Down
Escape into St Patrick Country for a holiday to remember.
Sightseeing
Learn all about St. Patrick, and explore some of the finest gardens in Europe.
Down Cathedral, County Down
Situated on the Hill of Down, the cathedral’s organ is one of the finest in Ireland. St. Patrick is reputed to be buried in the graveyard.
Mount Stewart House & Gardens, County Down
Located on the shores of Strangford Lough, Mount Stewart is a neo-classical house with gardens that are among the finest in Europe.
St. Patrick Centre, Downpatrick
Learn all about the life and times of Ireland’s patron saint with this multi-media exhibition.
Activities
Discover heavenly golf courses and try your hand at the sport of the kings
Birdwatching
Head to Strangford Lough where as well as being a breeding ground for seals, you can see pale-bellied Brent geese from Arctic Canada and lots of terns.
Down District Walking Festival
Taking place annually in early August, this suits all types of walker from the indolent to the energetic with routes varying from 7km to 19km.
Golf
Down is one of the best places Ireland for spectacular and scenic golf courses. Try the Ardglass Golf Club with spectacular cliffs overlooking the sea, and the Royal County Down with the magnificent Mourne Mountains as a backdrop.
See more highlightsHorse Racing
Enjoy all the thrill of the sport of kings at Down Royal and Downpatrick Race Course.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is on offer at Strangford Lough
Children
County Down is a kids’ playground with huge play centers and a fantastic aquarium.
Cocos Adventure Playground, Newcastle
Large indoor playground for the under-14s with slides, activity playgrounds, assault courses, ball pools and a soft play area for toddlers.
Exploris Aquarium
With a seal sanctuary caring for injured or abandoned pups, excellent discovery pools, and a large open sea tank, Exploris is ideal for getting close to marine life.
Lagan Valley LeisurePlex
The LeisurePlex boasts the largest leisure pool of its kind in Northern Ireland with some of the fastest, longest and wettest water rides in Ireland.
Culture & festivals
Down does culture in style with opera seasons and oyster festivals
Castle Ward Opera Season
Fiddler’s Green Folk Festival
Hillsborough Oyster Festival
St Patrick Centre
Eating, Drinking & Luxury
Nestled amidst breathtaking scenery, Down has a great selection of places to eat, drink and stay.
Denvirs Pub, Downpatrick
There are no clichés at this place – Denvirs exudes a totally genuine old-world atmosphere and makes a truly lovely spot to wile away the hours in front of a creamy pint.
Glassdrumman Lodge, County Down
A delightful country house situated in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains overlooking the Irish Sea. Glassdrumman Lodge is a rural jewel where luxury and comfort go hand in hand.
The Mill at Ballyduggan, Downpatrick
Extensively and spectacularly restored by the current owner, this 18th-century mill houses a coffee shop, restaurant, function rooms and accommodation.
Shopping
Down offers a wide selection of crafts from pottery to luxury mohair.
Breezemount Angora Goat Farm, Donaghadee
Knitwear, scarves, stoles, shawls, throws and socks in mohair from an award-winning herd of goats!
County Down Crafts, 11b Scotch Street, Downpatrick, County Down
A good selection of quality crafts, which would make ideal mementos to rekindle your holiday spirit.
The Baytree Pottery and Gallery, Holywood
A lovely crafts shop with pottery from famed potters Stephen Pearce and Nicholas Mosse, as well as jewelry from the likes of Alan Ardiff.
