Parliament Buildings, Stormont

Stormont is Belfast's grandest set-piece: a gleaming Greek-classical parliament building of Portland stone, reached by a ceremonial avenue nearly a mile long and set in a rolling public estate in the east of the city.

Opened in 1932, Parliament Buildings houses the Northern Ireland Assembly. Free guided tours take in the Great Hall, the debating chamber and the layered political history of the place, from partition to the Good Friday Agreement and the power-sharing years since.

The real surprise for many visitors is the estate itself — hundreds of acres of parkland, woodland walks and the long tree-lined approach that is popular with runners, dog-walkers and families. You can happily spend an hour outdoors here without setting foot inside.

Visitor tips

• Guided tours are free but run on set days — check ahead.
• The walk up the avenue is the classic photograph.