The 7 Best History Museums in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Spend time in the Boathouse Visitor Centre for a dip into Rathlin's history. The Boathouse houses a collection of displays, photographs, images and articles gathering the Island's past and present together. Worth a visit! Wheelchair access limited. History, photographs, artefacts, books, guides and souvenirs for sale. Admission Free Pre booking is advisable for the Rathlin/Ballycastle ferry.

Explore Ireland’s industrial heritage in the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum’s award-winning exhibition ‘Flax to Fabric: the Story of Irish Linen’. Trace the history of linen production in Ulster, from the earliest times to the present, and see live spinning and weaving demonstrations. Visitors can also learn about the early development of Lisburn in the Museum’s ‘Making of a Town: 17th Century Lisburn’ exhibition. The Museum offers free tours of historic Lisburn and Castle Gardens, as well as a range of free educational workshops for groups, including WWII, Ancient Egypt and Science Week. Contact reception for bookings. Please note: the Assembly Rooms and Old Market House galleries are currently closed while the building undergoes extensive renovation. They will re-open for your enjoyment in early 2014.

Built in 1905, this historic building opened its doors to the public in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library following financial assistance from the American millionaire and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie. The building is now home to Larne Museum & Arts Centre. The main gallery hosts permanent displays reflecting the agricultural, industrial, military and maritime history of the area. The temporary gallery plays host to a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These can include in-house or touring exhibitions and exhibitions by local groups and individuals. The building is also home to Larne Drama Circle and Larne Art Club. A number of events are held throughout the year which can include family fun days, education programmes, musical evenings, storytelling, murder mysteries, art workshops and more.

Ancestral Home of John Ballance, born in Northern Ireland, the 14th Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century. He was the founder of the Liberal Party, the country's first organised political party and was instrumental in gaining women the vote. Opening times From the beginning of April to end of September, every Sunday (2 - 5 pm) and bank holiday (excluding 12 July). Tours of the house and exhibition area are available during these opening times. The Tea Barn will be open for light refreshments. Group Visits If you are part of a group that would be interested in a morning or afternoon out at The Ballance House, we would be pleased to hear from you. More details on our website. Plenty of car parking. Dogs welcome. Disabled access to the tea barn and ground floor of the House.