Royal Avenue, Belfast

Royal Avenue is a street in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the Cathedral Quarter in the heart of Belfast city centre, as well as being identified with the more recent Smithfield and Union Quarter, it has been the city's principal shopping thoroughfare since its establishment in 1881.

The Grand Central Hotel, Belfast's most prestigious hotel, was situated in Royal Avenue. It first opened in 1893 and throughout its history had many illustrious guests beneath its roof including King Leopold III of Belgium, Sir Winston Churchill, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The latter provoked a near riot in Royal Avenue as excited fans gathered outside the hotel and the English rock band watched the scene from the upper windows. By 1972 it had become a fortified military barracks serving as battalion headquarters for British Army regiments based in the city centre during The Troubles. Today Royal Avenue is one of Belfast's main commercial centres and is home to the £40 million shopping complex Westfield CastleCourt. The top end of Royal Avenue was formerly named John Street and the bottom end was called Hercules Street.

Royal Avenue is located in the Cathedral Quarter. Beginning from the Donegall Place junction with Castle Place and Castle Street, which is the hub of Belfast city centre, the road runs north to the North Street crossing where the former Bank of Ireland stands; then it angles northeast to the Donegall Street intersection continuing in a northeasterly direction as York Street.

Looking south on Royal Avenue, there is an imposing vista of Belfast City Hall and Donegall Square. The Anglican St. Anne's Cathedral in Donegall Street is adjacent to its northern end. It has many Victorian and Edwardian buildings, including the Belfast Central Library and the Haymarket Building, along with newer, modern structures and shopping complexes. It serves as the headquarters for the Belfast Telegraph newspaper. Like the rest of the city centre, Royal Avenue has seen much redevelopment since The Troubles officially ended in 1998, and the city embarked on a major urban renewal project.

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