Woodvale Park

Full Description

Woodvale Park opened in 1888 after a slightly chaotic start — the dignitaries never turned up for the ceremony, so a park ranger took the key and opened the gates to the crowd himself. That unbothered, community-first spirit still suits the place.

It's a proper Victorian park: a bandstand, landscaped flower and shrub beds, and paths that wind through about 25 acres — roughly three miles of walking if you follow them all. There's a children's playground with a toddlers' play area, an outdoor exercise area, two bowling greens with a pavilion, football pitches and a seven-a-side area, a community garden and allotment plots.

The Peace Tree stands here too, a native tree that won Northern Ireland Tree of the Year in 2015 — worth finding with children, and a gentler thing to talk about than most of what the surrounding streets remember.

There's also something to look forward to: the disused bowling green is being turned into a sensory garden and inclusive play space for children and young people with additional needs, due to open in spring 2027.

What You'll Find

A children's playground with a toddlers' play area, a Victorian bandstand, landscaped flower and shrub beds, an outdoor exercise area, two bowling greens with a pavilion, football pitches and a seven-a-side soccer area, a community garden, allotment plots, and around three miles of paths across roughly 25 acres. The Peace Tree, Northern Ireland Tree of the Year in 2015, stands in the park. Toilets, accessible toilets, parking, accessible parking and signage are listed for the park. A sensory garden and inclusive play space is being created on the old bowling green and is due to open in spring 2027.

Wee Ones Will Love...

• ✓The playground and its toddler area
• ✓The bandstand, which makes a grand stage
• ✓Finding the Peace Tree
• ✓Long paths that feel like a proper adventure

Before You Visit

Woodvale Park is free and needs no booking. There are gates on the Woodvale Road (BT13 3BN), Woodvale Avenue and the Ballygomartin Road, and Metro 11A–D runs from Belfast city centre — check Translink for times.

The sensory garden and inclusive play space is a work in progress on the disused bowling green and isn't open yet. The council expects it in spring 2027, so don't set out for it before then.

Belfast City Council parks close in the evening, with closing times changing through the year. Disposable barbecues aren't allowed.

The bowling greens and pitches are booked facilities rather than drop-in play, so treat the playground as the family bit.

We couldn't confirm baby changing here, and we haven't graded the paths for wheelchairs or buggies. If either matters, email the council's parks team at parksinfo@belfastcity.gov.uk before you travel.

Top Tips

• ⭐Park at the Woodvale Road side, do the playground first, then the paths — a walk is easier once the climbing frame is out of the way.
• ⭐Go looking for the Peace Tree and tell them it beat the whole country in 2015.
• ⭐Bring a ball; there's grass and pitch space here that most city parks can't offer.
• ⭐Keep an eye on council updates for the new sensory garden and inclusive play space — it'll be worth a return visit in 2027.