Getting there

Help reduce traffic congestion on our hospital sites by travelling on public transport.

To plan your journey, visit www.translink.co.uk  

The G1 Glider stops at the Falls Road entrance to the Royal Hospitals site. You can enter the main hospital from the Falls Road.

The G1 service runs frequently from McKinstry Road (West Belfast) to Dundonald (East Belfast) and vice versa through the city centre. Glider stops in the city centre are located at:

• May Street (St George’s Market and City Hall)
• College Square East

Glider City Centre

Glider G1 West

Royal Victoria Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Maternity Hospital

The 646a Metro bus service operates from Belfast Grand Central Station to the hospital grounds (note Mon-Fri only). The G1 Glider service operates from Belfast City Centre via the Falls Road, followed by a short walk to the hospital grounds.

Belfast City Hospital

The 9a/b/c Metro bus services operate from Belfast City Centre to the Lisburn Road, followed by a short walk to the hospital grounds.

Mater Hospital

The 11e & 12b Metro bus services operate from Belfast City Centre to the Crumlin Road, followed by a short walk to the hospital grounds.

Musgrave Park Hospital

The 9e Metro bus service operates from Belfast City Centre direct to the hospital grounds.

Knockbracken

The 515, 516, 518 & 520 Ulsterbus services operate from Belfast City Centre, followed by a short walk to the hospital grounds.

A bicycle path runs along the Westlink to the Mulhouse Road and Broadway entrances to the Royal Hospitals site.

There is also a bicycle path along Durham Street and the Grosvenor Road. This takes you from the city centre to the Grosvenor Road entrance to the Royal Hospitals site.

Bicycle parking for visitors and patients is located at the front entrance to the main Royal Victoria Hospital building (opposite the School of Dentistry).

Belfast Bike docking stations are also available at the Broadway entrance to the Royal Hospitals site and at Servia Street on the Grosvenor Road.

The Royal Victoria Hospital is approximately a 15 to 20 minute walk from Belfast Grand Central Station. The quickest route to walk is along the Grosvenor Road.

The Royal Victoria Hospital is approximately a 15 to 20 minute walk from Belfast Grand Central Station. The quickest route to walk is along the Grosvenor Road.

The City Hospital has its own train stop. The Tower building is a five minute walk from the train stop. You can access regular connections to both Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central Station, as well as the Bangor, Derry, Dublin, Larne, Newry, Portadown and Portrush lines.

Musgrave Park Hospital

Balmoral train stop is beside the entrance to Musgrave Park Hospital. The main hospital is a 15 minute walk from there.

You can access regular connections to both Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central Station, as well as the Bangor, Derry, Dublin, Larne, Newry, Portadown and Portrush lines.

There is no train station near the Mater Hospital, Children’s Hospital Maternity Hospital or Knockbracken. 

The Royal Hospitals can be accessed by either the Broadway or Grosvenor Road entrances. Both entrances are close to the M1, Westlink and Falls Road.

If arriving by car, please use the main visitors’ car park marked on this Royal Hospitals site map.

Full details on car parking at the Royal Victoria Hospital are available here.

Belfast Trust would like to apologise if you find yourself in a queue to access the car parks. We fully understand that you may be concerned that you could be late or possibly miss your appointment.

In these circumstances, you should proceed to your appointment location as normal. We will try to ensure that your appointment can go ahead after you arrive.

If your appointment needs to be rearranged, we will organise another date as soon as possible. We will ensure that our records do not show this as a missed appointment.

Belfast City Airport has regular domestic flights and is five miles from the Royal Hospitals site via the Westlink and M3 motorway. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes by car, but may take longer at peak times. Bus route 600 operates a regular service between the City Airport and Europa Bus Centre. Download the timetable here.

Belfast International Airport has regular flights around Ireland, the UK, Europe and other international destinations. The airport is 20 miles from the Royal Hospitals site via the Westlink and M2 motorway. This takes about 35 minutes by car, but may take longer at peak times. Bus route 300 operates a regular service between the International Airport and Europa Bus Centre. Download the timetable here.

This scheme helps older people or people with disabilities to access local services. You must first join the scheme, but you will then be eligible to access the transport. There is a small charge for this service.

For further information, please contact Disability Action:

• Telephone: 028 9029 7870
• Website: www.disabilityaction.org

The Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) was set up in 1988 as part of the NHS Low Income Scheme. This scheme provides financial assistance to patients who do not need an ambulance, but require assistance with their travel costs.

Under HTCS, patients on low incomes or specific qualifying benefits may be refunded for fares to attend NHS services under the care of a consultant. The journey will need to meet certain criteria.

If you are blind or have sight loss, you can now pre-book a person who will act as a Sighted Guide at no cost for your next trip to the Royal Victoria Hospital, as a service user, patient or visitor.

There are more than 30 trained Sighted Guides available to assist anyone who is blind or has sight loss to reach their destination safely and independently.

To book, please telephone or text 0738 594 1991 or email info@shopmobilitybelfast.co.uk

Shopmobility helps patients and visitors with limited mobility by providing electric scooters and wheelchairs to help them get around the Royal Hospitals site.

The Shopmobility service is located near the parking spaces for blue badge holders on the ground level of the main visitors’ car park. It is a free service and available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The service is closed for lunch 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Read more about Shopmobility here.

Read more transport and travel information that may be useful for patients and visitors travelling to Trust facilities.

AccessAble provide detailed access information to support disabled patients, visitors and staff to access our services at Royal Victoria Hospital.

You can access the guides on the AccessAble website.