List of Museums in Northern Ireland

This list of museums in Northern Ireland contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included. Many other small historical displays are located in the country's stately homes, including those run by the National Trust.

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Name Image Town/City County Type Summary
Belfast Exposed Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary photography
Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast Antrim Prison Victorian-era prison under restoration as a museum
Engine Room Gallery Belfast Antrim Art website, contemporary art
Golden Thread Gallery Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art
Irish Republican History Museum Belfast Antrim History History and artefacts of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Linen Hall Library Belfast Antrim Library Exhibits of art, history and culture from its collections
Metropolitan Arts Centre Belfast Antrim Art website, planned arts centre to open in 2011, formerly the Old Museum Arts Centre
Naughton Gallery at Queen's Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art, part of Queen's University
Northern Ireland War Memorial Belfast Antrim Military Commemorates the fallen of World War I and World War II, life during the 1941 Belfast Blitz
Ormeau Baths Gallery Belfast Antrim Art Contemporary art
Red Barn Gallery Belfast Antrim Art Photography gallery, also known as RBG Belfast
Royal Ulster Rifles Museum Belfast Antrim Military Regimental uniforms, badges, medals, memorabilia
Titanic's Dock and Pumphouse Belfast Antrim Industry website, Edwardian-era pump house with exhibits on shipbuilding in Belfast, Harland & Wolff, launch of the RMS Titanic
Ulster Museum Belfast Antrim Multiple Fine art, decorative arts, natural history, archaeology, Ancient Egypt, world cultures, geology, history
W5 whowhatwhenwherewhy Belfast Antrim Science website, science based exhibits with an emphasis on ""play""
Andrew Jackson Cottage Carrickfergus Antrim Historic house Open by appointment, restored 18th-century home of President Andrew Jackson's parents.
Arthur Cottage Cullybackey Antrim Historic house Restored late-18th-century-period ancestral home of Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States
Ballance House Glenavy Antrim Historic house website, birthplace of John Ballance, Premier of New Zealand from 1891–1893
Ballycastle Museum Ballycastle Antrim Local website, local history, culture
Ballymoney Museum Ballymoney Antrim Local website, local history, culture, art
The Braid Ballymena Antrim Multiple website, history, arts and culture, includes the Mid-Antrim Museum and Braid Arts Centre
Brookhall Historical Farm Lisburn Antrim Agriculture website, information, open by appointment, farm artefacts
Carrickfergus Castle Carrickfergus Antrim Historic house Operated by the NIEA, Norman castle with military uses until the 1920s, exhibits about it history and use
Carrickfergus Museum Carrickfergus Antrim Multiple website, local history, art, archaeology
Causeway School Museum Bushmills Antrim Education information, information, 1920s period school
Flame The Gasworks Museum of Ireland Carrickfergus Antrim Industry website, restored coal gasworks and appliances
Giant's Causeway Bushmills Antrim Natural history Operated by the National Trust, new visitor centre to open in 2011 with exhibits about the geology and natural history of the basalt columns and coast
Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum Lisburn Antrim Multiple website, Irish linen industry and city history and culture
Larne Museum and Arts Centre Larne Antrim Local Local history, culture, art
Patterson's Spade Mill Templepatrick Antrim Industry website, operated by the National Trust, historic spade mill
Coastal Zone at Portrush Portrush Antrim Natural history website, operated by the NIEA, natural history, environment and local history
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland Whitehead Antrim Railway Heritage railway and museum at the Whitehead Excursion Station
Rathlin Boathouse Visitor Centre Rathlin Island Antrim Local information, documents island life and the history & geography of the island
Sentry Hill Carnmoney Antrim Historic house website, 19th-century farmhouse
Ulster Aviation Collection and Hangar Sprucefield Antrim Aviation website, open for groups by pre-arrangement, aircraft and articles relating to Northern Ireland's aviation heritage, located in a hangar of RAF Long Kesh
White House, Newtownabbey Newtownabbey Antrim Historic house website, restored house dating back to the 16th century
Ardress House Annaghmore Armagh Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, 17th-century farmhouse with 18th-century interior, working farmyard with animals
Argory Moy Armagh Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, early-19th-century Irish gentry house with late-19th-century interior
Armagh County Museum Armagh Armagh Multiple Local history, natural history, culture, archaeology, costumes
Armagh Observatory Armagh Armagh Science Collection of large telescopes used for observations since the 18th century; other astronomical instruments and artefacts
Armagh Planetarium Armagh Armagh Science Planetarium and science museum featuring physics, space and astronomical exhibits inside the museum and on the grounds
Craigavon Museum Craigavon Armagh Local website, local history, agriculture, linen industry, culture
Dan Winter’s Cottage Loughgall Armagh Historic house website, website, 18th-century thatched cottage, home of Dan Winter, one of the founders of the Orange Order
Derrymore House Bessbrook Armagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, late-18th-century thatched house
Keady Heritage Centre Keady Armagh Local website, local history, culture, linen industry, singer Tommy Makem
Lough Neagh Discovery Centre Craigavon Armagh Natural history website, website, natural history and environment of Lough Neagh and the Oxford Island National Nature Reserve
Market Place - Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre Armagh Armagh Art website
Moneypenny's Lock House Craigavon Armagh Transportation information, lockkeeper's cottage for the Newry Canal
Milford House Museum Milford Armagh Biographical website, history of the home of William McCrum, wealthy Irish linen manufacturer and sportsman, includes family costumes, furniture and silver
Millenium Court Arts Centre Portadown Armagh Art website, arts centre with two galleries
Mullaghbawn Folk Museum Mullaghbawn Armagh History information, traditional two-roomed thatched farm house and out buildings
Newry and Mourne Museum Newry Armagh Local website, located in Bagenal's Castle, local history, trades, fishing, industry, culture
Navan Centre, Fort and King Stables Armagh Armagh Archaeology Includes Iron Age circular earthwork, replica Iron Age dwelling, exhibits and living history interpretations
Northern Ireland's Secret Bunker Portadown Armagh Military website, Cold War-era monitoring bunker, open on select days
Ó Fíaich Heritage Centre Cullyhana Armagh Biographical website, life and artefacts of Tomás Ó Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of All Ireland from 1978 until his death
Saint Patrick Trian Visitor Complex Armagh Armagh Local website, exhibits about Armagh's historic pagan monuments and history, St Patrick and the Book of Armagh, and author Jonathan Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels and the fictional nation of Lilliput.
Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum Armagh Armagh Military Regimental artefacts and memorabilia
Tannaghmore Animal Farm Craigavon Armagh Agriculture website, heritage animal breeds, farm tools and equipment
Ballycopeland Windmill Millisle Down Mill Restored windmill and miller's house, operated by the NIEA
Bann Valley Museum Banbridge Down Local website, planned museum of local history and culture
Brontë Interpretive Centre Rathfriland Down Biographical information, exhibits about Patrick Brontë, the father of the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne), who taught in the church and school
Burren Heritage Centre Warrenpoint Down Local information, local history, culture
Castle Ward Strangford Down Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century eccentric house with two distinctly different styles, classical and Gothic
Cockle Row Cottages Groomsport Down Historic house website, information, 1910 period typical fisherman's dwelling
Down County Museum Downpatrick Down Local website, located in an 18th-century gaol, local history, culture
Downpatrick Railway Museum Downpatrick Down Railway Heritage railway and museum
F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio Banbridge Down Art website, information, works of surrealist sculptor F. E. McWilliam
Grey Point Fort Helen's Bay Down Military website, located in Crawfordsburn Country Park, one of a pair of artillery batteries guarding Belfast Lough during both 20th-century World Wars; its twin is near the Salt Mines at Kilroot
Kilclief Castle Strangford Down Historic house Medieval tower-house castle
Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds Strangford Down Historic house Operated by the National Trust
Nendrum Monastic Site Strangford Lough Down Religious Operated by the NIEA, ruins of medieval monastery and visitor centre museum with exhibits
North Down Museum Bangor Down Local website, information, local history, culture
Saint Patrick Visitor Centre Downpatrick Down Religious Displays on the life and story of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
Scarva Visitor Centre Scarva Down Local information, local history, Newry Canal and the linen industry
Somme Heritage Centre Conlig Down Military Ireland's military history in World War I
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Cultra Down Multiple Open air village with crafts demonstrations from the early 20th century, steam locomotives, Transport Museum with horse-drawn carriages, electric trams, motorbikes, fire engines and vintage cars, permanent RMS Titanic exhibit
Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre Belleek Fermanagh Art Belleek fine porcelain pieces
Castle Archdale Irvinestown Fermanagh Military Country park with museum about the role of RAF Castle Archdale and coastal command based at Castle Archdale during World War II
Castle Coole Enniskillen Fermanagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, late-18th-century mansion and estate
Fermanagh County Museum Enniskillen Fermanagh Local County history, culture and natural history
Florence Court Enniskillen Fermanagh Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century mansion and estate
Headhunters Barbers Shop & Railway Museum Enniskillen Fermanagh Railway website, includes reconstructed railway booking office and railroad memorabilia of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland), the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway and the Clogher Valley Railway
Inniskillings Museum Enniskillen Fermanagh Military Regimental history and artefacts of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Sheelin Antique Irish Lace Museum Bellanaleck Fermanagh Textile website, Irish lace dating from 1890–1920
Amelia Earhart Centre Derry Londonderry Aviation website, located in Ballyarnett Country Park, open by appointment, local aviation history and story of local landing of Amelia Earhart
Apprentice Boys Museum and Exhibition Derry Londonderry History History of the organization, story of the Siege of Derry and the Relief of Derry
Bellaghy Bawn Bellaghy Londonderry Local website, operated by the NIEA, 17th-century fortified house and bawn with exhibits on local and natural history, the history of the Ulster Plantation and the poetry of Seamus Heaney
Coleraine Regional Museum Coleraine Londonderry Local website, changing exhibits of local history, culture
Flowerfield Arts Centre Portstewart Londonderry Art website, includes exhibits of visual art and crafts
Foyle Valley Railway Museum Derry Londonderry Railway website
Garvagh Museum Garvagh Londonderry History website, rural and domestic life in the 19th & early 20th centuries
Green Lane Museum Limavady Londonderry Local Local history, linen and agricultural industry, rural life
Harbour Museum Derry Londonderry Maritime website, city's maritime history
Hezlett House Castlerock Londonderry Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, 17th-century thatched cottage
Museum of Free Derry Derry Londonderry History website, 1960s civil rights campaign and the Free Derry/early Troubles period of the early 1970s
Nerve Centre Derry Londonderry Art Multimedia arts centre for music, film, video, animation and interactive multimedia
Riverwatch Centre Derry Londonderry Natural history website, operated by the Loughs Agency, natural history and ecology of the River Foyle and Carlingford Lough waterways
Springhill House Moneymore Londonderry Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 17th-century plantation home, features costume collection
Tower Museum Derry Londonderry Local website, city's history, culture
Workhouse Museum Derry Londonderry Local website, historic workhouse, used for changing exhibits of city history and culture
Abingdon Collection Omagh Tyrone Multiple website, classic cars, World War II military memorabilia
Grant Ancestral Homestead Ballygawley Tyrone Historic house information, ancestral homestead of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States on his mother's side
Gray's Printing Press Strabane Tyrone Historic house website, operated by the National Trust, 18th-century print shop in which John Dunlap learned the printing trade
Lissan House Cookstown Tyrone Historic house Currently under restoration
Nally Heritage Centre Carrickmore Tyrone Multiple information, history of sports marketer Patrick Nally, the Carrickmore GAA club and local history
Strule Arts Centre Omagh Tyrone Art Arts centre with gallery
Ulster American Folk Park Castletown Tyrone Open air Irish rural life, lifestyle and experiences of those immigrants who sailed from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries
Wellbrooke Beetling Mill Cookstown Tyrone Industry website, operated by the National Trust, working water-powered mill used in the processing of flax to make linen thread
Wilson Ancestral Home Strabane Tyrone Historic house information, 18th-century home of James Wilson, grandfather of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

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