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Walking Tour of Hillsborough Fort and Courthouse

Walking Tour

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When

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026

11:00 - 13:00

Where

Meeting at the front of Hillsborough Fort. The Fort is located across the road from Hillsborough Castle in the village of Royal Hillsborough.


Ticketing Information

This tour will last approximately 2 hours. This is a free event and no ticket is required.

Access via the A1 car park (BT26 6FT) will require a Gardens entry ticket or valid membership card to attend the event. Please make use of the available public car parks.


Free

Start of the events summary

Step back in time to learn about Hillsborough’s fascinating past with a tour of the 17th-century Fort and 18th-century Courthouse.

Join our expert guides Dr Wills McNeilly, Curator of Historic Buildings, and Emma Lawthers, Research and Interpretation Producer, to reveal the story of these historic landmarks. The tour will bring to life the architecture, stories and historic significance of these remarkable buildings.

Learn more about the Fort and Courthouse

This tour is part of the European Heritage Open Day scheme. As part of this year’s theme ‘Heritage at Risk’, discover why buildings like the Fort and Courthouse matter now more than ever.

Learn how time, change and neglect can threaten these spaces, and how understanding their history and purpose is key to protecting them for future generations.

Access information 

This tour will primarily be taking place outdoors. Please be aware that the ground may be uneven and appropriate footwear should be worn.

There is no step free access to the interior of the Fort and Courthouse. Dogs are not permitted on the tour.

Explore other events

Discover other events that are part of European Heritage Open Day 2026 in Northern Ireland on the Visit Northern Ireland website.

Visit the Discover NI website

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Discover elegant State Rooms still used by the royal family inside Hillsborough Castle.

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Hillsborough Castle was the scene for key meetings that led to this historic moment in Northern Ireland’s history

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Hillsborough Castle has become a place in which to see amazing art