Impressive 18th-century mansion, built in the 1770s by Wills Hill, first Marquis of Downshire.
Formerly the home of the Governor of Northern Ireland, the mansion is now the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. See the State Drawing Room, Dining Rooms and the furniture, silver from HMS Nelson. Within the grounds is Europe’s largest rhododendron bush. Extensive rose garden, lakeside walks.
The Castle and Gardens are open to the public each Saturday in May, June and August.
A virtual tour of Hillsborough Castle can be found on www.nio.gov.uk.
Tours may be booked in advance by calling our dedicated tour line on (028) 9268 9406 or by emailing hillsborough.castle@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk
We do (where possible, as we are a fully functioning Government Building) permit House tours Monday to Friday from 2pm to 4pm for organised groups of 10 or more people and pre-booked. The Gardens are only open to the public during public opening times.
2012
Public Opening commences Saturday 12 May 2012. The Saturday tours will start at 10.30am and run every half hour with the last tour being at 4.00pm.
Pre booked Guided Garden Tours are also available during Public Opening.
This year to enhance our visitor’s experience of the Gardens we will be hosting an exhibition of sculptures by Irish artists Eleanor Wheeler and Jason Ellis.
During the month of August we will once again host a Royal Exhibition with a selection of Her Majesty the Queen's dresses worn during official functions such as the State Opening of Parliament, along with a dress worn by Lady Moyra Campbell at the Queen's coronation in June 1953 (Lady Moyra Campbell is the daughter of one of the Northern Ireland Governors, the Duke of Abercorn).
Lady Moyra Campbell is exhibiting her dress (designed by Norman Hartnell) to raise monies for NSPCC projects in Northern Ireland.
See Information tab for 2012 Public Opening charges.
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