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About

About Princetown Guesthouse

Location, Directions, Facilities and a wee bit of history

Location

The guesthouse is located in the seaside town of Bangor, on the southern side of Belfast Lough.  It is 11 miles east of Belfast (30 mins by car) and only 20 mins from George Best city Airport and 50 mins from Belfast International Airport.  For directions to the guesthouse click here.

The Royal Ulster and Ballyholme Yacht club have their home here and the Blue Flag Marina is one of the largest in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  The town is twinned with Bregenz in Austria and Virginia Beach in the United States.

About the guesthouse

Princetown guesthouse is comprised of two imposing Victorian terraced houses and dates back to 1898. It has 10 bedrooms situated over two floors, with public rooms on the ground floor. It is situated in a quiet, leafy area of Bangor, set back from the road in a private enclave.

We have modernised the interior to make it really comfortable for guests but tried to be sympathetic to its Victorian roots. We have an antique electric fuse box, a couple of original stained glass windows, the original outer wooden doors, and dado rails and picture rails still adorn some of the rooms. We also are fortunate to have a journal from circa 1905 which you are welcome to have a look through and get an idea of what concerned the original occupants of the day. 

For more about Bangor’s history click here  

When you enter the house you will be met with dark wood and rich dark green carpet in keeping with the muted colours of the Victorian time. The dining room has a beautiful bay window where the light comes streaming in at breakfast time. The rooms have all been converted to include an ensuite. They are bright and cheerful, with the front of the house getting the morning sun, and the back of the house enjoying afternoon and summer evening sunlight.

Please note:

As this is an historic Victorian townhouse all bedrooms are either on the first or second floor, accessed by stairs only.  We are happy to help carry your luggage to and from your room.

  • Sightseeing Tips & Itinerary Planning
  • Printing Service
  • Restaurant Booking Service
  • Unlimited filtered drinking water
  • Info on Exercises places and routes
  • Free Parking
  • WIFI in all rooms
  • Mini library
  • Board Games
  • Musical Instruments

About your hosts

We are Sonia and Gavin and we opened Princetown Guesthouse in 2016.  Many years’ experience of hosting, travelling across the globe and a love of Northern Ireland made us want to open up our home to guests.  Come and share a little piece of Northern Ireland with us.  You’re sure to feel welcome. 

A wee bit of history

  • Bronze Age settlers, monks, Vikings, Scottish and English planters, port traders, cotton producers, Victorian and Edwardian pleasure seekers have all left their mark on Bangor.  Today it is a large town with a bustling art scene, quirky shops, historic pubs, cute cafes, fine restaurants, gorgeous coastal scenery, golf courses and an Olympic-sized swimming pool!
monk

Early Bangor was an important centre of learning in Europe

It is said that St.Patrick rested in Bangor on his travels to spread the Gospel.  In 558 AD the spirit of monasticism was sweeping Ireland and St. Comgall established a monastery (on the site where the Church of Ireland Abbey stands today).  His strong focus on a life of prayer, fasting and simplicity attracted many followers. The town became a great centre of learning in Europe, training many missionaries.

 

 

An age of prosperity: cotton mills and thriving port

In the 1780s the port of Bangor  was an important source of customs revenue for the British Crown.   The harbour was improved and steam-powered cotton mills were established along the seafront. 

Bangor begins life as a holiday hotspot

When the railway was built in 1865 Bangor began life as a holiday town.  Belief in the curative effects of the sea led many to come for bathing and waters sports.  During this time Princetown Guesthouse was built.  The town enjoyed a boom in tourism especially due to  visitors from Great Britain at the beginning of the 20th century.  It is amusing to imagine residents and holidaymakers enjoying their afternoon strolls through Ward Park and the Sunken Gardens. 

20th Century Bangor

Cinemas, swimming pools and ballrooms became popular in the 20th century and Bangor became a place where many holiday memories were made and romances started.
 
During WW2 General Eisenhower addressed troops in Bangor before they left for Normandy to take part in the D-Day Landings.
 
The growing popularity of inexpensive foreign holidays from the 1960s onwards forced Bangor to decline as a tourist resort, and become a commuter town for Belfast.
 
Recent significant investment in the arts, and the incredible drive of the people, now means Bangor is alive with music, festivals and the arts.
 

Directions to Princetown Guesthouse

From Belfast City

30 mins.  Leave Belfast on the A2 towards city airport and Bangor.  Follow the signs to Bangor town centre and continue down the hill towards the sea/marina.  When you reach the bottom of the hill (main street) turn left at the Red Berry Cafe and after 100m go through the mini roundabout.  Go up the hill (Gray’s Hill) and turn right just before the next roundabout onto Princetown road.  We are about 100 metres up this road on the left, off the main road in a private enclave of terraced houses. Our house has a green door and “Princetown Guesthouse” is written on large letters on front of the building, lit up at night.

From Belfast City Airport

If travelling by air arriving at Belfast City Airport, the internal airport bus will drop you at the train station (Sydenham) close to the Airport – ask at the Information Desk for details. A single journey from Sydenham station to Bangor takes 20 minutes and costs about £4 with trains every 20-30 minutes.

If driving just follow the signs to Bangor as you exit the airport.   Bangor is only 15-20 minutes away.   Follow the signs to Bangor town centre and continue down the hill towards the sea/marina.  When you reach the bottom of the hill (main street) turn left at the Red Berry Cafe and after 100m go through the mini roundabout.  Go up the hill (Gray’s Hill) and turn right just before the next roundabout onto Princetown road.  We are about 100 metres up this road on the left, off the main road in a private enclave of terraced houses. Our house has a green door and “Princetown Guesthouse” is written on large letters on front of the building, lit up at night.

From Belfast International Airport

Arriving at the International Airport you will need to get the Airport Bus to the Belfast Bus Centre which takes about 30 minutes. You can then take either the train or bus to Bangor from there, again taking about 30 minutes and costing about £6.

If driving just follow the signs to Belfast as you exit the airport.   Bangor is only about 45  minutes away.   When approaching Belfast follow signs for the M3/Bangor.  Keep going – it is signposted all the way.  Follow the signs to Bangor town centre and continue down the hill towards the sea/marina.  When you reach the bottom of the hill (main street) turn left at the Red Berry Cafe and after 100m go through the mini roundabout.  Go up the hill (Gray’s Hill) and turn right just before the next roundabout onto Princetown road.  We are about 100 metres up this road on the left, off the main road in a private enclave of terraced houses. Our house has a green door and “Princetown Guesthouse” is written on large letters on front of the building, lit up at night.

From Bangor train/bus station:

10 mins walk or 2 mins by taxi.  Exit the station and go to the roundabout on your left.  At this roundabout turn left onto Dufferin Avenue.  Continue 5 mins to the end of this road where you will come to another roundabout.  Take the second exit/go straight across and you will be on Princetown road.  We are about 100 metres up this road on the left, off the main road in a private enclave of terraced houses. Our house has a green door and “Princetown Guesthouse” is written on large letters on front of the building, lit up at night.

How to contact us:

 07835222867 from the UK 

00447835222867 from abroad

Check in and check out:

You can check in any time after 3pm but please let us know when to expect you if possible. Let me know if you would like to arrive earlier and it may be possible. 

Check out is 12 midday. 

Breakfast:

You are welcome to help yourself in our dining room to breakfast: tea, coffee, herbal tea, fruit juice, milk, cereal, bread, fruit etc. Breakfast is until 8.30am Monday to Friday and until 11am Saturday and Sunday.

Wifi:

There is free WIFI in all the house.  We will let you know the password when you arrive.

Special requests/ Allergies/ Preferences:

Please let us know in advance of any of the above and we will do our best for you.


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