The Culloden Estate and Spa is Belfast’s grand country-house retreat, set in landscaped grounds on the shore at Cultra, in Holywood, a few miles east of the city. It is a five-star hotel with 100 rooms, a former bishops’ residence in origin, and it offers the kind of space and calm that city-centre hotels cannot. Facilities include an indoor pool, a spa offering massage, body treatments and aromatherapy, a hair salon, a bar, Vespers restaurant for dinner, terrace and garden areas, 24-hour room service and free self parking. Room types range from a Double Room of about 258 square feet and a Deluxe Double of about 307 square feet to a Junior Double with a partial sea view, a Suite with a sea view and a Panoramic Double with a lake view. Free WiFi, air conditioning, a lift and luggage storage are provided, and a full breakfast is available for an additional charge. The location is ideal for visitors to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which is a three-minute walk, with Cultra railway station five minutes away on foot. Belfast George Best City Airport is thirteen minutes by car, and Titanic Belfast around twenty-one minutes. It is a splendid choice for a special occasion, a spa weekend or a quiet base away from the city bustle.
Location and getting around
Cultra is on the Bangor Road, in the suburbs by the sea, and the train to Belfast is quick from Cultra station. The Royal Belfast Golf Course is about seven minutes by car, and Holywood’s Maypole and village streets are a short drive away. Without a car, rely on the train for the city centre and taxis for evenings.
Rooms and facilities
Ask for a lake-view or sea-view room if you want the best outlook, and consider a suite for a celebration. The spa and indoor pool make wet days a pleasure. Smoking is not allowed on the premises, and breakfast is charged separately in some rates, so check what your booking includes.
Who it suits
Couples celebrating, spa-seekers, golfers, and travellers who want the folk museum on their doorstep. It is less suited to visitors who want to walk to the bars and restaurants of the city centre each evening, because Cultra is a taxi or train ride from the centre.
Good to know
Book Vespers or any special restaurant table early at weekends, and ask the hotel about spa packages. The Ulster Folk Museum closes on Mondays, so plan your visit accordingly. For tours from the city, allow extra time to get to the morning departure point from Donegall Square.
Why stay here
- ✓100 rooms
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Spa
- ✓Vespers restaurant
- ✓Gardens and terrace
- ✓Free self parking
- ✓24-hour room service
- ✓Hair salon
Good questions
Where is the Culloden Estate and Spa?+
It is on Bangor Road in Cultra, Holywood, a few miles east of Belfast, next to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.
Does the Culloden Estate have a pool and spa?+
Yes, it has an indoor pool and a spa offering massage, body treatments and aromatherapy.
Does the Culloden Estate have free parking?+
Yes, free self parking is available on site.
