Newtownards

Travel Guide

Mount Stewart House and Gardens showing a park, a house and heritage architecture
Newtownards
Newtownards
Mount Stewart House and Gardens featuring forests and autumn leaves
Newtownards
Visit an important monument to World War II, play a few rounds of golf and gaze up at the iconic tower in the hilltop park.

Newtownards is a fairly developed town with a rich history and fascinating monuments. Overlooked by the imposing Scrabo Tower, the town lies in a pleasant valley surrounded by green countryside. Stroll through the Old Town market for a glimpse into local traditions and customs.

Visit the city center for Ards Shopping Center and Londonderry Park. Bring the kids to the adventure center of Happy Town.

Stroll through the pleasant hilltop fields of Scrabo Country Park in the southwestern part of the town. Enjoy a picnic with excellent views of the picturesque countryside from this great vantage point. The park’s centerpiece is the 19th-century Scrabo Tower, with its iconic turreted tower.

Relax with a few rounds at Scrabo Golf Club which fills the southern end of the park. An alternative is Clandeboye Golf Course near Bangor, which has two 18-hole championship courses.

Also on the way to Bangor, a little north of Newtownards, lies the Somme Museum, which honors the spot where the soldiers of the 108th Brigade trained for World War II. Take a guided tour for a comprehensive understanding of the many objects and photos displayed and stories shared.

Make your way southeast along the coast to Mount Stewart, where you will find the 19th-century Mount Stewart House and GardensOpens in a new window. This stately manor has a neoclassical style and period furnishings. Visit the ruins of nearby Grey Abbey, which dates back to the 12th century.

Enjoy the fairly sunny summers in the green countryside and expect wet weather year-round. Note that the town is known by locals as Ards.

Find the town in the borough of Ards in northeastern Northern Ireland. It is just a 30-minute drive east of BelfastOpens in a new window, which has the Belfast International Airport. Visit nearby towns, such as Bangor, Comber and the many other villages on the Ards Peninsula.

Newtownards is a lively town surrounded by a scenic hilltop with one of Northern Ireland’s most famous landmarks.

Where to stay in Newtownards

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Moneyreagh

Moneyreagh is well-liked for its restaurants. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Newtownards area, you might plan a trip to Dundonald International Ice Bowl or Ravenhill Stadium.

Moneyreagh
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Ballygowan

While there might not be top attractions in Ballygowan, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Balmoral Golf Club and Rockmount Golf Club.

Ballygowan
Strangford Arms Hotel Newtownards

Strangford Arms Hotel Newtownards

3 out of 5
92 Church Street, Newtownards, Northern Ireland
The price is CA $183 per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
CA $183
CA $219 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Newtownards. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (190 reviews)
"Very good service, clean & comfortable hotel with a lovely Bistro Bar attached. I don’t visit Ards very often but would stay here again the next time I did"

Reviewed on Jul. 23, 2025

Strangford Arms Hotel Newtownards
La Mon Hotel And Country Club

La Mon Hotel And Country Club

4 out of 5
41 Gransha Road, Castlereagh, Newtownards, Northern Ireland
The price is CA $165 per night from Jul 31 to Aug 1
CA $165
CA $198 total
Jul 31 - Aug 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Newtownards. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (534 reviews)
"Cracking hotel the room was vary spacious and so were the facilities, friendly staff definitely would come back 😄"

Reviewed on Jul. 22, 2025

La Mon Hotel And Country Club
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast

5 out of 5
Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland
The price is CA $289 per night from Aug 6 to Aug 7
CA $289
CA $347 total
Aug 6 - Aug 7
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Belfast. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,012 reviews)
"Loved everything about this hotel, from the staff to the location to the gorgeous room to the great food."

Reviewed on Jul. 21, 2025

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Spacious Apartment with Private Terrace

Spacious Apartment with Private Terrace

Newtownards
Stay at this apartment in Newtownards. Enjoy laundry facilities and in-room jetted tubs. Popular attractions Clandeboye Golf Course and Scrabo Tower are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
"Great unit"

Reviewed on Jul. 23, 2025

Spacious Apartment with Private Terrace
Cosy Log Cabin - views of Scrabo Tower

Cosy Log Cabin - views of Scrabo Tower

Comber
Stay at this cabin in Newtownards. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and tennis courts. Popular attractions Scrabo Tower and Dundonald International Ice Bowl are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
Nice little cabin with a beautiful view and nice little town
"We enjoyed this little cabin which had nice amenities, was clean and quiet. It was nice being outside the busy city but close enough to only drive 35 min to Titanic in Belfast."

Reviewed on Jun. 29, 2025

Cosy Log Cabin - views of Scrabo Tower
4 bed House - Private Garden - Free Parking

4 bed House - Private Garden - Free Parking

2 out of 5
Newtownards
Stay at this residence in Newtownards. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Scrabo Tower and Dundonald International Ice Bowl are ...
4 bed House - Private Garden - Free Parking
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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