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Original poster

Holylands, Belfast - nice area?

13 replies

RedPandaFluff · 02/03/2023 08:53

Hi everyone - I'm from NI originally but have lived in England for about 20 years. I just saw a house for sale on Facebook - it's a 4-bed semi in the Holylands in Belfast, priced at £485k. I know this is a really central location, and the house is lovely, but from what I remember of the Holylands, it's mostly students and is really rough in parts, so £485k seems like a lot even for such a convenient location.

Has that area improved? I just remember rows and rows of run-down terraces with sofas outside the front door in summertime and drunk students everywhere! I mean, I was one of them at a certain point . . .

OP posts:

Lightninginabox · 02/03/2023 08:57

Oh gosh OP, I used to live in the holylands and really love that whole area - so many great memories - but I could not honestly say it has got better.

I don't want to be unfair, it is a fab location, very diverse for Belfast, super near so many amenities, the university etc. And so many lovely houses round Rugby Road and the back of the Botanic Gardens.

But it is definitely still quite rough and the landlords etc don't seem to have invested enough in it.

HOWEVER it has an amazing Thai restaurant with fab owners on Carmel Street!

sonjadog · 02/03/2023 08:59

No, it has not got better!

Cocolapew · 02/03/2023 09:01

I don't know the area apart from it being on the news because of the behaviour of the students who live there, so I'd say no too.

FedUpWithBriiiiick · 02/03/2023 09:06

No it's still a shithole.

Snugglemonkey · 02/03/2023 09:10

I lived there too and loved it, but it is not appealing now. It is fun, diverse, so close to so much to do. However, it is also noisy and full time residents definitely find it annoying being surrounded by the student population. Plus parking is a nightmare.

It is priced to reflect the fact that it is a perfect rental opportunity.

Lightninginabox · 02/03/2023 09:13

That is a fab house though in fairness!

It depends what you want. If you're living in London and what you want is the joy of being in a uni district with bookshops and the QFT and good schools (Methody, Botanic Primary) etc around the corner and you're not fussed on gardening, then go for it!

A LOT of people move home after 20 years away and they are just blinded by how cheap houses are compared to other places. Then they get home and realised they could have had a big house with half an acre of field in a cute town somewhere close by. But if the latter will never be your dream then don't worry about it!

I tell you where HAS come on in wild leaps and bounds, is Ormeau Road. Loads of cafes and restaurants and pizzerias and a nice bakery. I love it. Still close to everything but the park and the golf course give it a bit of greenery.

peachgreen · 02/03/2023 09:15

Christ no. I’d say almost everywhere in Belfast has got significantly better but I wouldn’t live in the Holylands if they paid ME the £485k.

Lightninginabox · 02/03/2023 09:17

peachgreen · 02/03/2023 09:15

Christ no. I’d say almost everywhere in Belfast has got significantly better but I wouldn’t live in the Holylands if they paid ME the £485k.

Okay yes, this really sums it up. It is SUCH a shame, those few roads have gorgeous houses.

peachgreen · 02/03/2023 09:19

Yeah it is a shame, they’re gorgeous and it’s close to some really lovely areas, but still – just no.

knackeredcat · 02/03/2023 09:19

I was born there, OP. Many happy memories of it in the early 80s and the close proximity to both Botanic Gardens and Ulster Museum. However, even then many of the houses were being rented to students. One party too much saw us move in 1985.

It's a shame as there are lovely houses in places like Rugby Road and College Park Avenue, but again many are HMOs. And St Patrick's Day is still as wild as ever, from what I read.

And yes, Ormeau Road is fab. I miss it so much.

Original poster

RedPandaFluff · 02/03/2023 10:48

Ahhhh you've definitely all confirmed what I suspected! Agree with several PPs - happy memories of student life, but wouldn't want to live there as a grown-up

OP posts:

hopeishere · 08/03/2023 18:55

I really think it depends. A friend lives on Rugby Road and never has any bother!

whathaveidonetomydc · 08/03/2023 19:14

Rugby Road is really nice but parking is a complete nightmare. Anywhere else in Holylands, a big fat no. I don't mind an 'edgy' area but when I was working in QUB several years ago I had to park near old Chinese supermarket. Students would be drunk at 10am, shouting loudly at passersby in a threatening manner. I remember once going back to my car at about 4pm and a group of men were all leaning against it, with a few on the bonnet. It was winter and starting to get dark and I was afraid to approach them, so ended up walking the streets until they had left. At that time a lot of sexual assaults were being reported from that area, it was a big issue for the university.

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