Getting to the museum

The Museum is located 1.1miles from Belfast City Centre, around a 20 - 25 minute stroll which will take you past Queen’s University and through Botanic Gardens.

Over the summer months, there will be adjustments to some City Centre bus stops due to the building of the new Belfast Grand Central Station at Great Victoria Street. This will affect travelling to the Ulster Museum by bus.

From Belfast City Centre:
Translink operates a number of bus services from Belfast City Centre. 

You can get on any of the number 8 Metro buses (a, b, c or d), departing from Howard Street until the Autumn (the old stop was Donegall Square East). Disembark at Queen’s University Belfast and the Museum is a short 2-3 minute walk through Botanic Gardens.

From outside Belfast:
Ulsterbus and Goldliner provide direct services into Belfast if you are travelling from outside of Belfast. Over Summer, with the closure of Great Victoria Street station, bus stations will differ depending on your route. For more information, go to Translink's website or call 02890 666 630.

A revised NI Railways timetable will operate from Wednesday 3 July until early Autumn to facilitate the building of the new Belfast Grand Central Station at Great Victoria Street. This will affect travelling to the Ulster Museum by train.

The line closure means the City Hospital and Botanic train stops within walking distance of the museum are not operating. Please refer to Translink's website for more specific information depending on the route you take.

• An express bus substitution service will operate between Lisburn and Europa Buscentre.
• A shuttle service will operate between Lanyon Place and Europa Buscentre (Great Northern Mall) approximately every 30 minutes, serving stops adjacent to City Hospital, Queen's University and Botanic*
• Derry~Londonderry, Bangor & Larne Line services will operate to/from Lanyon Place only.

*Shuttle Service routes applicable to Ulster Museum visitors:

• Lanyon Station - For passengers going to Europa Buscentre/Great Victoria Street
• Great Victoria Street (Brennan's Bar) - For passengers going to Botanic & City Hospital
• Bradbury Place (Laverys) - For passengers going to Botanic
• Lisburn Road (City Hospital) - For passengers going to City Hospital
• University Road (Queen's Students Union) - For passengers going to Queen's University

If you're planning ahead for your visit:

In the Autumn, if you’re travelling to us by train, disembark at Botanic train station and the museum is a short 10-minute walk; or City Hospital is another stop that's within walking distance of the museum.

For train information and times please visit Translink.

The Ulster Museum is located in South Belfast not far from the city centre. Visitors approaching from the M1 South take exit 1, and those approaching from the M2 North take exit 1b.  

For Sat Nav directions please use postcode BT9 5AB.

There are five parking spaces for blue badge holders outside the museum.

Parking is otherwise limited to nearby car parks and on-street parking (please note, the Stranmillis Road becomes an urban clearway between 16.30 and 18.00 on weekdays).

List of car parks nearby:

• Stranmillis Road, BT9 5DT - free, 15-minute walk away.
• The McClay Library (Queen's University), BT7 1LP - paid, 7-minute walk through Botanic Gardens.
• PEC (Queen's Sport), Stranmillis Embankment, BT9 5EX - paid, 8-minute walk through Botanic Gardens.

We currently do not have any e-charging stations for electric cars (EV) on-site. 

There are purpose-built rails to park and lock your bike outside the museum, these can hold up to 5 bikes. There are also Belfast Bikes docking stations nearby at Queen’s University.