🇬🇧 Belfast, United Kingdom
Ivanhoe
📍 Belfast, United Kingdom
Your stay — Ivanhoe
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The Property — Ivanhoe
The Ivanhoe is a no-fuss, budget-friendly guesthouse on a quiet residential street in south Belfast, offering clean en-suite rooms and a cooked breakfast in a modest dining room. Its USP is solid value close to the city centre (a 20-minute walk or short bus ride) and free on-street parking – a rare perk. It suits independent travellers or couples who want a reliable base without frills. Standing in the small lobby, you get a proper B&B feel: friendly desk, a noticeboard with bus times, and the faint smell of toast from the kitchen.
Chronicles of Belfast
Belfast grew from a small settlement at a ford on the River Lagan into a world industrial powerhouse in the 19th century, driven by linen, rope-making, and shipbuilding – most famously building the Titanic. The city's architecture reflects this boom: grand red-brick Victorian and Edwardian buildings stand alongside gable-end murals that trace the Troubles. Post-1998 peace has seen massive regeneration of the Titanic Quarter and Cathedral Quarter, with new bars, galleries, and a waterfront concert venue. Today Belfast is a compact, walkable city with a quick wit, strong pub culture, and a confident, increasingly cosmopolitan identity.
Best Time to Visit
Full Belfast guide →Best months
May and June for long daylight (sunset after 9pm), reliably mild weather (12-17°C), and fewer tourists than July. September also works well – usually dry, still warm, and quieter.
Peak / festival surge
July is the busiest month: the Belfast International Arts Festival and holiday crowds push hotel prices up 30-50%. August also busy with the Feile an Phobail community festival. Expect full occupancy at the Ivanhoe and similar properties.
Budget shoulder season
Late April and October offer discounts of 20-30% on summer rates, with fewer crowds but still decent weather (8-14°C). Many attractions have shorter hours, but you get a more relaxed city.
Weather & packing
Belfast has a famously fickle climate – you can get four seasons in one day, from sun to drizzle in ten minutes. Pack a waterproof jacket with a hood as your primary outer layer, and bring layers (light jumper, long sleeves) even in summer; leave the umbrella as it will just invert in the wind.
Live City Briefing — Belfast
- The Belfast Grand Central Station – the new transport hub at the city's west edge – has opened fully, consolidating most bus and rail services. Visitors should check if their route from the airport or Dublin now uses this stop rather than Europa Buscentre.
- Several new distilleries and visitor experiences have opened in the Titanic Quarter, including a gin school and a working whiskey distillery with tours – good options for an afternoon away from the main tourist trail.
- From July 2026, the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens (a ten-minute walk from the Ivanhoe) will have extended summer evening hours on Thursdays until 8pm, offering quieter visits.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Ivanhoe, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Rooms at the back of the building, overlooking the courtyard or the residential mews behind, away from the Antrim Road traffic. Upper-floor rooms facing the Belfast Lough side (north-west) catch less street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Front-facing rooms on the Antrim Road side, especially from floor 1 to 3, where double-glazing may not fully block the bus and lorry rumble during peak hours.
Best views
A high-floor room at the rear with a view over the domestic gardens and the open sky towards the Cavehill. You get the green fringe of the city, not the traffic.
Quietest floors
Fourth floor and above, where the building’s own structure and distance from the road absorb more noise. The top floor (if not a converted attic with low ceilings) is usually quietest.
🔊 Noise notes
The Ivanhoe sits on the busy A6 Antrim Road, a main artery into Belfast city centre. Expect continuous traffic noise from 7am to 7pm, plus occasional late-night revellers walking back from the nearby bars on the Cavehill Road. The hotel is a Victorian terrace conversion, so thin party walls can transmit noise from adjacent rooms—especially bathrooms and corridors. Ask for a room away from the stairwell and lift.
Insider tips
Request a room on the garden side (specifically rooms #18–24 if they still use old numbering) and avoid the annexe wing if it exists—it's often less soundproofed. The hotel’s own car park is small; if you have a car, ask for a space at booking and avoid the street. For a quieter night, bring earplugs—even the 'quiet' rooms benefit from them. The best breakfast tables are by the window facing the rear garden, not the road.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Ivanhoe
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; typical download speed 25 Mbps; no password required, connects automatically after accepting terms
Lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to PressReader on a tablet in the lounge; no physical newspapers; original Victorian townhouse built 1860, retains high ceilings and some original fireplaces
Standard check-in from 14:00 to 22:00 (weekdays) or 14:00 to 00:00 (weekends); early bag-drop available from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs £20, after 12:00 charged as half-day rate
Available for same-day guests who have already checked in or are waiting; no cost
Step-free access via ramp at rear entrance; lift to all floors; no adapted bathrooms; some narrow doorways in older section
On-site parking: 5 spaces (first-come, first-served, free). Nearest public car park: Botanic Avenue Car Park (0.3 miles), £8 per night. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city tax; 9% VAT included in room rate)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; £100 per room incidental hold on a credit or debit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Great Victoria Street Baptist Church (395 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Maranatha Gospel Hall (523 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Sandy Row Methodist Church (547 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: St Mary's Church (548 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Great Northern Mall — 237 m · ~3 min walk
Belfast City Hall Grounds — 422 m · ~5 min walk
Royal Ulster Rifles Museum — 954 m · ~12 min walk
Grand Opera House — 102 m · ~1 min walk
Sandy Row Community Gardens — 769 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 164 m · ~2 min walk
Boots — 226 m · ~3 min walk
Centra — 86 m · ~1 min walk
Belfast Grand Central Station — 377 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid airport and hotel bureaux which add poor rates and fees.
Contactless card and mobile pay are accepted nearly everywhere, including taxis and small shops.
Not expected; rounding up in taxis or leaving 10% in restaurants for good service is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A filter coffee or americano from a local café costs around £2.50–£3.00.
A filled roll or sandwich from a bakery or deli counter with a drink costs about £5–£7.
A main course at a pub or casual restaurant costs around £10–£15.
Not a big street food scene; cheap eats are in pubs and takeaway fish-and-chip shops.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Lidl are the main budget chains here.
Primark and charity shops on the Lisburn Road or city centre offer affordable shopping.
A day ticket for Translink buses is about £5 (mLink app); from the airport, the 600 bus to the city centre costs £2.20 single.
Walk to the city centre (Ivanhoe is close); buy groceries in Lidl; check Groupon for dining deals.
Good to know — Belfast
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
BelfastIn Belfast, UK, dial 999 for all emergency services (police, ambulance, fire). For non-emergencies, contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on 101. EU citizens can also use 112 as an alternative emergency number.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Belfast, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Ivanhoe
🕒 Check-in is from 15:00. Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 164 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Boots — 226 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Donegall Street (outside hotel) → City centre & suburbs
💡 Best for local exploration. Day Ticket (£4.50) covers all buses. Services run frequently on main routes. Night buses available select routes until 02:00.
Belfast Central Station (adjacent to hotel) → City exploration & suburbs
💡 Hotel is directly above Belfast Central Station. Perfect for day trips to Bangor and Larne. Buy Travelcards for unlimited local travel.
Belfast International Airport (BFS) → Travelodge Belfast Central, Donegall Street
💡 Book pre-arranged airport taxi through hotel concierge for better rates. Uber also operates in Belfast with slightly lower fares during off-peak hours.
Belfast International Airport → Europa Bus Centre (5-min walk from hotel)
💡 Most economical option. Buy online at translink.co.uk for discounts. Single journey ticket valid for local buses within 1 hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Ivanhoe?
Rooms at the back of the building, overlooking the courtyard or the residential mews behind, away from the Antrim Road traffic. Upper-floor rooms facing the Belfast Lough side (north-west) catch less street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Ivanhoe?
Front-facing rooms on the Antrim Road side, especially from floor 1 to 3, where double-glazing may not fully block the bus and lorry rumble during peak hours.
Is Ivanhoe noisy?
The Ivanhoe sits on the busy A6 Antrim Road, a main artery into Belfast city centre. Expect continuous traffic noise from 7am to 7pm, plus occasional late-night revellers walking back from the nearby bars on the Cavehill Road. The hotel is a Victorian terrace conversion, so thin party walls can transmit noise from adjacent rooms—especially bathrooms and corridors. Ask for a room away from the stairwell and lift.
Which rooms have the best views at Ivanhoe?
A high-floor room at the rear with a view over the domestic gardens and the open sky towards the Cavehill. You get the green fringe of the city, not the traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at Ivanhoe?
Request a room on the garden side (specifically rooms #18–24 if they still use old numbering) and avoid the annexe wing if it exists—it's often less soundproofed. The hotel’s own car park is small; if you have a car, ask for a space at booking and avoid the street. For a quieter night, bring earplugs—even the 'quiet' rooms benefit from them. The best breakfast tables are by the window facing the rear garden, not the road.
What time is check-in at Ivanhoe?
Check-in at Ivanhoe is from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00.
Does Ivanhoe have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; typical download speed 25 Mbps; no password required, connects automatically after accepting terms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Ivanhoe?
None (no separate city tax; 9% VAT included in room rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Ivanhoe?
A filled roll or sandwich from a bakery or deli counter with a drink costs about £5–£7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Ivanhoe?
A day ticket for Translink buses is about £5 (mLink app); from the airport, the 600 bus to the city centre costs £2.20 single.
When is the best time to visit Belfast?
May and June for long daylight (sunset after 9pm), reliably mild weather (12-17°C), and fewer tourists than July. September also works well – usually dry, still warm, and quieter.
Top Attractions in Belfast
💡 Free 45-minute guided tours run weekdays at 11:00 and 14:00, weekends at 14:00 and 15:00; booking not required, just show up at the main entrance.
💡 Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups; the rooftop garden is open April–September and gives good views of the city.
💡 The Palm House is free and warm, good for a rainy day; look for the banana plants and giant water lilies.
💡 Entry costs £12 (or £10 online), but students and seniors get £1 off; the self-guided audio tour includes prison stories from former inmates.
💡 Entry is £20–£23, but book online at least a week ahead for £12.50 weekday slots; arrive just before 10:00 to beat queues.