Guidebook for Bangor
Parks & Nature
Accessible by walking along the lovely North Down Coastal Path; lovely beaches; wooded glen; pretty waterfall; visitor centre with cafe; can walk up through the glen to the Old Inn at Crawfordsburn Village; Grey Point Fort further on.
35 locals recommend
Crawfordsburn Country Park
32 Bridge Rd SAccessible by walking along the lovely North Down Coastal Path; lovely beaches; wooded glen; pretty waterfall; visitor centre with cafe; can walk up through the glen to the Old Inn at Crawfordsburn Village; Grey Point Fort further on.
Collection of wildfowl from around the world including breeding NeNe fromm Hawaii; bird hides overlooking Strangford Lough where thousands of wild Brent Geese can be viewed in winter; excellent cafe; great kids play area.
35 locals recommend
WWT Castle Espie
78 Ballydrain RdCollection of wildfowl from around the world including breeding NeNe fromm Hawaii; bird hides overlooking Strangford Lough where thousands of wild Brent Geese can be viewed in winter; excellent cafe; great kids play area.
Scenic riverside walks with a wide variety of waterfowl. Fine bird hide off Castle Island Road. Small Visitor Centre beside ruined castle.
7 locals recommend
Quoile Countryside Centre
Quay RoadScenic riverside walks with a wide variety of waterfowl. Fine bird hide off Castle Island Road. Small Visitor Centre beside ruined castle.
Amazing views across Strangford Lough. Scrabo Tower at the hill top may be open, with even better views from the top if you can make it up all the steps. Attractive walks through Killnether Wood. Sandstone quarries a geologist's mecca.
Scrabo Country Park
203A Scrabo RdAmazing views across Strangford Lough. Scrabo Tower at the hill top may be open, with even better views from the top if you can make it up all the steps. Attractive walks through Killnether Wood. Sandstone quarries a geologist's mecca.
Arts & Culture
Great for local history, with new exhibitions every few weeks. Lovely 'Coffee Cure' cafe. Close to beautiful Walled Garden and Castle Park Arboretum.
7 locals recommend
North Down Museum
Great for local history, with new exhibitions every few weeks. Lovely 'Coffee Cure' cafe. Close to beautiful Walled Garden and Castle Park Arboretum.
Features examples of vernacular architecture depicting the lifestyles of yesteryear and also many forms of transport from farm carts to steam trains to vertical take-off aeroplanes. Nice cafe too. Full day out.
66 locals recommend
Ulster Folk Museum
153 Bangor RdFeatures examples of vernacular architecture depicting the lifestyles of yesteryear and also many forms of transport from farm carts to steam trains to vertical take-off aeroplanes. Nice cafe too. Full day out.
Often stages West End shows on tour as well as more local productions. Iconic building.
66 locals recommend
Grand Opera House
2-4 Great Victoria StOften stages West End shows on tour as well as more local productions. Iconic building.
Waterfront Hall
2 Lanyon PlGreat concert venue
Home of the Ulster Orchestra. Great concerts. Iconic building. Famously hosted cross-community pop concerts during 'the Troubles' as featured in the film 'Good Vibrations'.
17 locals recommend
Ulster Hall station
Home of the Ulster Orchestra. Great concerts. Iconic building. Famously hosted cross-community pop concerts during 'the Troubles' as featured in the film 'Good Vibrations'.
Food Scene
Excellent food; great atmosphere and history; lovely setting in pretty village; friendly staff; not too expensive.
16 locals recommend
The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn
15-25 Main StExcellent food; great atmosphere and history; lovely setting in pretty village; friendly staff; not too expensive.
Convenient; good food; friendly staff; good place to eat before going to the local cinema.
The Ava Winebar
132 Main StConvenient; good food; friendly staff; good place to eat before going to the local cinema.
Heatherlea Bakery
94 Main StLovely range of home-made baked goods; friendly staff.
Good food, friendly service, overlooking Bangor Marina. Booking advised
9 locals recommend
The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro
10-12 Seacliff RdGood food, friendly service, overlooking Bangor Marina. Booking advised
Drinks & Nightlife
Wolseys Bars & Restaurant
26 High StOur sons meet their friends there and recommend it!
Sightseeing
Tells the iconic story of industrial Belfast, how numerous industries contributed to the building of the fated Titanic, and how it met its untimely end. Adjacent is the Nomadic, also built in Belfast, and used to ferry passengers from Cherbourg out to the Titanic. Recently restored.
324 locals recommend
Titanic Belfast
1 Olympic WayTells the iconic story of industrial Belfast, how numerous industries contributed to the building of the fated Titanic, and how it met its untimely end. Adjacent is the Nomadic, also built in Belfast, and used to ferry passengers from Cherbourg out to the Titanic. Recently restored.
Remarkably well-preserved early 20th Century coastal gun battery; two 23-foot 6" bore guns guard the entrance to Belfast Lough; signage and exxhibitions relate the story of those who manned the Fort in WW2.
Grey Point Fort
The FortRemarkably well-preserved early 20th Century coastal gun battery; two 23-foot 6" bore guns guard the entrance to Belfast Lough; signage and exxhibitions relate the story of those who manned the Fort in WW2.
Lots of boats - power boats, yachts, fishing boats, research vessels and even the occasional Tall Ship. In summer boat tours run from the west side. Centre-point of North Down Coastal Path which runs from Holywood to Groomsport with great sea views and coastal scenery. Seals, black guillemots (which nest in the piers) and eider ducks are often seen inshore.
14 locals recommend
Bangor Marina
5 Quay StLots of boats - power boats, yachts, fishing boats, research vessels and even the occasional Tall Ship. In summer boat tours run from the west side. Centre-point of North Down Coastal Path which runs from Holywood to Groomsport with great sea views and coastal scenery. Seals, black guillemots (which nest in the piers) and eider ducks are often seen inshore.
Site of Bangor Monastery founded by St Comgall in 555 AD from which St Columbanus, St Gall and others reintroduced Christianity to Central Europe. New sculpture of the Bangor bell adjacent (original in North Down Museum).
Bangor Abbey station
Site of Bangor Monastery founded by St Comgall in 555 AD from which St Columbanus, St Gall and others reintroduced Christianity to Central Europe. New sculpture of the Bangor bell adjacent (original in North Down Museum).
Scrabo Tower, built in memory of the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry, sits within an iron-age hill fort atop Scrabo Hill in Scrabo Country Park. The view over Strangford Lough (with its many islands, rich surrounding farmland) and the drumlins of County Down is delightful. When the Tower is open, climb to the top for an even finer view which, on a clear day, also takes in the Belfast Hills, Sperrin and Mourne Mountains, Antrim Hills, Arran, Ailsa Craig, Galloway, Cumbria, the Isle of Man and sometimes even Snowdonia.
38 locals recommend
Scrabo Tower
Scrabo Tower, built in memory of the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry, sits within an iron-age hill fort atop Scrabo Hill in Scrabo Country Park. The view over Strangford Lough (with its many islands, rich surrounding farmland) and the drumlins of County Down is delightful. When the Tower is open, climb to the top for an even finer view which, on a clear day, also takes in the Belfast Hills, Sperrin and Mourne Mountains, Antrim Hills, Arran, Ailsa Craig, Galloway, Cumbria, the Isle of Man and sometimes even Snowdonia.
Shopping
Useful information about places to go. Plenty of good quality souvenirs and gifts.
Tourist Information Centre
34 Quay StUseful information about places to go. Plenty of good quality souvenirs and gifts.
Entertainment & Activities
Local; multi-screen; often shows films no longer screened in Belfast
7 locals recommend
Omniplex Bangor
1A Valentine RdLocal; multi-screen; often shows films no longer screened in Belfast
Cart racing, snooker, astroturf pitches, room to race, laser contact, paintballing etc.
8 locals recommend
Eddie Irvine Sports
41 Balloo RdCart racing, snooker, astroturf pitches, room to race, laser contact, paintballing etc.
Blackwood has par 3 and par 5 courses and a floodlit driving range. You can hire clubs and visitors are welcome. It was created from lands owned by the Clandeboye Estate.
Blackwood Golf Centre
150 Crawfordsburn RdBlackwood has par 3 and par 5 courses and a floodlit driving range. You can hire clubs and visitors are welcome. It was created from lands owned by the Clandeboye Estate.