Committed to access for all
We welcome all visitors to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, and aim to make your day out successful and enjoyable. We are committed to improving access and facilities for visitors with disabilities.
On your way around the site, you will meet our staff and volunteers who will be happy to help support your visit or answer any questions.
Contact Us
If you have a question about accessing Hillsborough Castle and Gardens that is not covered here, please contact hillsboroughcastle@hrp.org.uk. We aim to respond within three working days.
Alternatively, call us on 0333 320 6000 (lines open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00).
Access Guides
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens is a historic space spanning over 100 acres. The natural terrain can be steep in places.
Our access guide highlights all steep hills and steps on site and shows a step-free route through the gardens. You can download our access guide or pick up a printed copy at our ticket desk.
Distance information and step-free routes are included on signs in the gardens to help you find your way around the site.
Carer tickets
You can bring an essential carer free of charge, accompanying a paid ticketholder.
These complimentary adult carer tickets can be obtained on the day of your visit upon presentation of proof of eligibility (such as a blue badge, proof of entitlement for Disability Living Allowance or a DID card).
Guide dogs welcome
We welcome trained assistance dogs, including hearing dogs, Dog AID, Canine Partners, Dogs for Good, Support Dogs and Medical Detection Dogs. Your assistance dog must be clearly identifiable.
We are happy to provide water on request.
Comfort Dogs
Only trained and accredited assistance dogs are allowed. An accredited dog undergoes task training that is specific to the disability of the person they will be assisting and passes a public access test, certifying them as safe in our environment.
Accessible Travel
On-Site Parking
There are 27 blue badge holder parking spaces in our car park. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All car parking is available free of charge.
Please follow the brown tourist signs on the A1 south to our sign-posted car park entrance.
Drop-off Point
There is a visitor drop-off point very close to the main entrance for visitors arriving at the car park.
Toilets
Toilets in the Pineapple Yard Garden are wheelchair accessible.
A Changing Places facility is also available for use in the Pineapple Yard.
Seating
Seating is available at:
- Stable Yard and on the terraced areas around the castle
- The Car Park
- The Pineapple Yard
- The Weston Pavilion
- Within the Walled Garden
There are limited seating areas in other areas of the gardens and grounds.
If you require seating during your castle tour, please speak to a member of staff who will be happy to help.
Food and Drink
The Hillsborough Castle Café at the Weston Pavilion (near the car park) serves a delicious range of hot food, meals and snacks. There is step-free access to the Café available.
Entrances and Doorways
Wide doors in the Weston Pavilion and Café are automatic, or held open during visitor hours.
There are some heavy doors within the castle, which are opened for you by Palace Hosts.
Re-entry to Site
Re-entry to the gardens is allowed up to one hour before closing time upon presentation of a valid ticket. For security reasons, re-entry to the castle is not allowed after you have exited.
Quiet Times
The quietest time to visit Hillsborough Castle and Gardens is before 11:00. Your visit may take up to two to three hours, so we recommend visiting as early as possible for the best experience.
The peak visiting period is Easter to October, and during school holidays at other times of year.
Lighting and Sound
Low Light Levels
For conservation reasons, some parts of the castle, including the State Entrance at the start of a castle tour, have low-level lighting. Visiting these spaces may involve going from bright outdoor spaces to darker rooms.
Sound Effects and Loud Noises
There are no sound effects or other loud noises on a castle tour, within the gardens or in the Weston Pavilion.
Gun Salutes, which include very loud cannon fire, take place on selected dates in the gardens. The noise can be heard from within the gardens, and lasts a few minutes. Please check our Gun Salute dates before your visit.
Fire alarms are not tested during opening hours.
Visitors with limited mobility
Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids
There are a limited number of wheelchairs available to borrow during your visit. These are operated on a first-come, first-served basis and are sanitised between each use.
Unfortunately, due to the conservation risk posed to flooring, mobility scooters are not permitted inside the castle.
Moving Between the Visitor Centre and the Castle
During castle opening hours, you can use our minibus to travel from the Walled Garden (near the Visitor Centre and site entrance) to the State Entrance for your castle visit.
Spaces are limited and priority will be given to those with accessibility needs. To arrange this service please speak to a member of staff upon arrival.
The Gardens
Due to the natural terrain of the gardens, some of the paths are unsuitable for wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility. Some of the paths have steps and steep slopes, which will become slippery in wet weather. All paths in the gardens are made of gravel, and there are paved areas nearer the Weston Pavilion and castle.
Step-Free Routes
Step-free routes and ramps are available in both the Pineapple Yard and the Stable Yard. There is a step-free route between the Walled Garden and State Entrance that is clearly marked on-site. You can also see the step-free route on our downloadable access guide or pick up a printed copy at our ticket desk.
Inside the Castle
You can book tickets to visit inside the castle during seasonal opening hours. The rooms you will see are called the State Rooms and are used by the Royal Family when they come to stay. The State Rooms are all on the ground floor and all have step-free access.
Visitors with Autism
All the staff you will meet during your visit have Autism Awareness Training, which was developed with help from Autism NI. This training has been designed to guide us in responding to individual sensory and communication needs, to help make your visit as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Visiting the Gardens
You can download our Pre-Visit Guide to the gardens ahead of your visit, to help you prepare and learn about what you will see.
Experiencing the Castle
Visitor numbers inside the castle are capped so there is space and quiet to enjoy your visit at your own pace.
Sensory bags and games are available to use during your visit. If you would like to use these, please speak to a member of staff when you arrive. Our staff will be happy to help you enjoy your visit in a way that meets your needs.
You can download a pre-visit guide to the castle before your visit to help you prepare.
Deaf or hard of hearing visitors
A Castle Tour companion booklet is available from our Palace Host at the entrance to the castle for all Deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors. The booklet follows our tour route and shares the stories the Hosts deliver in each of the rooms. It is printed in large format text.
We plan to provide induction loops and British Sign Language (BSL) services in the future.
Blind or Partially Sighted Visitors
Our staff undertake training developed with assistance by the RNIB. We will bring the rooms and stories to life through descriptive language. For visitors with partial visual impairment, a Castle Tour companion booklet is available in large format print.
We plan to provide tailored descriptive tours and audio guides in the future.
Book £1 tickets
For those on Universal Credit and other named benefits
Claim £1 tickets to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens for up to six people per household.
EXPLORE WHAT'S ON
- For members
- Tours and talks
- Events
Members-Only Gardens Tours at Hillsborough Castle
Explore the gardens surrounding Northern Ireland's only royal residence with an expert guide on these members-only tours.
- 21 September 2024
- 11:00
- Hillsborough Castle
- Free (advance booking required)
- Events
- Families
Hillsborough Castle Summer Fair
Celebrate the bank holiday weekend at this three-day event with fun, music, and artisanal delights.
- 24 - 26 August 2024
- In line with gardens opening hours
- Hillsborough Castle
- Event and admission combined ticket (members go free)
- Families
Summer Music In The Gardens
Spend a summer afternoon relaxing in the gardens and listening to music.
- Until 17 August
- 14:00 - 16:00
- Hillsborough Castle
- Included in all admission tickets (members go free)
BROWSE MORE HISTORY AND STORIES
Art at Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle has become a place in which to see amazing art
The story of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
‘The Grandest House in County Down’