Major city · United Kingdom
LisburnLios na gCearrbhach
Skip as a base: see the Linen Centre and cathedral in 2–3 hours, then sleep in Belfast, 25 min by train.
Lisburn is a market town of about 71,000 people 9 miles southwest of Belfast, ceremonial 'city' since 2002 but still a town in feel. Its one strong sight is the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, free, in the old market house on Market Square. Trains from Belfast Grand Central run every 15 minutes and take 25 minutes, so it works as a half-day trip rather than a place to stay.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Dec–Feb (short, wet days)
- Airports
- BFS · BHD · DUB
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Lisburn111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Lisburn, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyLisburn is a low-crime town by UK standards and the centre is fine on foot in the evening.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers111 NHS non-urgent · 101 police non-urgent (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckBFS Belfast International (Aldergrove) (Bus 109A runs hourly Mon–Sat via Crumlin to Lisburn; check the current timetable.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is compact and walkable: Linen Centre, cathedral, Castle Gardens and Wallace Park are all within about 15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
- BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Linen Centre)Free
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £150 (≈ US$200)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BFS Belfast International (Aldergrove) (Bus 109A runs hourly Mon–Sat via Crumlin to Lisburn; check the current timetable.) · BHD George Best Belfast City (No direct bus to Lisburn: take a bus or train into Belfast Grand Central, then a Lisburn train.) · DUB Dublin (Goldliner X1 stops at Sprucefield retail park on the way into Belfast; X2 and Aircoach do not stop.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Apr (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Lisburn: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
15 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Apr
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
11 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
12 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
14 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is compact and walkable: Linen Centre, cathedral, Castle Gardens and Wallace Park are all within about 15 minutes on foot. You need a car or taxi for the racecourse, the golf clubs and the Maze site. National Cycleway 9 runs mostly on-road from Belfast through Lisburn towards Craigavon and Portadown.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Belfast
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Train from Lisburn to Belfast Grand Central, every 15 min
Titanic Quarter, City Hall and the cathedral quarter; needs two or three days of its own.
Hillsborough
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Bus 538 from Lisburn bus centre, about 15 min
Village, castle and gardens; the Royal residence in Northern Ireland.
Antrim
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus 109A hourly Mon–Sat via Belfast International Airport
Useful mainly as an airport link rather than a sight.
Ballymena
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Train to Belfast Grand Central, then train or bus north
Long for a half-day; better as a stop on a Causeway Coast run.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Lisburn town centre
Haslem Hotel and The Square Bistro sit around Lisburn Square; the railway station is a short walk north.
Hillsborough Road / Sprucefield
Premier Inn and the M1 retail park; handy with a car, dull on foot.
Belfast
Better value and more choice; 25 min by train from Lisburn.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- £70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
- High
- £120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × £110 | £110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £85 | £170 |
| Train Belfast Grand Central ↔ Lisburn, both ways2 × £8 · check | £16 |
| Bus 538 Lisburn ↔ Hillsborough, both ways2 × £6 · check | £12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8 | £16 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £32 |
| Trip total≈ £178 per person per day, bed included | £356≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in pounds; intercity travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £12–18 (≈ US$16–25) |
| Pint of beer | £5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9) |
| Museum entry (Linen Centre) | Free |
| Train Lisburn → Belfast Grand Central | about £4 (≈ US$6) single (check) |
| 5 km taxi | £8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Maze Long Kesh site is largely fenced off and derelict: you can look through the fencing, not tour the prison.
- Hilden Brewery is now mainly an events venue and does not run tours.
- Check opening hours before travelling: several small museums and eateries keep short or seasonal hours.
Emergency numbers
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
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LisburnLios na gCearrbhach
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Lisburn; the US consulate-general is in Belfast, and most other missions are in London or Dublin.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Lisburn → Belfast Grand Central: about £4 (≈ US$6) single, 25 min (check)
- Bus 538 Lisburn → Hillsborough: about £3 (≈ US$4) single, 15 min (check)
- Taxi in town: £8–12 (≈ US$11–16) for 5 km (3.1 mi) (check)£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) for 3.1 mi (5 km) (check)
Say or show
- Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry
- Thank you — Thank you
- Please — Please
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
English is the everyday language; Irish (Gaeilge) appears on some signage but is not needed for travel.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lisburn. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (short, wet days) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BFS and BHD: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster: Market Square, cathedral, Castle Gardens, Wallace Park, with a wet-weather anchor at the Linen Centre.
- Place pages with verified hours for the Linen Centre, cathedral and Ulster Aviation Society.
- Eat pages with last orders for the Lisburn Square and Railway Street cluster.