‘Our heritage is what we have inherited from the past, to value and enjoy in the present, and to preserve and pass on to future generations.’

Royal Hillsborough, a 17th-century estate village is well known for its fine Georgian architecture, parkland and lakeside walks. A stroll away from Little Del Toro stands the 17th C Hillsborough Fort and Hillsborough Castle, one of the most beautiful, and interesting historic properties in Northern Ireland. Hillsborough Castle, originally a Georgian country house, was built in the 18th century for the Hill family, Marquesses of Downshire, who owned it until 1922, when The 7th Marquess of Downshire sold the mansion and its grounds to the British government. 

The Late Queen made her first visit to the castle as Princess Elizabeth in 1946 accompanied by her aunt Lady Rose Bowes-Lyon, sister of The Queen Mother. Her first visit as Queen was in July 1953 accompanied by her husband HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh for a Coronation banquet. Since then, the Royal Family has enjoyed many visits to Hillsborough Castle.  The Castle has welcomed the world and witnessed pivotal moments in history for over the last 300 years.