Newtownards

Travel Guide

Mount Stewart House and Gardens featuring a house, a garden and heritage architecture
Mount Stewart showing forests, a lake or waterhole and a park
Ards and North Down featuring a garden
Mount Stewart House and Gardens featuring fall colors and forests
Ards and North Down which includes a house and interior views

Newtownards Travel Guide Video

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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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
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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
Strangford Arms Hotel Newtownards
Strangford Arms Hotel Newtownards
3 out of 5
92 Church Street, Newtownards, Northern Ireland
$125 nightly
The price is $151 total per night from Aug 7 to Aug 8
$151 total
Aug 7 - Aug 8
Total includes taxes and 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! (185 reviews)
Business trip Belfast area
"Fantastic service and comfortable stat"

Reviewed on Jul 7, 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
$132 nightly
The price is $158 total per night from Aug 12 to Aug 13
$158 total
Aug 12 - Aug 13
Total includes taxes and 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! (528 reviews)
Excellent family overnight stay
"Excellent stay for my daughter’s birthday. Staff were friendly and professional, but also made a fuss of the children and made them feel special, which was just lovely, especially for the birthday girl! Hotel was clean throughout, comfortable bed, bathroom was spotless, breakfast and dinner were ..."

Reviewed on Jul 7, 2025

La Mon Hotel And Country Club
room2 Belfast Hometel
room2 Belfast Hometel
4 out of 5
32-36 Queen Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland
$110 nightly
The price is $132 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$132 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Belfast. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (767 reviews)
"What an excellent hotel! Great vibe in the lobby, funky yet comfortable room, and very friendly staff. Hanna at the front desk was super helpful and full of great advice."

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2025

room2 Belfast Hometel
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.
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
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 ...
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)
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The cabin was lovely, clean and cosy and we had everything we needed. Thank you for having us, we'd love to stay again 😊"

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2024

Cosy Log Cabin - views of Scrabo Tower
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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