Belfast, UK

From 2 to 5 July 2015 Tall Ships from across the globe will anchor in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the start of The Tall Ships Races 2015.

Crew members and visitors will enjoy a fantastic experience along the quayside as the ships are welcomed by the annual Belfast Maritime Festival, which will feature a wide range of free family-friendly entertainment and theatre.

Well, it’s packed with history, culture, exciting events, great food, super shopping… you might even spot a ship or two. You’ll also find some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Have a look around and learn more about the city we’re so proud of. Belfast is also a city that is becoming renowned for hosting world class events, having recently welcomed the MTV European Music Awards, the World Police and Fire Games and the Tall Ships in 2009.

The 2015 event will be the third time that Belfast has hosted the races, having also welcomed the ships in 1991. Both previous visits were incredibly popular, with an estimated 800,000 spectators attending the four-day event in 2009 to see the flotilla of 40 ships berthed along the city’s quays.

In 2015 we hope to attract 500,000 people, with another 500,000 seeing the arrival and departure of the vessels along the Northern Ireland and Irish coasts. The ships will be berthed in and around Belfast Harbour and the Titanic Quarter area.

Belfast Tall Ships 2015 Ltd has been set up to manage the event, with funding from Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast Harbour and the Department of Social Development.

For more information on all that Belfast has to offer, go to the Visit Belfast website.