Days Out NI
Museum Bangor

North Down Museum

Free museum in Bangor Castle's old stable block, from Bronze Age swords to seaside resort days.

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Check hoursTuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunda…
FreeAdmission
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5 hoursHow long
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North Down Museum — Free museum in Bangor Castle's old stable block, from Bronze Age swords to seaside resort days.

  • Getting in: Free, no ticket required.
  • Opening: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday noon to 4pm; closed Mondays except in July and August and on Bank Holiday Mondays. Hours can change on holidays, so check current times before you go.
  • Family: Yes, with interactive displays and a mini cinema.
  • Tours: Self-guided; group tours can be booked in advance.
  • Food: Coffee Cure café on site (028 9127 8050).
  • Parking: Parking in Castle Park grounds; check on arrival.
Plan your visit

Rare finds in a compact set of galleries

The Ballycroghan Swords date to the Bronze Age and are among the museum's most important objects. The Bangor Bell links you to the monastery that made Bangor a centre of early Irish Christianity, and the Raven Maps are the only complete Plantation-era folio of their kind in Ireland. Around these sit a reconstructed monk's cell and Viking long-house you can walk into, plus displays charting Bangor's rise as a Victorian and Edwardian seaside resort. Interactive exhibits and a small cinema keep children involved.

Free entry Self-guided Family-friendly Café on site Shop In Castle Park
Good to know before you go:

The museum runs a changing programme of temporary exhibitions, talks, tours and family activities through the year, and events tied to school holidays. Check the museum's own listings for current dates before planning a special visit.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free, no ticket required
Opening
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday noon to 4pm; closed Mondays except in July and August and on Bank Holiday Mondays. Hours can change on holidays, so check current times before you go.
Tours
Self-guided; group tours can be booked in advance
Age limits
None; all ages welcome
Food
Coffee Cure café on site (028 9127 8050)
Family-friendly
Yes, with interactive displays and a mini cinema
Parking
Parking in Castle Park grounds; check on arrival
Accessibility
Accessible for disabled visitors
How long to allow
About 1 to 1.5 hours
Address
North Down Museum, Castle Park, Town Hall, Bangor BT20 4BT
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
Free, no ticket required
What are the opening times?
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday noon to 4pm; closed Mondays except in July and August and on Bank Holiday Mondays. Hours can change on holidays, so check current times before you go.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, with interactive displays and a mini cinema
Are there guided tours?
Self-guided; group tours can be booked in advance
Is there parking?
Parking in Castle Park grounds; check on arrival
Getting there

North Down Museum is at North Down Museum, Castle Park, Town Hall, Bangor BT20 4BT. Parking in Castle Park grounds; check on arrival. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

About North Down Museum

The museum occupies the old laundry and stables at the rear of Bangor Castle, built for the Hon. Robert Edward Ward in 1852. The castle itself now serves as the town hall, and the museum sits within the surrounding Castle Park grounds.

Its collection covers the area's history from the Bronze Age onward, anchored by objects of national importance: the Ballycroghan Swords, the Bangor Bell from the early Bangor Abbey settlement, and the Raven Maps, the only complete folio of Plantation-era maps in Ireland. Run by Ards and North Down Borough Council, it has long been one of Northern Ireland's most visited local museums and is free to enter.