Royal Hillsborough, more commonly known simply as Hillsborough, is an intermediate settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland.

It is home to Hillsborough Castle, the British royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland, and residence of the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The settlement, often referred to as a village, is about 19 kilometres south-west of Belfast, and strategically positioned along the historic route between Dublin and Carrickfergus, a location that shaped its early military and economic significance. Other nearby localities include Lisburn to the north, Moira to the west, and Dromore to the south, with the surrounding countryside characterised by rolling hills and fertile farmland.

Prior to 1661, the area was known as Crumlin or Cromlin, from the Irish Cromghlinn, meaning "crooked glen." Its renaming was a result of the Plantation of Ulster, when English settlers established fortified settlements across the province. The village was renamed Hillsborough in honor of Sir Moses Hill, an English army officer, and his son Sir Arthur Hill, who built Hillsborough Fort in 1650 to control the Dublin-Carrickfergus road.

The Hill family quickly rose to prominence, becoming the Earls of Hillsborough, and, later, the Marquesses of Downshire. In 1770, the 1st Earl commissioned the construction of Hillsborough Castle, a Georgian mansion that would become central to the village's identity.

Over the centuries, Hillsborough evolved from a fortified settlement into a refined Georgian village, noted for its symmetrical streetscapes and elegant architecture. In 2021, in recognition of its royal connections through Hillsborough Castle, the village was officially granted the prefix "Royal," making it the first settlement in Northern Ireland to receive such an honor.

Historically, Hillsborough's economy revolved around market trade, agriculture, and service catering to travelers along the Dublin-Belfast route. Today, the village benefits from tourism, driven by its royal heritage, historic architecture, and landscaped gardens. Local businesses include boutique shops, artisan cafes, and hospitality venues that cater to residents and visitors. Its inclusion in the Belfast Region City Deal is expected to further enhance the village's economic and tourism profile.

Hillsborough has several cultural, historical, and architectural attractions. These include Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Hillsborough Fort, Hillsborough Forest Park and Lake, Hillsborough Parish Church, Downshire Monument, and Georgian Village Centre.

Hillsborough Castle is a two-storey Georgian mansion that served as Government House from 1924 to 1973, and remains the residence of the British Royal Family when visiting Northern Ireland. It has also been the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since 1973.

Hillsborough Parish Church, dedicated to Saint Malachy, is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Built for the 1st Earl of Hillsborough between 1760 and 1774, in the hope that it would become the cathedral of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Down and Connor. It boasts two 18th-century organs, a peal of ten bells, and several works by notable craftsmen of the era. Today, it is a parish in the Diocese of Down and Dromore.

Hillsborough hosts the International Oyster Festival each year, usually in September, attracting thousands of visitors.

Businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, museums, historical places, libraries, entertainment venues, art galleries, organisations, and sports and recreation facilities and programmes in Hillsborough are the focus of this part of our web guide.