Coleraine

Coleraine is a town in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Standing 55 miles northwest of Belfast, it's a transport hub and home to Ulster University. It has limited sights of its own but is within a few miles of major attractions along the Antrim coast.

Coleraine in Irish is Cúil Rathain, "nook of the ferns." It grew up at a point where the river could be bridged but was navigable by small boats. It became a Plantation settlement from the 17th century, but remained a small provincial market town until the railways and industry arrived in the 19th century. Coleraine was, and is, predominantly Protestant: of the 13 people killed here during The Troubles, six elderly Protestants were killed by an IRA car bomb, four UVF terrorists were killed when their own bomb went off prematurely, and three were shot by loyalists.

In spite of that background, Coleraine was re-vitalised from 1970 when it became the main campus of the new Ulster University. This was seen by some as a Protestant poke in the eye for the academic claims of Derry, but that was a cramped city site, and the university had far more scope on the greenfield site north edge of town. This boosted the population to 24,600 by 2021, and it also made Coleraine one of the most affluent towns in Northern Ireland, with spiralling property prices.

The historic counties of Northern Ireland are no longer administrative units: Coleraine is now part of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough, who post visitor information online.

Trains run hourly, daily from Belfast via Antrim (for International Airport) and Ballymena, taking 80 min to Coleraine. They continue to Castlerock and Derry (40 min) along a scenic coastal route. From Coleraine a connecting train runs hourly via Ulster University to Portrush (15 min).

55.1341-6.6631 Coleraine railway and bus station is 200 yards northeast of town centre.

55.1504-6.66842 University railway station is east side of the campus.

Goldliner Bus 218 runs hourly from Belfast Laganside (not the main bus station) via Antrim, Ballymena, Cloughmills and Ballymoney, taking 1 hr 50 min.

Goldliner 234 runs from Derry via Eglinton (for Derry airport), Ballykelly, Limavady and Castlerock to Coleraine, with some continuing to the University campus. There are five M-Sa and two on Sunday. Ulsterbus 134 starts from Limavady.

Goldliner Bus 278 runs in university term-time, with one bus Su-F from Monaghan via Armagh, Moy, Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Garvagh and Coleraine to Ulster University, Portstewart and Portrush.

Ulsterbus 140a runs a triangle from Coleraine to Portstewart, Portrush and back to Coleraine; 140b is the reverse triangle. It's every 20 min M-F, hourly Sa Su.

Bus 172 / 402 tours the scenic Antrim coast, running every 30 min from Coleraine to Portrush, Dunluce (for castle), Portballintrae, Bushmills (for distillery), Giant's Causeway, Ballintoy (for Carrick-a-Rede bridge) and Ballycastle (for ferries to Rathlin Island). The 172 runs direct to Bushmills bypassing Portrush, the routes are otherwise the same.

Bus 178 is an inland route from Ballycastle, with 4 M-Sa. It takes 80 min via Armoy (for Dark Hedges) and Ballymoney, so don't take it for the coastal attractions.

From Belfast follow M2 / A26 north past Ballymena, 60 miles. From Derry follow A2 / A37 via Limavady.

Walking will get you most places. Take the 140 triangle bus for the University.

Ulsterbus 116 runs from Magherafelt via Castledawson, Maghera and Garvagh. There are four M-Sa.

Bus 173 runs from Ballymoney five times M-F and twice on Saturday.

Bus 319 potters around town every 30 min M-F and hourly on Saturday.

Half a dozen taxi firms ply in town.

• Town centre grew up at the lowest bridge on the River Bann, 100 yards wide at this point. The central square is called The Diamond, with town hall. St Patrick's Church (C of I) is a little way north; parts date from 1613.
• Art galleries: there isn't a civic museum-gallery but commercial galleries include Reflections on Dunmore St, Ecology Art on Queen St, and Just Fine on New Row.
• 55.116-6.6641 Mount Sandel Mesolithic Site, Mountfield Drive BT52 1TW. 24 hours. The mound is an Iron Age fort, circa 500 BC. Given its location, the Normans probably palisaded and garrisoned it by knee-jerk reflex, but they never built a stone castle. But excavations around it in the 1970s revealed dwellings from 7000 BC, the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age. These were ten tepees, with saplings bent into a framework then covered in hides, and with a central hearth. Although there's evidence of earlier human activity in Ireland, this is the earliest fixed "village"; it had been thought that Mesolithic people here were nomadic hunter-gatherers and that settled dwellings and agriculture only came later in the Neolithic or New Stone Age. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.1116-6.59762 Damhead Miniature Railway, 48 Damhead Rd BT52 2JS, ☏ +44 7714 026864. They're just about big enough to ride on. Only intermittently open, check ahead on their website. Adult £3, child £2.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Ulster University main campus north of town is one of the better displays of 1970s architecture, a pleasant stretch of parkland and modern buildings. There are also campuses in Belfast, Jordanstown and Derry.

• Cinema: Movie House is south edge of town on Dunhill Rd. It's within Jet Centre which also has 10-pin bowling, mini-golf and arcades.

The town theatre Riverside has closed down.

• Coleraine Leisure Centre has gym, fitness classes and pool. It's on Railway Rd towards the station.
• Anderson Park is a green space north of the central shopping mall.
• Walk: the riverside walk is west bank of the Bann.
• Football: Coleraine FC play soccer in the NIFL Premiership, the top tier in Northern Ireland; they often do well and qualify for European tournaments. Their home stadium The Showgrounds has a nominal capacity of 13,000 but is restricted to 2500; it's on Ballycastle Rd just east of the railway station.
• Northwest 200 is a motorbike race held in May on a triangular on-road circuit between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart. The next is probably 3-8 May 2027, tbc.
• Coleraine Agricultural Show is next held at The Showgrounds on Sa 7 Nov 2026.

• Diamond Shopping Centre is the main mall in town. Further out are several convenience stores, open daily till late.
• Riverside Centre is the edge-of-town retail park, south on A29. There's Lidl, Sainsbury's and the Premier Inn.
• Causeway Specialty Market is held in Town Hall on the second Saturday of each month, 9AM-4PM.

• Water Margin, 1 Hanover Place BT52 1EB, ☏ +44 28 7034 2222. Mon-Sat 12:30-2:30PM, 5-10PM; Sun 1-9PM. Popular Chinese chain, the early bird is especially good value. (updated Sep 2026)
• Whoosh is Thai, at 3 Bellhouse Lane, open Tu-Sa 11:30AM-5:30PM.
• Golden Dragon is at 19 Beresford Court, open W-Su 4:30-9:30PM.
• Ayman's is at 19 Bushmills Rd by the railway station, open W-M 4:30-11PM.
• Pizza Pomodoro, 4 Waterside BT51 3DP, ☏ +44 28 7034 3222. Wed-Sun 4:30-9:30PM. A cheap and cheerful place on Waterside just west of the bridge, BYOB. (updated Sep 2026)

• Old Court House, Castlerock Rd BT51 3HP, ☏ +44 28 7044 2315. Mon-Thu noon-midnight, Fri Sat noon-1:30AM, Sun noon-11PM. Pub just west of the bridge in the former Court House, with a good range of food, beer and spirits. It's no longer part of the Wetherspoon chain. (updated Sep 2026)
• Captain's Bar is by the Court House at 8 Captain St Lower.
• Queen's Arms are east of the river at 7 Bridge St.
• Mary Craig's is at 30 New Market St.
• By the stations are Railway Arms, Clyde Tavern and Patsy's Bar.

• 55.1214-6.67171 Ibis, 3 Riverside Park North BT51 3GE, ☏ +44 28 7051 1575. Efficient Accor chain hotel. B&B double £130.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.1265-6.65542 Lodge Hotel, Lodge Rd Roundabout BT52 1NF, ☏ +44 28 7034 4848. Clean slick hotel by A26 / A29 roundabout, handy for motorists. B&B double £170.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.1139-6.63763 Grove B&B, 20 Knocklynn Grove BT52 1WR, ☏ +44 7910 078501. Welcoming B&B southeast edge of town.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.1038-6.69094 Bushtown Hotel, 283 Drumcroom Rd BT51 3QT, ☏ +44 28 7035 8367. Mid-price hotel, spa and leisure centre southwest edge of town. B&B double £130.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.1505-6.68695 The Cranagh, 78 Portstewart Rd BT52 1SB, ☏ +44 7845 769220. Marina with caravan and camping pitches on the road to Portstewart.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Portstewart 6 miles north has more accommodation.

As of Sep 2026, Coleraine and its approach roads have 4G from Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and O2.

• Portstewart and Portrush are seaside resorts with long sandy beaches and promenade walks.
• East of them lies the scenic Antrim coast, with the top attractions of Bushmills, Carrick-a-Rede bridge and Giant's Causeway.
• Castlerock is the main resort west of the River Bann, with the wacky 18th century Mussenden Temple.
• Magilligan Point is the haunting spit that ends the Londonderry shoreline, with views across to Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.
• Derry is the fascinating walled city at the head of that reach of sea.