Overview
Northern Ireland’s biggest indoor arena sits inside the Odyssey, a cylindrical complex on the east bank of the River Lagan that also holds the hands-on W5 science centre, a Cineworld cinema, a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley, a 36-hole adventure golf course, an arcade and a run of restaurants and bars. It’s one of Belfast’s more reliable wet-weather days out, and since the leisure wing reopened as Odyssey Place in 2023 there’s enough under the one roof to fill a full day. From 1 July 2026 the complex trades as The O2 Belfast, though the W5 science centre keeps its own name.
History and development
The concept originated in 1992 as part of a dockland regeneration push. A £45 million Millennium Commission grant, matched by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, the Sheridan Group and the Sports Council, brought the total to around £120 million. Construction began in June 1998, the arena opened in December 2000 and W5 followed in March 2001. The name was picked by Michael Montgomery, then 14, for the idea of a journey of discovery. Since then the complex has been through ownership changes, restructuring and a pandemic closure, each followed by reinvestment: a £3 million arena refit in 2015 and a 2021–2023 redevelopment of the leisure pavilion among them.
What to see and do
The arena
Seating just over 11,000, the arena is home to the Belfast Giants ice-hockey team, who play through the season from September to March, and it’s the north’s main stop for touring concerts – Lady Gaga, Metallica and The Who have all played here – along with WWE, UFC, darts and comedy. The Heineken and West lounges offer private balcony seating with river views.
W5 discovery centre
If you’re bringing children, this is the reason to come. W5 stands for Who, What, Where, When and Why, and runs around 250 hands-on exhibits across themed galleries. The headline piece is Climbit, billed as Europe’s largest Luckey Climber, a 12-metre structure children can scale safely. Entry is about £12 for adults and £9 for children, and there’s a lecture theatre and regular workshops for school groups.
Odyssey Place: cinema, bowling and games
The leisure wing reopened in 2023 with a Cineworld multiplex and a Hollywood Bowl, which took over the old Odyssey Bowl lanes in 2022. Families can also take on The Lost City adventure golf (36 themed holes), the Funstation arcade and Breakout Escape Rooms, and there are more than a dozen places to eat, from quick cafés to full restaurants.
Accessibility
The complex is fully wheelchair-accessible, with ramps, lifts and dedicated seating across the venues. There’s a Changing Places facility, FM hearing loops, sensory bags, ear defenders and low-level counters at the box office and catering units. Assistance dogs are welcome and a free Personal Assistant ticket is available on request; BSL and ISL interpretation and audio description can be arranged for performances in advance.
Getting there and practical tips
It’s a 15-minute walk from Belfast city centre across the Lagan Weir and Queen Elizabeth Bridge, and close to Titanic Belfast. The Glider G2 stops at the door and Metro service 94 runs from Donegall Square North. The nearest railway stations are Titanic Quarter, about 10 minutes’ walk, and Lanyon Place, about 20.
- Parking: the on-site car park has 1,500 spaces (60 of them disabled bays), and it is not free. It runs on a ticketless ANPR system, from £0.90 for 20 minutes and £1.90 for an hour up to a £30 daily maximum, paid at a machine or by card at the barrier. Four 22kW EV charging points sit in the rear Abercorn car park, but you bring your own cable. Note the exit can take about an hour after a big arena event.
- Tickets: there’s no general entry fee – you pay per attraction. Arena tickets are sold per event, so buy through official channels to avoid resellers.
- Arena rules: no outside food or drink, phones off during shows, latecomers held until a break, under-14s with an adult, strictly non-smoking, and no re-entry once you leave.
- Opening hours: these vary by attraction. W5 and Odyssey Place run daily from mid-morning to late evening, while arena hours follow the event schedule, so check the individual venue before travelling.
Coming for a gig or a Giants game, leave the car at home: the Glider G2 drops you at the door, and the car-park exit after a full arena can crawl for the best part of an hour.