Days Out NI
Heritage site Armagh

St Patrick's Trian Visitor Complex

The old three-exhibition attraction has closed, but the front is open as a craft shop and visitor centre

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Check hoursShop and visitor info hours apply, not th…
FreeNo ticket needed
ArmaghHeritage site
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30 minutesHow long
FreeEntry
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NearbyParking
Check with th…Dogs

St Patrick's Trian Visitor Complex — The old three-exhibition attraction has closed, but the front is open as a craft shop and visitor centre.

  • Getting in: Free to enter the Craftswirl craft shop and visitor information area at the front of the building.
  • Opening: Shop and visitor info hours apply, not the old attraction's hours; check locally before travelling as the building has had a long period of closure and redevelopment.
  • Inside: You can go into the front shop and information area only. The former exhibition halls are closed to the public.
  • Dogs: Check with the shop before bringing a dog inside.
  • Parking: The adjacent car park has had extended closures and redevelopment; use city-centre parking and check current status before you go.
  • Food: No on-site cafe currently. Plenty of cafes and pubs within a short walk in central Armagh.
Plan your visit

What's actually open today

The part you can use is the front of the building. Craftswirl stocks crafts and gifts, much of it locally made, and the same space acts as the Armagh Visitor Information Centre where you can get maps, leaflets and advice on what to see in the city. The three exhibitions behind it, The Armagh Story, Patrick's Testament and The Land of Lilliput, are not open and there is no admission charge to browse the shop. If you arrived hoping for the Lilliput dressing-up room, that experience is gone for now.

Central Armagh Craftswirl craft shop Visitor info point Free to enter the shop Old exhibitions closed Near both cathedrals
Good to know before you go:

Armagh hosts a strong calendar around its patron saint, including the Home of St Patrick Festival each spring, plus year-round cathedral, theatre and heritage events across the city. Check what's on before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Comfy shoesThere is usually a bit of walking, some steps and uneven older ground.
  • 📷A cameraThe history, the architecture and the setting are all worth capturing.
  • 💷A few poundsSome heritage sites are ticketed or have a shop and café — handy to have.
  • 💧Water and a snackNot every site has a café on hand, so pack a little something.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free to enter the Craftswirl craft shop and visitor information area at the front of the building.
Opening
Shop and visitor info hours apply, not the old attraction's hours; check locally before travelling as the building has had a long period of closure and redevelopment.
Can you go inside
You can go into the front shop and information area only. The former exhibition halls are closed to the public.
Food
No on-site cafe currently. Plenty of cafes and pubs within a short walk in central Armagh.
Dogs
Check with the shop before bringing a dog inside.
Parking
The adjacent car park has had extended closures and redevelopment; use city-centre parking and check current status before you go.
Accessibility
City-centre location; contact the visitor information centre about access before visiting.
How long to allow
15 to 30 minutes for the shop and info, then use it as the start of a half-day around Armagh.
Address
St Patrick's Trian, 40 Upper English Street, Armagh, BT61 7BA
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to visit?
Free to enter the Craftswirl craft shop and visitor information area at the front of the building.
Can you go inside?
You can go into the front shop and information area only. The former exhibition halls are closed to the public.
When is it open?
Shop and visitor info hours apply, not the old attraction's hours; check locally before travelling as the building has had a long period of closure and redevelopment.
Can I bring the dog?
Check with the shop before bringing a dog inside.
Where do I park?
The adjacent car park has had extended closures and redevelopment; use city-centre parking and check current status before you go.
Getting there

St Patrick's Trian Visitor Complex is at St Patrick's Trian, 40 Upper English Street, Armagh, BT61 7BA. The adjacent car park has had extended closures and redevelopment; use city-centre parking and check current status before you go. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around ArmaghSee what else is close by More heritage sites across NIHistory you can visit and explore
The story

The story of St Patrick's Trian

St Patrick's Trian opened in the 1990s as a flagship visitor complex for Armagh, the country's ecclesiastical capital. Its name nods to the three ancient divisions, or trians, of the old city. Under one roof it gathered a cafe, a tourist information point and a three-stage attraction.

The exhibitions were the draw. The Armagh Story traced the city from prehistory to the present day; a section on Patrick told of the saint and the Book of Armagh; and The Land of Lilliput retold Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, complete with a room where children could dress as Lilliputians and stand beside a giant Gulliver. For years it was a fixture of Armagh school trips and family days out.

Over time the attraction wound down and the building was left largely empty and neglected. The adjacent 90-space car park on Upper English Street closed in early 2020. Plans were floated to spend several million pounds turning the site into a community hub with a library, but the schemes stalled and ran into delays with contractors.

Today the front of the building has been brought back into use. It now houses the Craftswirl craft shop and the Armagh Visitor Information Centre, giving the old complex a smaller, practical second life while the full exhibitions remain closed. Anyone planning a visit should check the current position locally before setting out.