You won’t be short of things to do in Bangor, so why not take a walk through the tranquil grounds of the award-winning Bangor Castle Walled Garden? Or head to Crawfordsburn Country Park where you’ll see spectacular scenery across Belfast Lough, peaceful meadows and a waterfall.

There is plenty for the family to do, Pickies Family Fun Park is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular attractions that has something for everyone, jump on the narrow-gauge railway, share a round of golf or play in the adventure playground. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, experience the thrill of high-speed racing by going karting at Eddie Irvine Sports, owned by the one-and-only Formula One racing driver Eddie Irvine.

If you prefer to immerse yourself in History, you will want to visit the North Down Museum, situated at the rear of Bangor Castle, the museum tells the story of the local area from the Bronze Age to the present day. Bangor also has one of the best preserved coastal forts in the British Isles, Grey Point Fort is a fantastic place to visit if you are looking for a unique history museum.

Some of the most sought-after homes in Northern Ireland are in Bangor West, the Edwardian and Victorian homes have stunning sea views and can cost upwards of £1 million. The town of Bangor has beautiful, period properties on offer and there is also a choice of newer homes on housing developments that have been built over more recent years.

Gransha Road is a popular location for house buyers for its picturesque countryside views and it is also conveniently located for easy access to Bangor centre, Donaghadee and Newtownards. It is close to amenities such as Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Clandeboye Golf Club, and Clandeboye Retail Park and green-fingered house buyers will be pleased to learn that Ballygrainey Garden Centre lies on the same road.

The prestigious address of Seacliff Road is undoubtedly one of the most popular areas in Bangor, with stunning views over Belfast Lough and multi-coloured, three-storey townhouses dating back to 1895, it is easy to see why. The coastal road links Bangor Marina to Ballyholme Bay and is within walking distance of local restaurants and the array of amenities that Bangor city centre has to offer.

Backing on to Castle Park, period semi-detached homes on Abbey Park prove popular with families and some of the properties even have direct garden access to the fields. Less than half a mile away from Glenlola Collegiate, and in walking distance to the bustling Abbey Street offering a huge choice of restaurants and cafés, Abbey Park is a prime location for families of all ages.

Old Belfast Road is a desirable location for commuters, with easy access to some of the main routes commuting to Belfast and offers excellent transport links. Bangor city centre is just a short drive away and it is close to many local amenities such as Bangor Sportsplex and Springhill Shopping Centre.

A two or three-bedroom home can start from approximately £115,000 depending on the condition of the house and the area, but typically detached-period homes cost above £500,000. In the popular area of Bryansburn in Bangor West, average house prices are around £296,599 for a detached house, semi-detached houses cost £201,155 and a terraced house will cost around £138,315.

The highly sought-after area of Ballyholme, which lies between the town of Bangor and Donaghadee, has many period homes for sale and a well-regarded primary school. The houses in Ballyholme cost an average of £101,799 for a terraced house, rising to an average of £251,310 for a large detached home.

Renting in Bangor can cost anywhere from £525 per month for an apartment to £1800 for a large family home. A two or three-bedroom house could start around £600 per month but larger homes will be above £900 per month.

Bangor is well known for its incredible eateries, so you’ll never be at a loss over where to dine. Underground Dining serves some of the finest, locally-sourced food around, the Head Chef and Owner Gary Bell has worked in Michelin-Star restaurants around the world and has now brought his expertise to Bangor.

If you are looking for a lighter lunch, the very popular Kook is the perfect spot near the marina or indulge at The Guillemot Kitchen Cafe and Wine Bar. The Coq & Bull proves popular with locals with its friendly atmosphere and high-quality food or enjoy an intimate evening at Donegans Restaurant.

If you are happy to travel further afield, Noble features in the Michelin Guide for its seasonal menu using locally-sourced ingredients. Owned by Pearson Morris, who trained in a Michelin Star restaurant, and Saul McConnell who was named the Best Restaurant Manager in 2015, you are sure to have an evening to remember.

If you like shopping, Bloomfield Shopping Centre is just a few minutes drive from the city centre, where you’ll find big names such as Marks & Spencer, Accessorize and Next. The centre of Bangor has an abundance of small independent shops if you are looking for something more unique.

If you are planning on filling your home with beautiful artwork, don’t fear because Bangor is home to fantastic art galleries, such as Bradley Art and Blackberry Path Art Studio. It is definitely worth a visit to Battletown Gallery in Newtownards, which is just a ten-minute drive away, where you can book a private consultation to find your perfect piece of art.

Bangor has a thriving economy with numerous offices in town offering accountancy, insurance, law and IT services. Tourism is a lucrative sector and creates many job openings in the hospitality industry, especially during the summer months.

Belfast offers even more opportunities and is less than thirty minutes away by car or just a forty-minute train ride. Living in Bangor and commuting means that you can access the many employment opportunities in Belfast, whilst living in beautiful Bangor.

Bangor has excellent transport links and being just 13 miles away from Belfast, Bangor makes the perfect location for commuters. By car, you can arrive in Belfast in less than 30 minutes, or take one of the scenic coastal trains that run every half an hour. There are plenty of bus routes around Bangor, so you can travel around the town with ease.

If you are planning to take a trip abroad, Belfast Airport is just 45 minutes away so it’s easy to visit stunning cities such as Paris, Alicante or Faro.

There is a range of grocery shops to choose from in Bangor, with easy access to Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl and M&S Food.

There are plenty of parks to visit in the town, Ward Park is unsurprisingly popular with 37 acres to explore, 10 tennis courts and a duck pond. For stunning scenery, head to Kingsland Play and Picnic Area where you can also take a coastal walk or Kilcooley Wood with fields of bluebells and purple orchids appearing in the summer months.

The city has an array of healthcare facilities, with Bangor Hospital located centrally in the town and many doctors' surgery’s to choose from such as Bloomfield or Cleland Park surgery. For dental care, Brunswick Dental Practice provides treatment for both NHS and private patients.

Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure Complex offers a wide range of facilities, including an 8-court sports hall, an air-conditioned gym and a full-size 3G football pitch. The centre is home to Northern Ireland’s only 50-metre pool and also has a wide range of pools, flumes and a wave machine.

Many families are attracted to homes in the BT19 and BT20 postcodes due to the numerous options available for Grammar, Secondary and Primary schools. Local schools include the very popular Grange Park Primary School, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and the Roman Catholic St Columbanus’ College for pupils of Secondary school age.

If you are interested in Grammar schools in the area, Glenlola Collegiate is a dynamic all-girls school that dates back to 1880 and is rated good in all areas, or the all-boys Bangor Grammar School is highly recommended.