What to see and do at Royal Hillsborough, Northern Ireland
Royal Hillsborough is home to Hillsborough Castle, the British royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland
Hillsborough, is a village in Northern Ireland located 12 miles from the city of Belfast. It is home to Hillsborough Castle, the British royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland, and residence of the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. In 2021, the village was granted the prefix "Royal", thus officially becoming "Royal Hillsborough".
We visited Royal Hillsborough on 6/13/2022. While there, we toured the Hillsborough Castle and it surrounding gardens and grounds. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures in the royal residence.
The castle was built in the 1770s by Wills Hill, the first Marquess of Downshire, and has been the residence of the British Royal Family since the 1920s. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it was often used as a venue for peace talks and negotiations, and today it continues to play an important role in the peace process.
In addition to its role as an official residence, Hillsborough Castle is also open to the public for tours and events. Visitors can explore the castle's state rooms, which feature stunning artwork and furnishings, as well as the beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding the estate.
Overall, Hillsborough Castle is an important historical and cultural landmark in Northern Ireland, and continues to play an important role in the country's political and social landscape.
Looking for things to do? Viator offers numerous tours in the Belfast area. Click here for details.
The mansion known as Hillsborough Castle was built in 1770 for The 1st Earl of Hillsborough. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed in Hillsborough Castle during their visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Golden Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom in 2002. The President of the United States, George W. Bush, visited the castle in 2003.
Hillsborough Castle is set in 100 acres of ornamental lawns, meandering waterways, peaceful woodlands and picturesque glens. The Glen is a typical Victorian garden feature which includes magnolias, camelias and rhododendrons, azaleas and Embothrium.
The Walled Garden dates back to the 18th century and is a large, four-acre site historically used to produce fruit, vegetables and flowers for the castle. It includes Espalier fruit trees, some of which were planted over 100 years ago and include varieties such as the Pitmaston Duchess and Dr Jules Guyot. Irish apple tree varieties such as Kilkenny Pearmain and Bloody Butcher are also planted in the Walled Garden.
