A city of linen, gardens and a royal residence nearby, Lisburn sits on the River Lagan just south west of Belfast.
Lisburn, on the River Lagan about eight miles south west of Belfast, became a city in 2002. It grew rich from the linen industry, which was developed here at the end of the seventeenth century by Huguenot refugees from France. For two centuries, Irish linen was famous around the world.
Today Lisburn is a busy, friendly city with restored gardens, a linen museum and the lovely Lagan Valley on its doorstep. It is close to Hillsborough, home of the royal residence in Northern Ireland. This guide covers six things to see and do.
1. The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum
The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, in the old Market House in the centre of the city, tells the story of the linen industry that made Lisburn famous. The industry was developed here by Louis Crommelin, a Huguenot refugee, at the end of the seventeenth century. Irish linen became one of the finest fabrics in the world.
The museum shows how linen is made from the flax plant, through spinning and weaving, to the finished cloth. On some days, weavers demonstrate the old hand looms. It is fascinating to see how much skill was involved.
The museum also tells the story of Lisburn and the people who worked in the linen mills and factories. There are displays about the city’s history. It is free to visit.
The Market House stands in the Market Square, in the heart of the city centre. It is a good place to start exploring Lisburn. The museum has a café and a shop selling linen.
2. Castle Gardens
Castle Gardens, in the centre of Lisburn, are terraced gardens on the site of the city’s old castle, which was destroyed by fire in 1707. The gardens were laid out in the seventeenth century, and they have been beautifully restored. They are one of the finest historic gardens in Northern Ireland.
The gardens have terraces, lawns, flower beds and walks, with views over the River Lagan. There is a play area for children. It is a peaceful place in the middle of the city.
Christ Church Cathedral, beside the gardens, is Lisburn’s cathedral, with a tall spire. It has a long history. The streets around it are lined with old buildings.
The gardens are free to visit and open all year. They are a short walk from the Market Square. They are especially lovely in spring and summer.
3. Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle, about fifteen minutes south of Lisburn, is the official royal residence in Northern Ireland. It is a grand Georgian house, where members of the royal family stay when they visit. It has also been the setting for important moments in the peace process.
Guided tours take you through the state rooms, where royal and political guests are entertained. The rooms are full of fine furniture and paintings. The castle is looked after by Historic Royal Palaces, which also looks after the Tower of London.
The gardens cover around a hundred acres, with lawns, woodland, a lake, a walled garden and a yew walk. They are among the finest gardens in Northern Ireland. There is a café.
The village of Hillsborough, beside the castle, is a pretty Georgian village with shops, pubs and restaurants. Hillsborough Fort, nearby, is a seventeenth century fort. The castle is open for much of the year, except when the royal family is in residence.
4. The Lagan Towpath and the Giant’s Ring
The Lagan Towpath runs along the River Lagan from Lisburn to Belfast, a distance of around eleven miles. It follows the route of the old Lagan Navigation, a canal that once carried goods between Belfast and Lough Neagh. It is one of the loveliest walks and cycle rides in Northern Ireland.
The path runs through the Lagan Valley Regional Park, a green corridor of woodland, meadows and riverside. There are old locks, bridges and lock keepers’ cottages along the way. One of the cottages has a café.
Near the Belfast end of the path is the Giant’s Ring, a huge circular earthwork around a stone tomb, built around four and a half thousand years ago. It is one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Ireland. It is free to visit.
You can walk or cycle the whole path in a day, or do shorter sections. Trains between Lisburn and Belfast mean you can walk one way and take the train back. The path is mostly flat and easy.
5. Wallace Park and the city centre
Wallace Park is a large Victorian park in the north of Lisburn. It was given to the city by Sir Richard Wallace, whose family owned the Lisburn estate, and whose famous art collection is now the Wallace Collection in London. The park has woodland, lawns and sports grounds.
The park is popular with families, walkers and runners. It has play areas and a pond. It hosts events through the year.
Lisburn’s city centre has a mix of shops, cafés and restaurants. Bow Street, the main shopping street, is pedestrianised. Sprucefield, on the edge of the city, is one of the largest shopping areas in Northern Ireland.
The city holds markets and festivals through the year. It is a friendly and relaxed place to visit. It is easy to reach from Belfast.
6. The Balmoral Show, the aviation collection and Lough Neagh
The Balmoral Show, held every May at a showground near Lisburn, is the largest agricultural show in Northern Ireland. It celebrates farming, food and country life, with livestock competitions, show jumping, food stalls and entertainment. It draws huge crowds.
The Ulster Aviation Collection, near Lisburn, has a large collection of historic aircraft, restored by volunteers. It includes aircraft from the Second World War and helicopters. It is open on certain days.
Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Britain and Ireland, is about twenty minutes north west of Lisburn. Its shores have nature reserves, marinas and quiet villages. It is famous for its eels.
Moira, a pretty village west of Lisburn, has a demesne with woodland walks. A car makes it easy to explore the area.
Getting there and getting around
Lisburn station has frequent trains to Belfast in around fifteen minutes, and to Portadown and Newry. The M1 runs past the city, linking it with Belfast and Dublin.
Belfast International Airport is about fifteen miles north, around twenty minutes by road, and George Best Belfast City Airport is about twenty minutes away. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Lisburn and the airports, and to reach Hillsborough and the countryside.
Ride with ZeroLanes. From your door, the station or the airport to anywhere in Lisburn, at a price fixed before you confirm. Travelling between cities? Get a fixed price for the journey, or keep a car and driver for the day with hourly hire.