Things to do & places to visit in Douglas, United Kingdom

Nestled along the east coast of the Isle of Man, the small holiday resort of Douglas oozes charm. Visitors may enjoy horse-drawn tram rides along its pedestrian shopping promenade, dotted with restored 19th century buildings and lining the shore with independent boutiques and High Street shops. The new Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre Complex entertain with all sorts of performing arts and films, while the gardens and museums sprinkled throughout the town promise relaxation and culture.

Douglas #112 destination in United Kingdom 2023. Timezone: Europe/Isle_of_Man, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 8:05.

Douglas Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

53°F - 49°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Moderately chilly and breezy

Feels like

26%

Chance of rain

72.0 millimeters

Amount

17.5 mph

Wind speed

80%

Humidity

16.0

Daylight length

5:15 AM

Sunrise

9:13 PM

Sunset

46%

Cloud cover

Jacket

What to wear

Top things to do (25)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Gaiety Theatre (199 reviews)
- Fascinating insight to a beautifully restored building
Theaters

Had a fascinating back stage tour, the funds from which go directly to the restoration fund. Superb chandeliers have been purchased from the previous proceeds. An excellent tour lasting over 2 hours gets you from under the stage (where all the Various trapdoors etc are explained), into the auditorium, right up to the Highest seating area and beyond, to the film projection rooms and equipment from its use as an early cinema. Such a stunning theatre that has been restored to its Victorian opulence. I have hearing loss yet the guide was so clear I could hear every word. Don't miss this Saturday morning experience. See more..
5.0 Isle of Man Motorcycle Adventures (41 reviews)
- Mike‘s Isle of Man Motorcycle Adventure - What a great experience - highly recommended
Spent More than 3 hours Gear Rentals

Isle of Man Motorcycle Adventures is a motorcycle hire company which also offers a unique tailor made and bespoke motorcycle hire holiday package, allowing you to explore this amazing Island. We start with a completely blank canvas and then from getting to know you and your interests we will build a VIP holiday package to your exact requirements. -Motorcycle hire -Guided one to one tours See more..
5.0 Leela's Kitchen (28 reviews)
- Excellent service, quality food
Spent 2-3 hours Cooking Classes

Hi and thank you for visiting Leela's Kitchen. I am Kumar Menon the third generation from a family who traded in spices from the 1950's back in Kerala - India. I moved to the Isle of Man in 2003 a small island between Ireland and U.K as a catering student and fell in love with this beautiful island. I started Leela's kitchen four years ago in memory of my late grandma Leela - the inspiration behind my culinary journey. I also have a ten year old daughter named Leela who is very much interested in food and has recently travelled to India with me to check out the spice markets. I started operating my business offering healthy Indian cookery workshops to my clients at their residence. The business has grown from workshops to providing tailor made dinner parties, and bespoke marinated meats. As part of developing Leela's kitchen I launched my premium range of spices to the world - Eight freshly ground/whole spices hand packed on the Isle of Man, U.K. My love for healthy food made way to launch the new spice range that will be provided not only to the residents of Isle of Man, but also to clients across the globe who love fresh and healthy products. The Eight spices launched so far is Coriander powder, Turmeric powder, Chilli powder, Mild Curry Powder, Vindaloo curry powder (Authentic Goan recipe), Black mustard seeds, Garam masala and Black peppercorns (aka the Black gold). I hope you will all enjoy my spices - from my family to yours!! Your review is very important to me. Thankyou :) See more..
5.0 Calf of Man Bird Observatory and Nature Reserve (28 reviews)
- Little piece of isolation
Spent More than 3 hours Islands • Nature & Wildlife Areas

The island is a nature reserve and a bird observatory. You can visit for the day or stay overnight. It is an important breeding site for seabirds and tens of thousands of birds occur on migration. The Calf also has numerous sites of historical interest including two lighthouses built in 1818 by Robert Stevenson. See more..
5.0 The Tynwald Library (22 reviews)
- The oldest Parliament in the world...
Monday: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Libraries

Take a free guided tour of the historic Tynwald Chambers, the national parliament of the Isle of Man and the oldest continuous parliament in the world! The tour encompasses the three chambers of Tynwald: the House of Keys, the Legislative Council and the Court of Tynwald. While on the tour, you'll learn the history of the Isle of Man's political system and how it came into existence as well as the history of these landmark buildings. The tours last approximately 1:30 to 2 hours and commence on Mondays at 2:00pm and Fridays at 11:00am. Tours at other times may be possible, call ahead to check availability. See more..
5.0 Old Kirk Braddan (5 reviews)
- Lovely old church
Monday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

Beautiful and spiritual old church and churchyard, open daily for visitors. I found this a be place to pray and a place of peace. The old pews and triple-decker pulpit are a slice of former days in the Isle of Man, and the graveyard dates back to the times when this was the only place the dead of Douglas could be buried. The church is well kept and a place that's easy to pass by but well worth a visit. See more..
5.0 The Studio Theatre (3 reviews)
- Ballakermeen High School rocks!
Theaters

Stayed in Hotel Bell Tent at Ballakermeen High School for Isle of Man TT races 2015. Watched TT highlights every night at The Studio Theatre. Amazing place and run by incredible people. Manx folk are truly the nicest, friendliest people I've ever met. Many thanks to Ballakermeen High and Isle of Man for the greatest adventure of my life! See more..
4.5 Isle of Man Bus and Rail (1.299 reviews)
- Wonderful Bus Service
Public Transportation Systems

My friend and I purchased a 5 day Go explore bus and rail ticket. It cost us £43 each, but it is well worth it if you havent any other means of transport to get around the Island. The buses are frequent, and the drivers are friendly and helpful. They even wait for passengers running to the buses, something you dont see in Cities in England. The trains only run on certain day, but you are given a timetable when the tickets are purchased. Daily explore tickets can be purchased on board the buses, but if you want to purchase tickets for longer than they can be purchased online before travelling, but allow approx 2 weeks before you go, as they are posted to you. We purchased ours from the welcome desk in the ferry port in Doulgas. However note that the desk closes at 6pm and isnt open on Sundays. Unsure if there is a similar desk at the Airport. See more..
4.5 Isle of Man Steam Railway (1.247 reviews)
- A journey into yesteryear
Points of Interest & Landmarks

This steam train travels faster than the electric railway. It runs through pretty countryside to the south part of the island. It stops at several places on route to Port Erin. There are several steam engines with individual names all beautifully polished with gleaming brass. The carriages do not have corridors or toilets. They have compartments seating 4 either side or some are open with rows of seats. There are windows which can be lowered and held in place with a leather strap. A very worthwhile experience. See more..
4.5 Douglas Bay Horse Tramway (1.041 reviews)
- Lovely little horse tram along the promenade
Trams

Fabulous tramway along the sea front it now only goes half way along the promenade due to the recent works. Great conditioned stock and well worth the visit. Make the most out the visit with the Go Explore cards- amazing value for money on our trip and this is included! See more..
4.5 Manx Museum (1.004 reviews)
- Top quality museum
Monday: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

From Viking treasure finds, natural wonders of the world, the famous TT Races and wartime internment – you’ll find something to appeal to everyone at the Manx Museum.The museum has plenty of interactive displays, films and a wide range of exhibits which will help you uncover the Isle of Man’s history and heritage.Make a beeline for the Manx Museum early on in your visit as it’s a great starting point if you are looking to explore the Island’s heritage attractions. The National Art Gallery in the museum contains work from a number of famous artists including Archibald Knox, William Hoggat and John Miller Nicholson and there’s also a national library and well stocked archives for those visitors keen to explore the Island’s history further.There is also tearoom and gift shop located within the museum. NB. Library & Archives Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm See more..
4.5 Home of Rest of Old Horses (284 reviews)
- Santa visit
Equestrian Trails

At Christmas time it is always worth a visit. I took my 3year old grandson who wouldn't see santa last year but went to see him this year. The decorations are fab, the horses can be fed also the donkeys. it is a visit worth doing for any age group See more..
4.5 Isle of Man Welcome Centre (229 reviews)
- Better than other tourist centres.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Visitor Centers

Living on the Isle of Man I very rarely have need to use the Welcome Centre in the sea terminal, but I did today, as it is one of the places you can pick up pre booked tickets for the Villa Marina and Gaiety theatre I came here to do just that, because parking is easy and free. I was surprised to see just how much they offer visitors to the Island - maps. guide books, timetables and souvenirs aplenty! I even picked up a free, brand new replacement for my old, wrinkled parking disc! The nicest surprise however, was the lovely, warm welcome from the lady on the welcome desk; friendly, efficient service with a smile. A credit to our island! See more..
4.5 A.R.E Motorcycle Collection (77 reviews)
- One for the hardcore enthusiasts
Speciality Museums

Thoroughly enjoyed the website although I'm sadly yet to experience it in person. A collection of great rides, well maintained (waxed, lubed etc.). I appreciated the owner's particular interest in Asian models. See more..
4.5 National Sports Centre (47 reviews)
- Great pool when not too busy
Monday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sports Complexes
Have been here a few times now when on holiday on the IOM and generally the kids (ages 9 and 13) have had a great time. Would advise you check that all the slides, etc, are open at the time of your visit as it makes a big difference. Other than that just try and avoid really busy times as the small pools and the slides get busy, and if you do then it is a fun place to spend an hour or two. See more..
4.5 Heritage Trail (18 reviews)
- A lovely, easy walk.
Hiking Trails

We started our walk from the promenade in Douglas and ended up on the promenade in Peel. The trail starts at Quarterbridge and is easy to find from here. Being along an old railway there are no steep hills and there were only a couple of places where the track was slightly muddy. Although it was a hot day we didn't take any water as we thought there would be the odd place to have a drink. This wasn't the case until we got to St John's where there is an excellent pub and a tea room. From there it is mainly down hill to Peel which is always worth visiting. We finished our walk with a cup of tea and a kipper bap at the cafe next to Peel Castle which made the walk really worthwhile. Our enjoyable day was capped by the gentleman who, on being asked where the bus stop for the trip back to Douglas was, said jump in my car, I'll take you there. See more..
4.5 Douglas Head (12 reviews)
- Views of Douglas
Lookouts

Townscape views of the tourist town of Douglas from Douglas Head with vast views of Douglas Promenade & Douglas Beach. From here you can see some of Douglas towns landmarks including the Tower of Refuge, the Ferry Terminal, the Villgaiety Theatre, Manx Museum, the Manx Electric Railway, Skandia House and many other beautiful buildings along the shore. Nice thing to do when you have some free time in the morning or evening. See more..
4.5 Port Jack Glen (5 reviews)
- A pleasant small glen
Parks

This is one of the smaller glens and, unlike many of the other glens, isn’t in a deeply wooded valley. A small stream runs down through a grassed area with well made footpaths. It is popular with dog walkers. See more..
4.0 Steam Packet Company (543 reviews)
- The only way to travel
Spent < 1 hour Ferries

Booked a return trip to Douglas - Heysham to Douglas & Douglas to Liverpool ( convenience of sailing times ). Booking via the internet was easy, boarding at Heysham no problem, disembarking in Liverpool easy. On board facilities were spot on, would recommend booking the Premier Lounge on board. See more..
4.0 Summerhill Glen (123 reviews)
- A serene wander through the woodlands
Historic Walking Areas

The Isle of Man is known for its glens, large areas of broad leafed woodland. Summerhill Glen is a tranquil glen right on the edge of Douglas that runs from Governors Bridge on the TT course at the top end to Summerhill Road at the northern part of Douglas Promenade heading towards Onchan. It can be entered through the green arched gate approximately 50 metres from the bottom of Summerhill Road. It is a web of footpaths leading through trees and shrubs. Inside the glen lie wooden animal seats carved out for children, a gnome and mushroom hill, and even illuminations that are turned on during the tourist season. Guarding the coast side entrance to the glen are two old canons peeking through the turrets. This glen is a beautiful place with streams and large pools of water and is worth a brisk visit whatever the season. See more..
4.0 The Great Union Camera Obscura (105 reviews)
- Unusual attraction
Lookouts

An attraction from a previous time, but well worth visiting to see how things were. Would have been even better if more people had been walking around the cliffs. You could see the grass moving. Not somewhere though if you are not keen on being in the dark. The duty staff were keen to talk about it and to chat generally. See more..
4.0 Tower of Refuge (28 reviews)
- An icon in the bay...
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Islands

The waters of Douglas Bay can be dangerous if there are easterly storms and in the past, there have been many shipwrecks here. Sir William Hilary (founder of the RNLI) was responsible for the building of the Tower of Refuge in Douglas Bay after the Steam Packet St George foundered on Conister Rock in 1830. He realised it was too far to swim to the shore and the Tower of Refuge in was built in 1832 on a partially submerged reef. It offered shelter and provisions for sailors awaiting rescue. The tower originally had a bell to summon help and a supply of bread and fresh water. Modelled on a C13th castle, apparently it got its name from a poem by William Wordsworth in which he wrote: 'A Tower of Refuge built for the else forlorn...' Admire from the Promenade. Although It is possible to walk to the tower at very low spring tides, the tide comes in very quickly and visitors can be stranded.... See more..
4.0 Villa marina (27 reviews)
- Booking Tickets
Theaters • Civic Centres

The Villa Marina has a cinema and often has shows on as well. However, we only went here to booked tickets for the Gaiety Theatre, so I can't comment on any of the facilities they offer apart from the box office where the staff were very helpful. See more..
4.0 Douglas Bay Horse Tramway (7 reviews)
- Pleasant nostalgia
Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Farms

As a trip it was alright, but with a considerable amount of the tramway closed for road repairs you could not really enjoy the full experience See more..
4.0 Marine Drive (6 reviews)
- There's nothing there but the views - and it's wonderful
Lookouts

That's about the crux of the matter. We were sure there used to be a cafe up at the top at Douglas head on the way to Marine Drive, but it looks like that's gone. The "road to nowhere" that is Marine Drive offers views over Douglas that most don't see and fabulous views over the island and out to sea. It all feels very raw and very few people bother to venture up. Worth the ride. See more..
4.0 St George's Church (1 review)
- A large church with an interesting history
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals

Up until the C18th, Douglas didn’t have a parish church. The population had to go to Braddan Parish Church, over a mile away. To remedy this, St Matthew’s Church was built along the quayside, which was the main population and trading centre of the town. As Douglas grew in size, St Matthew’s Church became too small to seat the population. Many of the gentry also found it smelly and unsuitable to meet their social and spiritual needs. A new church, St George's, surrounded by a large burial ground was built on a hill overlooking the harbour. It is the only church in Douglas to have a graveyard. Most of the parishioners had the right of burial in Braddan Church and the graveyard at St George's was mainly used by incomers to the island, as well as bodies washed ashore from ship wrecks. Sir William Hilary, founder of the RNLI is buried here. The large grassy area to the north of the church marks the place where approximately 120 cholera victims were buried in 1832-3. The burials remain unnamed with only a small cross marking the site. It is a large, solidly built church with a massive square tower. The east end was extended and stands on arches over the burial ground. It is a large church with a gallery above the south and west walls and a wonderful wooden roof. There is a small memorial chapel at the end of the north aisle and the baptistry is in the south aisle. The church is open daily from 9-5 and is well worth finding. See more..
3.5 Palace Casino (132 reviews)
- Great evening with JW
Monday: 7:00 PM - 3:00 AM Casinos

The ultimate night out at the 4 star Palace Hotel ♦ Casino, Douglas, Isle of Man. Choose from American roulette, blackjack and casino brag in the casino, or cash bingo, slot machines and computer generated roulette in the Kursaal. The casino also makes a glamorous setting for special events such as corporate gaming evenings with the Aces’ bar area and The Atlantis á la carte restaurant.Free and immediate membership*(*Patrons must be over 18 and provide suitable ID such as valid passport or driving licence.) See more..
3.0 Palace Cinema (50 reviews)
- The best cinema on the Isle... but of only two
Theaters

Located adjacent to the 4 star Palace Hotel & Casino, Douglas, Isle of Man, the Palace Cinema is equipped with Dolby digital sound, and the latest 3D technology, at an invest of almost £200,000. The Palace Cinema houses two screens, showing up to eight films a day at peak periods. Screen One has a seating capacity of 319 and Screen Two can seat 119. The complex is also available for private daytime hire for presentations or meetings and for exclusive evening film performances. See more..
2.5 The Strand Shopping Centre (11 reviews)
- The strand Centre Douglas
Shopping Malls

This is a very small shopping centre. It has the Entertainer which is great for children. Peacocks and sports direct upstairs. When we visited there were small charity stalls on the bottom floor. Toilets upstairs are handy if shopping around Douglas. See more..
The Shred House (0 review)
Sports Complexes
Indoor Skate park for all ages See more..