Dundrum named Northern Ireland's best place to live - here's why

This year's best place to live in Northern Ireland has been crowned by The Sunday Times.

Nestled between its eponymous bay and the stunning Mourne Mountains, Dundrum village in Co Down is 2025's winner, ahead of Holywood and Portstewart. The setting for Dundrum was described as "magical, with a strong food scene and the buzz of Belfast not far away".

Revealing this year's winner, The Sunday Times said: "Genteel, seriously gourmet and generous in spirit, Dundrum must be the best village in Northern Ireland. Almost every house here has a view of either the Mourne Mountains or the sea - many have both. You’ll see seals and seabirds in the water, and there’s a friendly rivalry to spot the first brent geese or hear the first cuckoo of the year.

"Yet this sociable address has more to offer than otters, guillemots and walks in wild nature. The village association organises the popular annual festival, with its 'daft raft race', the Christmas lights switch-on and various fun days.

"Creative Village Dundrum is the group behind open-mic nights at the Dundrum Inn, art drop-ins and lively knitting sessions at the community hub, with the results colourfully yarn-bombed around the village. It’s a sporty place, too, with an impressive roster of tasty places to eat and drink."

What makes Dundrum so popular?

Its beauty and surroundings:

There aren't too many places across Co Down where the views of the Mourne Mountains aren't breathtaking, but in Dundrum, just a few miles from Newcastle, they are front and centre as a landscape to the village.

Its history:

Writing about Dundrum Castle, a spokesperson for Discover Northern Ireland said: "Believed to have been built in or around 1177, Dundrum Castle was built by John De Courcy as part of his coastal defence after he invaded Ulster.

"Dundrum Castle is located on a wooded hill north-west of Dundrum village near Newcastle. It controls access to Lecale and dominates Dundrum Bay. Its main purpose was to control the land routes from Drogheda to Downpatrick."

Places to eat and drink:

Many will judge a location on its offerings for a good bite to eat and perhaps a decent pint. That's no different here. The Sunday Times description reads: "A garage and a substantial Spar ensure that you’ll never be short of petrol or basic groceries, but it’s the menu of restaurants and cafés that make Dundrum stand out. The Bucks Head, where a sirloin costs £32.50, is the preferred pitstop of wealthy golfers visiting Royal County Down.

"Mourne Seafood Bar or its takeaway sibling Squid Shack serve fresh fish and seafood a salty sniff away from the shore, while Scopers hot food bar has people coming from Belfast to try its impeccable, locally sourced, sustainable burgers."

One particular famous face:

It wouldn't be right to mention Dundrum, in our view, without a bit of name dropping. Patrick Kielty. Always sharing his pride for his hometown, the Late Late Show host is proud of his Co Down roots. Born on January 31, 1971, in Dundrum village, Kielty grew up with a natural wit and gift for storytelling.

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