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Fact Central

Local government district · Northern Ireland

Belfast

Discover Belfast’s Tropical Ravine and city quarters, with Victorian horticulture providing a different view of the city’s history.

Quick facts

Type of place
Local government district
Nation
Northern Ireland
Official identifier
gss:N09000003

Overview

Belfast is a local government district in Northern Ireland. The Botanic Gardens provide a local example of Victorian horticulture and engineering, while the city’s quarters offer other ways to explore its cultural and waterfront history.

Belfast is a local government district in Northern Ireland.

Population and demographics

Population
351,927 people

Figures for . NISRA MYE25 Northern Ireland and LGD2014 administrative areas.

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency · nisra-mid-2025 · Flat!F236. Released 24 September 2026.

Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: NISRA. Website: https://www.nisra.gov.uk. Crown copyright; Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Tropical Ravine and city quarters

The Tropical Ravine in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens opened in 1889 on the site of earlier orchid and propagating houses. Head gardener Charles McKimm created it. Its specialised building and plant collections provide an example of Victorian horticulture and engineering, distinct from the city’s shipbuilding story. The Cathedral Quarter is associated with cultural activity, while Queen’s Quarter takes its name from Queen’s University. The Titanic Quarter and Maritime Mile concern the historic waterfront. These visitor districts describe different aspects of the city; they are not administrative units or NISRA statistical boundaries.

Sources

  1. History of the Tropical Ravine — Belfast City Council. The Tropical Ravine in Belfast's Botanic Gardens opened in 1889 on the site of earlier orchid and propagating houses. (Origins of the Tropical Ravine). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. City areas — Visit Belfast. Belfast's different quarters give distinct ways to explore the city. (Cathedral Quarter, Queen's Quarter and waterfront). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. ONS local authority districts December 2025

    Office for National Statistics · lad-december-2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0 Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025.