Holywood, United Kingdom
Holywood is a town of 13,109 people in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Holywood
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ulster Folk and Transport Museums, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Moat Park and Victoria Park, Belfast.
Weather in Holywood
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Holywood
Holywood ( HOL-ee-wuud; from Latin Sanctus Boscus 'holy wood') is a town in the metropolitan area of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a civil parish and townland of 306 hectares (755 acres) lying on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby.
From the Wikipedia article Holywood, County Down (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Holywood on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks28
Ulster Folk and Transport Museums
Museum · 1.3 mi
Railway museum in Northern Ireland
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Museum · 1.4 mi
153 Bangor Road, Holywood
Ulster Transport Museum
Museum · 1.4 mi
153 Bangor Road, Holywood
Tu-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa-Su 11:00-17:00; Mo off "except for Northern...
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes6
Alexanders
Restaurant · Burger, Fish And Chips, Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Steak House, Asian · 0.5 mi
57 High Street, Holywood
History
In the early 19th century, Holywood, like many other coastal villages throughout Ireland, became popular as a resort for sea-bathing. Many wealthy Belfast merchants chose the town and the surrounding area to build large homes for themselves. These included the Kennedys of Cultra and the Harrisons of Holywood. Dalchoolin House stood on the site of the present Ulster Transport Museum, while Cultra Manor was built between 1902–04 and now houses the Ulster Folk Museum.
The railway line from Belfast to Holywood opened in 1848, and this led to rapid development. The population of Holywood was approximately 3,500 in 1900 and had grown to 12,000 by 2001. This growth, coupled with that of other towns and villages along the coastal strip to Bangor, necessitated the construction of the Holywood Bypass which was completed in 1972.
The Old Priory ruins lie at the bottom of the High Street. The tower dates from 1800, but the oldest ruins date from the early 13th century. The Priory graveyard is the resting place for many distinguished citizens including the educational reformer, Robert Sullivan, and the Praeger family. Sullivan Upper Grammar School is named after Robert Sullivan. Robert Lloyd Praeger (1865–1953) was an internationally renowned botanist and his sister, Rosamond Praeger (1867–1954), gained fame as a sculptor and writer.
Read more of the history
On 17 June 1994, Garnet Bell, a former pupil bearing a grudge, entered an assembly hall at Sullivan Upper School and used a flamethrower to attack students taking A-level examinations. Six pupils were injured; three of them seriously.
On 12 April 2010, at around 12:24am, a car bombing occurred near Palace Barracks, a British Army barracks on the edge of Holywood's town centre. An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.
From the History section of Holywood, County Down on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Holywood
Education
The town contains the following schools: Holywood Primary School, Holywood Nursery School, Holywood Rudolf Steiner School, Priory Integrated College, Rockport School, St. Patrick's Primary School, and Sullivan Preparatory School and Sullivan Upper School.
From the Wikipedia article Holywood, County Down, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Holywood
Rory McIlroyNorthern Irish professional golfer (born 1989)Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Garth EnnisBritish comics writerPhoto: Luigi Novi, CC BY 4.0
Clive StandenEnglish actor (born 1981)Photo: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 2.0
Natalie Evans, Baroness EvansBritish Conservative Party politician (born 1975)Photo: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0
Alexander Henry HalidayIrish entomologist (1807–1870)Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Robert Lloyd PraegerIrish naturalist, writer, librarian, and archaeologist (1865-1953)Photo: Sarah Cecilia Harrison, Public domain
Darren CaveIrish rugby union playerPhoto: Darren Johnson, CC BY 2.0
Louise KennedyIrish writer (born 1967)Photo: DeuxPlusQuatre, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ben ReynoldsIrish athletePhoto: C messier, CC0- Jamie DornanNorthern Irish actor
- Mark AdairIrish cricketer (born 1996)
- Sarah Cecilia HarrisonIrish artist (1863-1941)
Born in Holywood, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship8
First Presbyterian Non-Subscribing Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.5 mi
High Street, Holywood
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries8
St Patrick's Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 0.5 mi
Church View, Holywood
Healthcare2
Map of Holywood
73 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Dundonald 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Newtownabbey 4 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Jordanstown 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Belfast 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Newtownards 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Lisburn 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Larne 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Portadown 29 mi southwest, about 47 min by car
- Newry 38 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Limavady 53 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Holywood
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, Railway Gallery 10, NearEMPTiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Schooner Result, Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Belfast Lough sunset at Holywood Old Pier, Camcool11, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, toho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mcda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.