Queen’s Arcade

Before Victoria Square Queens Arcade was home to Belfast’s most opulent shops. Although this isn’t to say that t doesn’t retain some of its glamour. I am a fan of Queens Arcade.
It provides a scenic shortcut from Royal Avenue to Fountain Street. The Arcade is home to Lunns Jewelers, Queens Bar as well as McKay’s Old School sweet shop.
If I were showing Belfast off to a visitor I would take them through Queens Arcade. It’s elegant and charming all at the same time. I’ve heard people say that the only time they use Queens Arcade is when it’s raining but I would encourage you to take a few moments out of your day and slowly amble through the Arcade, if only to look up and admire the architecture.

A famous road bridge over the River Lagan in Belfast dating from 1849, costing £48,000, and opened by Queen Victoria. It replaced older bridges which had been destroyed during the previous two centuries. It was widened in 1885 and these days takes a lot of traffic.
I went over this bridge several times when I was in Belfast, both on foot and by bus. It’s very near to the centre of the city and easy to find. At one end you’ll find The Ring of Thanksgiving statue by the sculptor Adam Scott (actually a Scotsman!) which is symbolic of the renaissance of the city.

This place contains some of Belfast’s most expensive and exclusive shops. I don’t have much use for these shops myself but I do always find myself in Queens Arcade, be it for just walking through, or going to the great pub in encloses. I really like the place, despite not really ever having any use for it. For being in the centre of what is, in my opinion, a very dirty city.
It always has a little bit more class than the places surrounding it. I can forget myself for a little bit when I walk through (the crap I talk is magical). There’s a great little old time sweet shop at one end which is always worth a look in.

Queen’s Arcade is a little covered walkway that links Donegall Place with Fountain Street. In it, there is a real variety of shops — from fashion (Atelier), to jewellery (Lauren May and Lunns) by way of opticians (Jonathan Keys) and pubs (the Queen’s Bar).
It’s very well maintained, so it’s quite nice to stroll through, although when it’s raining, the tiles get really slippy (wouldn’t be the first time I’ve fallen over!)

Queen’s Arcade is a long alley of boutique shops between Royal Avenue and Fountain Street. There are a number of high end shops in here and there’s always security on either end. It includes the likes of Lunns, Thérapie Spa, China Craft, Jonathan Keys Opticians, The Watch Store, Lauren May Jewellery, Atelier, Little Heart, etc. There’s also the lovely Queens bar which do a blimmin good glass of white wine. I Love the way the waiters chill the glass with ice cubes in here! There’s also the likes of the traditional old sweetie shop and the Carphone Warehouse. It’s a great place to go for when you’re after gifts. Handily you can also buy the Belfast Telegraph at either end of the arcade. It’s also handy to cut through in a nice covered walkway when it’s raining!