Location: Holywood
Top Things to do in Holywood
The 9 Best Things to Do in Holywood, United Kingdom (UK)
Holywood (/ˈhɒliwʊd/ HOL-ee-wuud) is a town in the metropolitan area of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland of 755 acres lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.
Restaurants in Holywood
1. Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 810 reviews
Explore thatched cottages, farms, schools and shops as you experience life from over 100 years ago. Chat to costumed visitor guides as they demonstrate traditional crafts and meet farm animals in the beautiful parkland of the Folk Museum. Discover more than 500 original artefacts at TITANICa, climb on and off majestic steam locomotives and explore horse drawn carriages, electric trams, boats, motorbikes, fire-engines and vintage cars in the Transport Museum.
Reviewed By Paul S
The folk and transport museums are separate.
From stepping into the old sweetshop, to the labourers houses, to seeing how the priest and bank manager lived in relative luxury, it was eye opening to see how differently people lived in the same community. Allow three hours to do the full tour but there are plenty of shortcuts you can take if you need to. There are usually local experts like the printer and the wicker man, but I would have loved to see a carrier or a blacksmith.
The transport museum is a transporters heaven but it is fun for normal people as well. They understandably make a big deal of the Delorean and other cars built in NI but I would have liked to have seen more on motorbikes, racing, and aviation.
2. The Culloden Estate & Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By Andrea M - Dublin, Ireland
The hotel is located approx.15minuted from the city center and easily accessible with train, the train station is just outside of the hotel.
The building looks great, apparently it used to be a bishops palace. The grounds and the view is perfect as well.
The lobby of the hotel looks amazing, there are people to open the door for you, you can sit ina nice lobby with comfy coaches and fireplace or go to the bar.
The room is nice,comfy pargr beds, big tv, tea and coffee making facilities, etc but nothing too extraordinary. I liked the bathroom with large bath and shower and large mirror.
The spa was okay,but there is not much. The pool is not big, the steam room is okay, but when you ask for bathrobes, they say it is only for the people going for treatments, but you can bring the ones you have in the room.
There is a a small caffee with some drinks and snacks and you have some free fruit.
The lockers were rather dirty with towels everywhere.
I visited both the hotel's restaurant and the cultra inn, which is a restaurant few minutes walk from the hotel and both had a good food and service, but the hotel was more exclusive.
The breakfast was great, what I like was the hot buffet, as many times you have to order the hot items. So breakfast was tasty and plentiful for both hot and cold buffet.
Regarding price I cannot say, I stayed here on a fan trip so did not have to pay anything . But I believe you will pay for the 5* service and location.
But all in all it was great weekend
3. Cultra Manor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
This museum contains a popular Titanic exhibit featuring drawings by Thomas Andrew, the ship's designer and former Belfast resident.
Reviewed By Ruth C - Greenisland
We recently held our daughter's wedding reception in the Cultra Manor on the 12th of August 2016.The setting is stunning and the interior of the Manor is lovely and a perfect place for a wedding reception. Michael was very attentive and kept the proceedings to time. The food was delicious and well presented. The catering staff were first class. Catherine was helpful right from the day we booked the reception until the day itself.
Would recommend this venue for the perfect wedding reception in a really lovely setting.
4. Redburn Country Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By Belfastguy - Belfast, United Kingdom
Steep and hilly but worth it for the nice views at the top on a clear and sunny day! It is well maintained and quite spread out with information points scattered throughout. Interesting to learn that there was once a bear pit and zoo there at once stage when the area was owned by the dunville family a long time ago.
5. Royal Belfast Golf Club
Overall Ratings
5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Vince M - Eastbourne, United Kingdom
With 3 friends who together we had won an all expenses trip to the royal Belfast golf club. Unbelievable course, extremely hard and challenging, but in fabulous condition. Superb location and views and we were blessed with good weather even in late September. We're looked after by the golf club, on the course and afterwards in the bar area. Old school golf club, needs another visit again
6. Holywood Golf Club
Overall Ratings
5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Henry M - Belfast, N.Ireland
Enjoy a round at the golf home of Rory McIlroy. Some testing holes which will concentrate the mind as to club selection. Sometimes better with a wood than the driver!
The restaurant provides an excellent view over the 17th fairway and the 18th green. The meals we ordered were, quality wise, very good and the quantity also very good, you might struggle to finish. Good selection of potato options and sides.
Well worth a visit for both golf and food ... did I mention I am a member ... I'd be happy to guide you around the holes.
7. Holywood Library
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Public Library. Holywood Library Opening Hours: Monday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Wednesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Thursday: 1:00pm - 8:00pm Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday: Closed on Sunday
Reviewed By Hanni_LR43 - Whitehead, United Kingdom
There were several computers with no chairs. The staff all seemed to be busy talking to people, but eventually I was able to ask a librarian "are there any chairs?" Someone else found a coloured chair for me to sit and do my work. Another visitor was near me and talking on her mobile and swearing loudly, it was unbearable. Nobody said a thing to her. I was amazed at her state of aggravation. I couldn't get out of there quick enough. It wasn't a particularly cozy library to visit. I remember it from years ago, and it was much friendlier then, with artworks on the walls.
8. Holywood Maypole
Overall Ratings
4 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By MrGrumpy49 - Staffordshire
We were looking for a typical Irish Pub and we found it!
It's like a time warp back to the 50's or 60's, maybe earlier
We are told it's traditional and we were not disappointed offering hospitality second to none. Service with a smile and full to the brim with characters.
This is worth every penny of a taxi ride from central Belfast. Go on - DO IT !!
9. Holywood Priory Church
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Tim G
Ruins of a monastery founded by St Laiseran before 640 on the site of the present ruins of the medieval Old Priory at the junction of High Street, Victoria Road and the Old Bangor Road.
Many will have driven past these ruins without thinking of stopping but it is worth a short visit if you are in the vicinity.
