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Cathedral city in Northern Ireland
Photo: Dutch School, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Lisburn is a market town traditionally in County Antrim north of the River Lagan; a small part lies south of the river in County Down. The counties of Northern Ireland are no longer units of governance so since 2015 it's been within the "super-district" of Lisburn and Castlereagh. It's best known as the seat of linen manufacture in Ireland, but it's also notorious as the site of the former Long Kesh or Maze prison. With a population of 51,400 in 2021, Lisburn was officially dubbed a "city" in 2002 but this is just ceremonial. Not only does it continue to feel like a town, but "city" hereabouts means the metropolis of Belfast 9 miles north; so a town is how it's described on this page.
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Linen was central to Northern Ireland's early industrial revolution, before the focus changed to metal-bashing. This museum is in the late 17th century market house where wares were traded.
Contains Island Hall Theatre, the smaller Studio Theatre, and Island Arts Centre, plus conference and events facilities.
This holds mostly National Hunt (jumps and chases) meetings in November, but the Ulster Derby is a flat-race in June. Horse-racing (like rugby union) in Ulster is governed on an all-Ireland basis.
Reliable restaurant, steaks are the specialty.
Continental cuisine, gets good reviews.
formerly The Tuesday Bell
Tu-Th 5PM-midnight, F-Su noon-1AM
Modern aparthotel half a mile south of railway station.
Clean welcoming B&B a mile north of centre
Reliable budget chain hotel.
Mid-range place halfway between Lisburn and Belfast International Airport. Comfy enough, shame about the sub-par food.
Lisburn is 9 miles southwest of Belfast, follow M1. There's a free Park & Ride at Sprucefield (M1 junction 8) mostly used by commuters into Belfast.
Read in the guideThe town is compact and walkable. You need wheels for outlying places such as the racetrack and various golf courses. See above for buses to Hillsborough.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Belfast · International · BFS
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