Student Accommodation in Belfast
Where Does the Name Belfast Come From?
Belfast originates from the Irish word “Béal Feirste” with “Béal” meaning “river-mouth” and “Feirste” meaning “sandbar” or “tidal ford”.
Belfast Location
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Lagan banks, and it is a famous city between tourists and students alike. It started as a market town and rapidly developed into a centre of industry, arts, higher education, business, and law. The population of Belfast is approximately 308,760 and it is around 9 hours to London by car and 11 hours using the underground.
Perfect Place for Student Accommodation in Belfast
You will be living within a vibrant student community in Belfast, which has the highest number of international students in the UK. Ulster University has a great location within the city centre's Cathedral Quarter. It is well-known among art students, hosting a range of fashion shows and art exhibitions. Furthermore, Queen's University Belfast is rated among the world's top 200 universities. It is known for its world-class science and medical programs.
Belfast Climate
Weather and Temperature
Belfast's climate is overall warm and temperate, with an average temperature of 8.9 °C. Rainfall is present significantly throughout the year, even in the driest months. April is considered to be the driest month in Belfast, while the heaviest rainfall happens in September. Being the warmest month of the year, July average temperature is around 14.6 °C. Make sure when booking your student accommodation in Belfast to ask if there are any available heating systems.
What to Pack and Belfast Local Timing
You’ll probably need some heavy clothes for Belfast, rain boots and jackets are a must, scarfs and thermals are no different and you must invest in heat preserving shoes. GMT is Belfast local timing, keep this in mind when booking your flights and student accommodation.
Is Belfast Rural or Urban?
Belfast is mostly urban with some rural places where you can enjoy some quality time away from the city’s crowded life. However, having your student accommodation in Belfast near the rural areas won’t be quite the decision, keep the rural part for getaways and week-ends road trips and look for student accommodation in an urban neighbourhood so you can be close to all the needed facilities.
What are Some Must-Visit Places in Belfast?
1. Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum is a good Belfast attraction, it is a free museum that has everything you might wish to see in a museum. You can see a mummy if you are interested in Egyptian history, or even a dinosaur if you are interested in Geology for example. There is also an art collection of paintings, jewellery, furniture, costume, and textiles.
2. Linen Hall Library
Students studying in any of the universities benefit from a lot of free and cheap activities that the city has to offer. They can visit the Linen Hall Library which is free for full-time students and offers a very small price for membership - £5 per month only for the standard membership.
3. The Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens is another free place that students can relax. It is 28 acres and it includes glasshouses with all types of plants. Belfast is known for its interest in agriculture and environmental enhancement, which is why these gardens were built up in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society.
Belfast Traditional Food
1. Ulster Fry
A traditionally cooked Irish breakfast usually includes potato bread (a tasty pan-fried bread made with potato flour), bacon, sausages and eggs. Soda bread can be present too to add an amazing flavour.
2. Fifteens
A traditional Northern Irish cake consists of digestive cookies, marshmallows, coconut and cherries. The name comes from the 15 ingredients the dish has within it.
3. Boxty
Another traditional Irish breakfast dish, including potato pancake, made with grated and mashed potato, flour, buttermilk and baking soda; mostly served with sauteed veggies.
Universities in Belfast
3. Belfast Metropolitan College
4. St Marys University College, Belfast
5. Stranmillis University College Queen University Belfast
6. Ulster University- Jordanstown Campus
Transportation In Belfast
If you are a student living in Belfast, you surely wish to enjoy all the attractions of the city, and for that transportation are needed. Belfast is still a city that is heavily dependent on cars, but that doesn’t mean there are no means of transportations inside. The company that handles the main transportation methods in Belfast is called Translink. You can easily visit the website to check the timetables for all types of transportations. They offer a complete timetable with maps to all Metro lines and Bus lines.
If you are interested in giving yourself a break from reservations and tickets you can try the visitor's pass that gives you unlimited access to transportations for up to 3 days in the city. If you are a cycling lover, you can rent bikes from NextBike in Belfast and cycle around the city centre. There are over 30 bike docking stations in the city centre alone. Finally, walking lovers can find useful maps of Belfast in the following link.
Famous Neighbourhoods For Student Accommodation in Belfast
College Square, Great Patrick Street, Queen St, Dublin Road, Little Patrick St.
