Belfast's southwestern fringes extend as far as Lisburn (Lios na gCearrbhach), 12km southwest of the centre. Like Belfast, Lisburn grew rich on the proceeds of the linen industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. This history is celebrated at this excellent museum, inside the 17th-century Market House. There are plenty of audiovisual and hands-on exhibits – you can watch weavers working on Jacquard looms and try your hand at spinning flax.
Trains run from Belfast Central and Great Victoria St stations.
On the museum's ground floor displays cover the cultural and historic heritage of the region. Upstairs, the award-winning 'Flax to Fabric' exhibition details the fascinating history of the linen industry in Northern Ireland – on the eve of WWI, Ulster was the largest linen-producing region in the world, employing some 75,000 people.
