanic Quarter==
Titanic Quarter covers 75 hectares of reclaimed land adjacent to Belfast harbour, formerly known as ''Queen's Island''. Named after the ''Titanic'', which was built there in 1912,<ref name="Titanic In History">{{cite web|title=Introduction To Titanic – Titanic in History |work=Titanic. Built in Belfast |publisher=Ulster Folk and Transport Museum |url=http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/template.aspx?pid=342&area=1&parent=321 |accessdate=18 May 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817040144/http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/template.aspx?pid=342&area=1&parent=321 |archivedate=17 August 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> work has begun which aims to transform the former shipyard into "one of the largest waterfront developments in Europe".<ref name="Titanic Quarter">{{cite web | title = Corporate Message: The Vision | work = About Us at Titanic Quarter | publisher = Titanic Quarter | year = 2006 | url = http://www.titanic-quarter.com/about.php?ID=3 | accessdate = 18 May 2007| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070503202406/http://www.titanic-quarter.com/about.php?ID=3| archivedate= 3 May 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Plans also include new apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed museum.<ref name="Titanic Quarter"/> The museum was opened in 2012 and called Titanic Belfast.
Titanic Quarter also features the SSE Arena and Odyssey Pavilion, a major entertainment complex which has hosted concerts by such artists as Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Kings of Leon, and Muse, as well as comedy stand-up shows by Peter Kay and Russell Howard. It also played host to the MTV EMA Awards for the very first time on 6 November 2011.
[[Image:'Titanic Quarter' development, Abercorn Basin, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 860766.jpg|thumb|Construction in Titanic Quarter]]
==Queen's Quarter==
Queens Quarter is named after Queen's University and is located in South Belfast, famous for its leafy, suburban atmosphere despite its proximity to the city centre. The area has a large student population and hosts the annual Belfast Festival at Queen's each autumn. It is also home to Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum, which underwent extensive refurbishment for several years, reopening in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | title = Contact Details | publisher = The Ulster Museum | year = 2007 | url = http://www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/contact-us/contact-details/ | accessdate = 18 May 2007 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070529080126/http://www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/contact-us/contact-details/ | archivedate = 29 May 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The Golden Mile is the name given to the mile between Belfast City Hall and Queen's University. Taking in Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street, Shaftesbury Square and Bradbury Place, it contains some of the best bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city.<ref>{{cite web | title = Pub Crawl | publisher = Virtual Belfast | url = http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/The-Golden-Mile-articles.htm | accessdate = 25 May 2007| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070624212510/http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/The-Golden-Mile-articles.htm| archivedate= 24 June 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the nearby Lisburn Road has developed into the city's most exclusive shopping strip.<ref> {{cite web |title=Shopping at a Glance |work=Visit South Belfast |publisher=South Belfast Partnership |url=http://www.visitsouthbelfast.com/tourism/default.asp?cms=Tourism%5FThings+To+Do%5FShopping_Shopping+At+A+Glance&cmsid=19_49_81_227&id=227&viewtype=Category |accessdate=18 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717222117/http://www.visitsouthbelfast.com/tourism/default.asp?cms=Tourism_Things+To+Do_Shopping_Shopping+At+A+Glance&cmsid=19_49_81_227&id=227&viewtype=Category |archivedate=17 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burns |first=Gemma |url=http://www.dailyireland.com/home.tvt?_scope=DailyIreland/South%20Belfast%20News/Features&id=26382&psv=13&_ticket=9NTHLXD4YGSGX4SGPNNADY7BZKLAFUUGUYRIJQOJBVXF9LLDN32STRRIVON9ANVRBNKACJ5J9QRFK11M9NTGNXT9CHUT71QFIRY4S0SEAOYFBHSJ5LE1HONDNMTEGPKACN1FURUQS10YM75OV6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927074921/http://www.dailyireland.com/home.tvt?_scope=DailyIreland%2FSouth%20Belfast%20News%2FFeatures&id=26382&psv=13&_ticket=9NTHLXD4YGSGX4SGPNNADY7BZKLAFUUGUYRIJQOJBVXF9LLDN32STRRIVON9ANVRBNKACJ5J9QRFK11M9NTGNXT9CHUT71QFIRY4S0SEAOYFBHSJ5LE1HONDNMTEGPKACN1FURUQS10YM75OV6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=A passion for preserving Belfast's beauty |publisher=South Belfast News |date=28 February 2007 |accessdate=12 March 2007 }}</ref>
==Gaeltacht Quarter==
The Gaeltacht Quarter is an area ranging from Castle Street in Belfast City centre and westwards along Falls Road in West Belfast which promotes, displays and encourages the use of the Irish language.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gaeltacht Quarter |publisher=Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure |year=2007 |url=http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/languages/gaeltacht_quarter.htm |accessdate=25 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032912/http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/languages/gaeltacht_quarter.htm |archivedate=27 September 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref>
== Other quarters == {{Main|Subdivisions of Belfast#Cultural-quarters}} As the quarters are not strict mathematical divisions of the city, numerous other quarters have been suggested. These include: * Smithfield and Union Quarter * Linen Quarter * Market Quarter * Library Quarter * Church Quarter * Station Quarter (planned) *
==See also== * Belfast City Centre * Belfast Metropolitan Area * Library Quarter, Belfast * Tourism in Northern Ireland
==References== {{Reflist}} ==Sources== *''Financial Times'' article: Belfast shrugs off talk of hard times, by John Murray Brown. Published: 13 April 2009 23:07 [https://www.ft.com/content/f5b9d660-2857-11de-8dbf-00144feabdc0]
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140920113003/http://www.gotobelfast.com/home/page/our-quarters Discover the Quarters, Official Belfast Tourism Site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Belfast Quarters}} Category:Quarters of Belfast Category:Tourist attractions in Northern Ireland