The Monster Square

The Monster Square runs at Victoria Square from Wednesday 28 October to Saturday 31 October, a four-day Halloween trail for families. It's the centre's main installation for the season, and it's built around a few different activities you can work through at your own pace.

There's face painting and crafting to get the kids sorted first, and then the Monster Map takes over. It sends you on a spooky trail around the complex to find missing monsters, so it's a good way to keep them moving while you're in there. If you're only popping in for a bit, you can just do the painting and crafting; if you've got the afternoon, the map gives you a proper reason to wander.

It's also part of something bigger. Larger-than-life inflatable creatures are popping up across the city centre as part of Belfast One's wider Monster Trail, so if you're out and about that week, you'll likely spot them before you even reach the square. The trail inside Victoria Square is just one stop on that city-wide map.

While you're there, it's worth remembering that Victoria Square is more than just the Halloween stuff. It's Northern Ireland's premier shopping and leisure destination, with over 70 stores and restaurants for the whole family, anchored by the Frasers department store. The whole place is topped by that iconic dome, which gives you panoramic views across the city, the River Lagan and the Mourne Mountains. If you're in the mood for a bit of local history, the centre's resident tour guide, Gerry, runs free hourly tours of the dome every day from 10am to 4pm. He'll point out Belfast Castle, the Harland & Wolff Cranes, Belfast City Hall, the Courts of Justice and the Albert Clock. So you can do the monster hunt with the kids and then take a quick spin up to the dome for a look at the city. The Monster Square runs from Wednesday 28 October to Saturday 31 October at Victoria Square.