Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park (Belfast)

Roses, a Japanese garden and room to roam

The park spreads over more than 128 acres of rolling meadows, copses, woodland and gardens. The star turn is the City of Belfast International Rose Garden, said to be one of the great rose collections, with beds and trial plantings that fill with colour through the summer. Nearby sits a Japanese-style garden with water features for a quiet moment, and a walled garden tucked into the grounds. Children get their own playground, and there are picnic tables and a barbecue area if you want to make a meal of it. Beyond the formal gardens, mown paths lead off across open meadow and into the trees, so there is always more to walk. The Stables coffee shop keeps you going with tea, coffee and hot and cold food.

Free Rose garden Japanese garden Playground Coffee shop 128+ acres to roam

Good to know before you go:

Closing times change with the seasons and the park hosts events, so times can vary — check the council's page before you travel. There were road closures linked to Fleadh Belfast up to Monday 10 August 2026; confirm current access on the official website below.

What to wear & bring

🧥A coat or layersRain here means soft light on the roses and a garden that smells wonderful — a jacket keeps everyone happy in it.

👟Comfy shoesPaved paths in the gardens, softer grass and woodland trails beyond.

🧺A picnicPicnic tables and a barbecue area, or the Stables coffee shop for tea and traybakes.

💧Water & a hatOn a sunny day, plenty of open lawn to spread out on — water and a hat keep it all fun.

Rose Week and summer in the gardens

Each July the park hosts the Summer Rose Fair, also known as Rose Week, when the International Rose Garden is at its peak and thousands of visitors come to see it. Dates change year to year, so check the council's page for this year's fair. Outside July the gardens still reward a visit in every season — spring bulbs, summer colour, autumn leaves in the woodland and a quiet Japanese garden any time.

Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost: Free to visit
Opening: Open daily from 7.30am; closing time changes with the daylight through the year — check current times
Best for ages: All ages — gardens for a gentle wander, playground for younger children, room to run for everyone
What's there: City of Belfast International Rose Garden, Japanese-style garden, walled garden, woodland and meadow walks, children's playground, picnic tables, barbecue area
Coffee shop: The Stables coffee shop, open 10am to 4pm daily (tea, coffee, hot and cold food)
Parking: Free on-site parking — a lower and an upper car park
How long to allow: Half a day; more in July for Rose Week
Accessibility: Level, paved paths through the formal gardens; softer ground on the meadow and woodland trails
Address: Upper Malone Road, Belfast, BT17 9LA
Official website: Belfast City Council park page

Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?

Yes — the park is free to visit, and parking is free too.

What time does it open and close?

It opens daily at 7.30am. Closing changes with the daylight across the year, so check current times on the council's page before you travel.

When is the best time to see the roses?

July, when the City of Belfast International Rose Garden is at its peak and the Summer Rose Fair (Rose Week) is on. The gardens are worth a visit in every season, though.

Is there parking?

Yes — free on-site parking, with a lower and an upper car park.

Is there anywhere to get a coffee?

The Stables coffee shop is on site, open 10am to 4pm daily for tea, coffee and hot and cold food.

Getting there

Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is off the Upper Malone Road in south Belfast, BT17 9LA, with free parking in the lower and upper car parks. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions or the official council page.

Official website Directions on Google Maps See it on our map

Nearby

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The story

About the park

The grounds began as part of the Wilmont estate, thought to have been formed in the mid-18th century, and were first owned by the Stewarts, a farming family from Scotland.

The park takes its name from Sir Thomas Dixon, a former High Sheriff of Belfast, and his wife. Before she died in 1959, Lady Dixon gave the estate to the city of Belfast in memory of her late husband, and it re-opened as Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park that same year.

Today the City of Belfast International Rose Garden is the park's best-known feature, drawing thousands of visitors to the Summer Rose Fair each July. The park was awarded a Green Flag — the mark of a well-kept public space — every year from 2012 to 2022.