Travel Information Tall Ships Event
The following roads will be closed in the immediate vicinity of the Tall Ships’ docking areas for the duration of the Tall Ships’ event:
Corporation Street / Garmoyle Street, Queens Quay, Queens Road, M3 slip road to the Odyssey, Sydenham Road and Donegall Quay. The closures will be in place on Thursday and Friday from 10 AM to around 11 PM, on Saturday from 9 AM to approximately 11 PM and on Sunday from 9 AM to approximately 5 PM.
The inner lane of Queen Elizabeth Bridge, as far back as Donegal Quay, will also be closed and coned off throughout the event, from early Thursday morning to early Monday morning.
A Park and Ride service will be in place to accommodate in excess of 4,000 cars on each day of the event. This will be operated by Translink using fully accessible vehicles and will be colour-coded. There will be a £2 parking charge per adult, with senior citizens and children under 16 travelling free.
There will be three main Park and Ride sites, located at Giants Park / Duncrue (serving the North an M2, 1000 spaces, colour code yellow), Boucher Playing Fields (serving the South, West and M1, 1000 spaces, colour code green), and D3 / Harbour Estate (serving North Down, East Belfast and central traffic, capacity 2000 spaces, colour code red). An overflow facility from the D3 site will be available at Bombardier on Saturday and Sunday.
Disabled parking is available at the Odyssey main car park – blue badge holders will be able to pre-book spaces through the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.
A pre-bookable coach parking system will be in operation for the event via the Belfast Welcome Centre. Coaches will park on the Queens Road.
Free Event Shuttle Route
Operates every 10 minutes from Queens Quay (Odyssey) - Oxford Street, Lanyon Place, Custom House Square – Pollock Dock – Albert Quay – Clarendon Dock - Queens Quay (Odyssey)
Free Shopper Service Route
Operates every 10 minutes from Donegall Square South – Donegall Square West – Chichester Street - Victoria St - High St - Royal Ave (Castle Court) – Corporation Street (for Clarendon Dock) - Middlepath Street (for Odyssey) - Oxford Street, Lanyon Place – May Street (St Georges Market) – Donegall Square South.
For information on public transport and other event information, go to www.gotobelfast.com
. For traffic arrangements, call the DRD traffic line on 0845 7123321 or check their website www.trafficwatchni.com/tallships. The Belfast Welcome Centre can be contacted on 02890 246609.
Parade of Sail traffic
On Sunday afternoon, 16 August, traffic disruption is expected along the A2 corridor between Holywood Exchange and Groomsport. It is vital that people use the sign-posted car-parks and do not obstruct residents or the emergency services. Cars parked illegally WILL BE TOWED at the owner’s expense.
A car park will be available for an additional event at Seapark, Ballymenoch Park, Holywood. Please, only use the designated car-park if you are attending the event.
Along the Antrim coast, the A2 corridor along the Shore Road, Newtownabbey and between Gideons Green and Whitehead will be affected by spectator traffic. The event will coincide with the “Shoreline Festival” at Loughshore Park. It is vital that people use the sign-posted car-parks and do not obstruct residents or the emergency services. Cones and no waiting signs will be in place.
The main vantage points along the route will be Hazelbank, Loughshore, Seapark, Carrickfergus Harbour / Marine Highway, A2 Coast Road and Whitehead. There will be parking facilities at or near each of the above sites.
