Botanic Avenue Hostel
The cheap-and-spotless Queen's Quarter base — 5 min from Botanic train, 15 min from a pint at the Crown
Botanic Avenue Hostel sits five minutes from Botanic train station in Queen's Quarter, the student belt that is also Belfast's cheapest food strip. Free WiFi, shared kitchen with cereals/bread/coffee/tea included, lift, 24-hour security, and a 4-bed female-only dorm — couples rate it 9.5 for two-person trips. Functional, spotless, and around £22 a bed.
Botanic Avenue Hostel is a self-catering hostel on the south side of Belfast, on or just off Botanic Avenue, the long student strip that runs from the Linen Quarter down to Queen's University. The address is in BT7, postcode-territory of Queen's Quarter — 12 minutes on foot to City Hall, 5 minutes to Botanic train station, and a few steps from the Belfast Empire Music Hall.
The hostel is the cheaper of the two on Botanic, and it shows in the way it advertises itself — comfortable, clean, secure, and that's the pitch. There is no on-site bar, no live entertainment, no breakfast service. What there is: a shared kitchen with cereals, bread, coffee and tea included, an electric kettle, microwave, oven, refrigerator and dining area; a lounge with sofa and seating area; an elevator (rare for a Botanic Avenue Victorian conversion); free WiFi; full-day security; lockers; and laundry.
The rooms are dorms (the 4-bed female-only is the most-mentioned in reviews) and private singles/doubles. Bathroom is shared. Beddings are described in five-star reviews as "ultra clean," the mattresses comfortable, and travelers note the toiletries (shampoo, towels) are provided rather than coin-operated. Carpeted floors, work desks, free WiFi.
The location is what carries the hostel. Botanic Avenue is the cheapest food strip in Belfast — Maggie May's for under-£8 Ulster fries, Boojum for burritos, Established Coffee for the morning queue. The Empire Music Hall is on the doorstep for Friday-night comedy. Botanic Gardens is a 12-minute walk south, the Cathedral Quarter is 18 minutes north on foot or six minutes on the Glider G2. Both Belfast airports are reachable from the bus stop right outside the hostel — the 600 to City Airport, or a transfer to the 300 for International.
- 015 min walk to Botanic train station — direct rail to Dublin Connolly in 2 hours
- 02Bus stop right outside for the 600 Airport Express to George Best City Airport
- 03Shared kitchen comes stocked with cereal, bread, coffee, tea (included)
- 04Couples rate it 9.5/10 for a two-person trip — rare for a hostel under £25
- 05Carpeted dorms, ultra-clean bedding, full-day security and lockers
- Lift to all floors (rare in a Victorian conversion)
- Stocked breakfast basics included in the kitchen
- 4-bed female-only dorm with extra space
- Steps from Belfast Empire Music Hall and Botanic Avenue's cheap-eats strip
“The lady welcomed me with super kind heart. The beddings are ultra clean, mattress is really comfortable, nice shampoo and toiletries provided.”
“Perfect for an affordable short stay. The staff are friendly and welcoming, it is exceptionally well taken care of and the location on Botanic Avenue is unbeatable.”
“Centrally located for my travel needs. A 10-minute walk from the train station and a bus stop right outside the hostel. The 4-bed female room was spacious. Cereals, bread, coffee and tea are available in the kitchen.”
- Belfast Empire Music Hall2 min walk
- Botanic train station5 min walk
- Ulster Museum & Botanic Gardens10 min walk
- Queen's University8 min walk
- City Hall and the Linen Quarter12 min walk
- Cathedral Quarter (Duke of York, Dirty Onion)18 min walk / 6 min Glider G2
