Castles · Northern Ireland
Hillsborough Castle
In or near Ravernet.
Hillsborough Castle — castle in Royal Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Lisburn · 6.4 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Hillsborough Castle is located in Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland, with the postcode BT26 6AG. The nearest railway station is Lisburn, which is 6.4 km away. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Hillsborough Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1799. Built in the Georgian architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade B+ listed building. Owned by monarchy of the United Kingdom. Address: BT26 6AG. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Royal Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland". Coordinates: 54.4612°, -6.0861°.
Photo gallery
Official information
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens is a historic Georgian estate and royal residence located in Northern Ireland. Visitors can explore the elegant State Rooms used by the Royal Family and enjoy 100 acres of beautiful gardens, ideal for leisurely walks and family outings.
From the Wikipedia article
Hillsborough Castle is an official government residence in Northern Ireland. It is the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the official residence in Northern Ireland of the British monarch and other members of the British royal family when they visit the region, as well as a guest house for prominent international visitors. From 1924 until the post's abolition in 1973, it was the official residence of the Governor of Northern Ireland. Since April 2014, it has been managed by Historic Royal Palaces, and is open to paying members of the public.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Hillsborough Castle, which is located in the village of Royal Hillsborough in the north-west of County Down, is not a true castle. It is a Georgian country house built in the 18th century for the Hill family, Marquesses of Downshire, who owned it until 1922, when the 7th Marquess of Downshire sold the mansion and its grounds to the British government. A new office for Northern Ireland alone was created, that of Governor of Northern Ireland. As the Viceregal Lodge in Dublin became unavailable, physically and politically, a new residence was needed. Hillsborough Castle, though outside the largest city of Northern Ireland, Belfast, was deemed a suitable location. After some renovations, the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.4612, -6.0861
- District
- Lisburn and Castlereagh
- Postcode
- BT26 6AG
- Parliamentary constituency
- Lagan Valley
- Established
- 1799
- Nearest railway station
- Lisburn — 6.4 km
- Official site
- www.hrp.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q1275686 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Hillsborough Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Hillsborough Castle.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in this guide
Other places nearby
Trevor House
Historic houses · 0.1 km
8 The Square
Historic houses · 0.1 km
Royal Hillsborough
Natural landmarks · 0.2 km
Fourth Marquis of Downshire (1812-1868)
Public art & sculpture · 0.2 km
Hillsborough War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
Hillsborough Fort
Archaeological sites · 0.3 km
I Spy
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Ssssh
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Marquis of Downshire Monument
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Big Foot
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Reborn
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Power Up
Public art & sculpture · 0.7 km
Nearby
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Trevor House
Trevor House — house in Royal Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland.
📷 3Historic houses · Northern Ireland
8 The Square
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Royal Hillsborough in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
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Hillsborough War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
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Hillsborough Fort
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Hillsborough Castle?
- Hillsborough Castle is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (postcode BT26 6AG).
- What is Hillsborough Castle?
- Hillsborough Castle — castle in Royal Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland.
- How do I get to Hillsborough Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Lisburn, about 6.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode BT26 6AG.
- When was Hillsborough Castle built?
- Built or established in 1799.
- Who owns Hillsborough Castle?
- Hillsborough Castle is owned by monarchy of the United Kingdom.
- Is Hillsborough Castle a listed building?
- Hillsborough Castle is officially recognised as Grade B+ listed building listed.
- Does Hillsborough Castle charge admission?
- Hillsborough Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Hillsborough Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Lisburn, about 6.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BT26 6AG.