Visitor Information

Plan your visit

We have tonnes of information on where our events are held and how to get to them. Plus details and recommendations on places to stay, eat and things to do.

Accommodation

Whether you want a boutique hotel or guest house with a sea view, the facilities of a large hotel, or a quiet retreat in a private holiday home or Air B’n’B, you’ll find great choices in Bangor – and lower prices than Belfast.

There are two hotels within a short walk of the main venues:

  • The Nines boutique hotel, restaurant and bar on Bangor seafront.
  • Premier Inn, restaurant and bar close to the train station.

Two excellent hotels within 4 miles of central Bangor are:

Bangor Rest of NI

Things to Do

Bangor boasts the largest marina in Ireland, a stunning coastline to explore, and sandy beaches where year-round sea swimming is experiencing a major revival. We have two yacht clubs, five golf courses, and beautiful parks and woodland walks. The 2,000 acre Clandeboye Estate (home to the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava), Crawfordsburn Country Park, Bangor Castle and Museum, and the WW2 Grey Point Fort all lie within the town’s greater area.

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Eating & Drinking

Bangor town centre is home to dozens of authentic pubs, restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy regular free music sessions and programmed Festival events, while mixing with the locals. Our micro-climate has created an area of outstanding farming and artisan food production, from cheeses and cured meats to beers and gins, available in many local hostelries.

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Getting to Bangor

Bangor is easily accessible and only a 20 minute journey from Belfast by rail or road. See full travel info via the link below.

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Venues & Accessibility

Here at Open House we’re committed to providing a Festival that’s accessible to all. Our team works hard to deliver a programme and services that respect the dignity and independence of people with disabilities, and that allows everyone an equal opportunity to be part of the Festival.

Nearly all our venues are fully accessible to wheelchair users, including Ward Park, the Walled Garden and the Court House. Our staff and volunteers are trained in supporting people with disabilities of all kinds, whether visible or hidden. They will help in any way they can to make your experience a positive and memorable one.

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Waterstones Bangor

We are delighted to welcome Waterstones Bangor as our official festival bookseller for 2025. They are offering Open House Festival ticketholders an exclusive 10% discount on all the books that feature in this year’s literary lineup. You must present a valid ticket for any Open House Festival event between 1st and 31st August 2025 at the point of purchase. Waterstones staff will also be on hand to sell books at our author events where the same discount will apply. This discount only applies to Waterstones Bangor and runs from 6th June to 31st August. Look out for their special in-store Open House Festival promotional display at the Bloomfield shopping centre store throughout the summer.

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