10 Remarkable Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Lisburn
Lisburn is a city in Northern Ireland. People visit Lisburn for its history, culture, leisure venues, and surrounding natural landscape. The city dates back to 17th century and the early population primarily comprised English and Welsh settlers.
There are a lot of Lisburn tourist attractions that celebrate its early history and cultural amalgamation of its settlers. In the 18th century, French Hugeunots also came to this city and sparked its Linen Industry. There is a museum dedicated to the city’s Linen manufacturing and it is one of the best places to visit in Lisburn.
The city is also home to a massive castle that’s still used by the Royal family. It is one of the most popular things to see in Lisburn as people love to get a peek into the life of the monarchic life.
The city is also home to some amazing waterparks and adventure parks. One of these is the largest inflated waterpark in Ireland. People come here for fun things to do in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. They have all the usual water rides, slides, pools and so on. And they also have floating crash courses. They are perfect places to go in Lisburn to blow off some steam. You will also get to enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding at these places.
But if you are looking to retreat to nature for a while, head for the forests and hills. Hiking on these landscapes is one of the best things to do near Lisburn. You get scenic views and explore some hidden historical and cultural sites. You can also take a break from Lisburn sightseeing to explore the small towns and villages nearby. The places have a charm of their own and you will find a lot of interesting local handicrafts and food products during Lisburn travel.
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Top 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
1. Hillsborough Castle & Gardens
This castle still serves as a regal residence for when members of the Royal family come to Northern Island. It is one of the most fun things to do in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. You can explore parts of the castle and the gardens to get a glimpse of the aristocratic lifestyle.
The throne room is one of the most popular attractions of the castle. But you can also tour the dining room, suites, meeting area, and so on. These are lavishly decorated with antiques and artworks.
The gardens are spread over 100 acres and date back to the late Victorian times. They are among the most popular Lisburn attractions for their decor and historic artifacts. You will see 17th century-red sandstone gateway, Wallace drinking fountain, and gazebo. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to explore the castle and gardens when you visit Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
2. Ulster Aviation Society
This historic hanger used to be a base for the Royal Air Force. The hanger houses more than 30 historic aircrafts from different periods. It is one of the best places to visit in Lisburn for families.
You will see iconic aircrafts from WWII, modern fighter planes, commercial flights, and helicopters. Visitors can also climb aboard some of these planes. You will need about an hour to explore this place.
3. Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum
The Linen industry has played a huge role in the history of Lisburn. This museum honors and celebrates the industry and they make it fun. You will get to see the complete journey of the material from Flax to Fabric. The museum also has live demonstrations and interactive exhibits to engage the visitors.
One of the most popular Lisburn tourist attractions in this museum is the Spinners Cottage. This house shows you the life of a family engaged in the industry. It is fascinating to see how the entire family worked in sync to produce Linen.
In the same complex, you get to explore the history of the city as well. Lisburn Museum explores how the city evolved over the years and how history shaped the local culture. You will need about 2 hours from Lisburn travel to tour both these museums.
4. The Glens of Antrim
The Nine Glens of Country Antrim is only an hour’s drive away and perfect for adventure and exploration. The narrow valleys, hills, plains, forests, and coastlines are famous for their incredible natural beauty. They are perfect for fun things to do near Lisburn.
The forests and coastline have several amazing hiking trails to explore. The Glens are also home to several small towns, villages, and historical sites. You can dedicate an entire day to exploring the wonders of this natural landscape.
5. Lagan Valley LeisurePlex
This waterpark is one of the best places to go in Lisburn for families. The park has rapid slides, waterfall pools, water fights, watershooting bicycles, a pool adventure course, and more. You can easily enjoy a couple of hours at this amusement park.
6. Lisburn Cathedral
Dating back to 1622, this cathedral has had a difficult history. It has been through attacks and fires. It is one of the oldest things to see in Lisburn. The church features classical Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
The church is still in use and you can tour it alongside morning sermons. This way you get to experience history as well as culture during Lisburn sightseeing. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes to explore the church.
7. Colin Glen Forest Park
If you want to take a break from the historical side of Lisburn sightseeing, you can enjoy the thrill of this adventure park. The park sits in a forest just outside the city. You can enjoy walking trails and adventure courses.
The park has a high-rope course, alpine coaster, archery, zipline, and laser tag. Glen Forest Park also has many sports facilities including rugby, football, golf, and gym. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours enjoying fun things to do in Lisburn at this park.
8. Hillsborough Forest
This forest and the quaint village next to it are among the most charming places to visit in Lisburn. The forest surrounds a lake and is home to some beautiful hiking trails. You will walk by tall trees and grassland.
Along the road, you may also catch a glimpse of birds and animals. The lake is one of the most popular places to go in Lisburn for bird watchers. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the forest.
9. Dvis and the Black Mountain
The mountain is about 20 minutes away from Lisburn. It is best known for its two hiking trails. One of these takes you to the mountain’s summit and the other traces the ridges. It is one of the most popular spots for outdoor things to do near Lisburn.
You will get amazing views along the way and see cattle grazing as well. The trails also pass by ponds, streams, and rock formations. If you are not looking for a hike, you can also just drive to the mountain and admire the scenery. You will need 3 to 4 hours to explore the trails.
10. Let’s Go Hydro
This is one of the most popular Lisburn tourist attractions for leisure and entertainment. This water sports park is designed for adventure activities. It is also the largest inflatable aqua park in Ireland.
The park has an inflated crash course, kayaking, canoeing, aqua rugby, cable watersports, paddleboarding, and more. You can easily spend hours enjoying the sports in this place.
If you are looking for more places to go in Lisburn, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of all the interesting attractions and activities that you can explore in Lisburn.
Things to do in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Irish Linnen Centre & Lisburn Museum
- Lisburn Cathedral
- Lisburn City Library
- Ulster Aviation Society
- Hillsborough Castle & Gardens
- Lisburn Castle Gardens
- Island Arts Centre
- R-space Gallery
- Giant’s Ring Rocks
- The Balance House
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Spruce Meadows
- Dvis and Black Mountain
- Belshaw’s Quarry
- Colin Glen Forest Park
- Hillsborough Forest
- Slievenacloy Nature Reserve
- Lagan Valley National Landscape
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Wallace Park
- Lagan Valley Leisure Park
- Drumbo Park
- Down Royal Racecourse
- High Rise Family Adventure Centre
- Airtastic Entertainment Centre
- The Stables at Hilden Brewery
- Streamvale Farm
- Duncan’s Park
- Let’s Go Hydro
- Laganview Golf Centre
- Skytrek
Shopping in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Bow Street Mall
- Sprucefield Centre
- Lisburn Square
- Forestside Shopping Centre
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Hiking
- Walking Tours
- Watersports
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Midnight Haunt
- The Stillhouse
- Everyday Cafe
- The Plough Inn
- The Four Winds
- Chip Hawker
- Cinnamon
- Cafe Nosh
- The Parson’s Nose
- Castle 12
- Wine & Brine
- Tutta la Pizza
- The Vintage Rooms
- Spice
- The Pheasant
- The Square Bistro
Where to Stay in Lisburn?
Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Lisburn. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Lisburn.
How to Reach Lisburn, Northern Ireland?
By Air
The Belfast International Airport is the closest airport to visit Lisburn. The airport receives direct flights from several cities in Europe. You will have to get road transport from the city to get to Lisburn.
By Road
Lisburn sits on the Inland Waterway railway route. This route directly connects it to several towns and cities in Northern Ireland including Belfast, Armagh, Newry, Caledon, and many more. The route also connects it to Newcastle in England. The bus network is also quite well-connected. You can get direct buses to reach Lisburn from several places in County Antrim and County Down.
If you are planning to travel to Lisburn by road, you should head for M1, A512, A1, or A3. These routes intersect close to the city.
By Water
There are no direct water routes to reach Lisburn.
Image Reference
- Hillsborough Castle & Gardens – tatchie / Flickr
- Ulster Aviation Society – Brendan Rankin / Flickr
- Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum – Bobby McKay / Flickr
- The Glens of Antrim – Christophe Becker / Flickr
- Lagan Valley LeisurePlex –
- Lisburn Cathedral – JohnArmagh / Wikimedia Commons
- Colin Glen Forest Park – Eric Jones / Geograph.ie
- Hillsborough Forest – Pastor Sam / Wikimedia Commons
- Dvis and the Black Mountain – Rossographer / Geograph.ie
- Let’s Go Hydro –
