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Hillsborough Castle

School Visit Booking Request Form

Form guidelines

Complete this form to request a booking for a school visit to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. If you have been awarded a Travel Bursary, please do not fill in this form, but complete the separate booking request form sent to you with your bursary confirmation letter. Before filling in this form:

  • Check that the date you wish to book falls within our term dates.
  • If you are visiting over multiple days, please ensure you complete separate booking forms.

If you have questions and would like to enquire about a visit before submitting this request form, please contact the team at hillsboroughlearning@hrp.org.uk.

Contact details



Group details


Type of visit

Please select the the type of visit to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens you wish to book.

Request date of visit

Availability for visits with a facilitated session: Primary and SEND Sessions: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Secondary Sessions: Thursdays.

Please note that Garden self-led visits, using our provided trail activities are only available Wednesdays - Fridays

Visits only available during term time. Please provide 3 possible dates within term time for a visit. A member of the schools booking team will be in touch to let you know if the dates you select are unavailable. All dates requested must be at least 6 weeks away.

Request a session

Please note that each session has a maximum capacity and you might need to book more than one session if you are visiting with a large group. Consult the website to find out the maximum capacity for each session. For information on the sessions available at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens visit our Hillsborough Castle and Gardens sessions page.

The "Pilot Session" option below should only be selected if you have been invited to attend a pilot session by our schools team.

Request a Garden Self-led visit

Please note that the Garden Self-led visits only available Wednesdays - Fridays.

Garden Self-led visits DO NOT include access to the interior of Hillsborough Castle but do include use of our NEW garden trails. Please visit our Self-led Garden Visit Page. for more information on what is included in a visit.

Please select below the garden trails you would like to use during your visit.

Additional comments

Please use this section to provide us with any further details about your group or booking request. For example, is your first choice date more important than your preferred session? are you bringing a large group and wish to request multiple sessions?

Terms and Conditions

Please ensure you have read our terms and conditions. For information on how we collect and manage your data see our customer promise and privacy policy.

By submitting this booking form, you are making a request for a booking to be made for your group. The visit should only be considered confirmed when a booking confirmation email and invoice is sent to you. This can take up to 10 days so please allow this time before contacting the team to check on progress. We work through requests in the date order they are received, and our response time will vary depending on how busy we are.

We may combine (non-personal) data about your school with information from the government's school census to understand more about the demographic profile of the schools visiting us. This helps us to develop our schools service to reach a wide range of schools.

Explore what's on

BOOKING NOW

  • For members
  • Events
  • Exhibition

Members-Only Preview and Talk: The Franklin Collection

Members are invited to an exclusive preview of the Franklin Dining Room, displaying objects exploring Benjamin Franklin’s visit to Hillsborough Castle, marking 250 years since American independence.

  • 12 March 2026

  • 18:00 - 19:00
  • Hillsborough Castle
  • Free (advance booking required)
Learn more
  • Families
  • Events

Beano Hijinks at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

100 acres of total time travel trouble with Beano Hijinks at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

  • 27 June - 31 August 2026

  • In line with gardens opening hours
  • Hillsborough Castle
  • Included in all admission tickets (Members go free, no pre-booking required)
Learn more
  • Families
  • Events

St. Patrick's Weekend

Celebrate St Patrick's Day at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens with traditional music and storytelling.

  • 15 March 2026

  • Various times
  • Hillsborough Castle
  • Included in all admission tickets (Members go free)
Learn more

Browse more history and stories

Good Friday Agreement

Hillsborough Castle was the scene for key meetings that led to this historic moment in Northern Ireland’s history

Art at Hillsborough Castle

Hillsborough Castle has become a place in which to see amazing art

The story of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

‘The Grandest House in County Down’

Shop online

Official Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Guidebook

Descriptive, informative, authoritative - this superb guidebook is the best way to learn all there is about Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.

£4.99