Hillsborough, Co. Down · Northern Ireland

Hillsborough Castle: Garden Entry + Optional Castle Entry

4.9 (24 reviews) out of 5

Large, historic mansion with a columned entrance, stone steps, greenery, and manicured shrubs under a blue sky.

A grand stone mansion with tall columns, surrounded by manicured gardens and symmetrical staircases adorned with red flowers.

Large brick building with columns, surrounded by green lawn and lush gardens, framed by tree branches, under a partly cloudy sky.

Elegant room with antique furniture, ornate rug, portrait paintings, a chandelier, candelabras on a mantel, and wooden doors.

Photos: Tiqets

Availability, next 2 weeks

Next available: Saturday 17 October

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From Tiqets, checked 17 Oct 2026.

About this experience

There's nothing greater than the great outdoors and you can explore 96 acres of it in the gardens of Hillsborough Castle. Stroll around the lake and through the glen, wave at the water birds on the lake, and see the Quaker Burial ground, the Ice House, and more. The glorious gardens at Hillsborough Castle were first developed in the 1760s, by Wills Hill, the first Marquess of Downshire. Follow in his footsteps with a walk around in the sunshine (fingers crossed). Look for Lady Alice's Temple, the Ice House, and the Lost Garden, not forgetting the four-acre walled kitchen garden where fruit and vegetables are harvested for the cafe. There's so much to see in these gardens, you might want to bring a picnic and pretend you're in another century entirely.

Explore 96 acres of 18th-century gardens and domesticated wilderness

This late Georgian mansion was built in the 1770s by Wills Hill, the first Marquess of Downshire. It's now the official Northern Ireland residence of the British Royal Family. Hillsborough Castle is close to Belfast and makes for a fun family day trip out of the city.