Over the coming months, we’ll be installing new wayfinding signage at The Oval as part of our wider work to improve walking, cycling and accessible movement in and around Cliftonville.
Wayfinding signage is often overlooked, but it plays a vital role in how people experience a place. Good wayfinding doesn’t just tell you where something is — it helps people feel confident, welcome and connected.
What is wayfinding signage?
Wayfinding signage uses clear directions, familiar place names and walking times to help people navigate an area easily without relying on phones, maps or cars.
At The Oval, the new signage will take the form of two posts at each main entrance (Eastern Esplanade and Queen’s Parade), with up to seven directional “fingers” on each post. Each finger points towards a nearby destination and includes an approximate walking time, helping people understand just how close things are on foot.
Why wayfinding signage is important
Wayfinding signage plays a key role in supporting walking, cycling and active travel by making distances feel shorter and more achievable, encouraging people to choose to walk when they can clearly see that a destination is only a few minutes away. It also improves accessibility and confidence for people who may be less familiar with the area, including older residents, visitors and those who find navigation more challenging, helping to reduce anxiety and make exploring feel easier. Physical signage reduces reliance on mobile phones by providing inclusive, always-available information in public space, while also encouraging local discovery by highlighting nearby parks, cultural venues and community spaces that people may not realise are so close. Clear wayfinding contributes to calmer, safer movement by helping people feel more certain about where they are going, and it strengthens The Oval’s role as a local hub and starting point, reinforcing its connection to the surrounding streets, green spaces, cultural venues and seafront routes.
What’s being installed?
Each post will feature up to seven directional “fingers”. Two destinations have already been confirmed and will appear on the signage:
- The Oval Café & Toilets – 30 seconds
- Northdown Road Shopping Area – 8 minutes
The remaining five directional fingers are where we’d like your help.
Because there is a limit to how many fingers can be installed, not every destination can appear — which is why community input is so important.
How can I get involved?
We’re running a short survey where you can:
- vote for which destinations should appear on the signage
- tell us which places you think are most useful to include
- suggest other nearby destinations we may have missed
Your feedback will directly influence the final wording and layout of the signs before they are manufactured.
It will take less than a minute to complete the survey below. Every response helps ensure the signage reflects how people actually use and move through the area.
Thank you for helping shape The Oval. Thoughtful, well-designed wayfinding is one of many small but important steps towards creating a more walkable, welcoming and connected neighbourhood.