https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/the-worst-place-to-live-in-northern-ireland-according-to-reddit/

July 25, 2025 by Siân McQuillan

The north of Ireland has seen vast improvements in recent years, from the thriving city centre of Belfast to the scenic tourist hotspot of the Causeway Coast. Still, not all places have kept up the momentum.

Planning to relocate to the north of Ireland? Or perhaps you’re a lifelong resident looking to move to a different town?

There are plenty of stunning little towns and villages dotted across the country, from the upmarket suburb of Holywood to the scenic coastal town of Portstewart.

If you’re struggling to decide where to go, it might be best to start with the places you should avoid. So, this is the worst place to live in Northern Ireland, according to Reddit…

A city that’s lost its spark – empty storefronts, deserted streets, and a lack of funding

Reddit user Unlinkedhorizonzero took to the platform to discover where people believe the worst place to live in Northern Ireland is.

Various towns were mentioned, including Dungiven, Lurgan, Larne, and Craigavon, each for their own reasons. However, one city, formerly nicknamed the “City of Life,” kept cropping up.

Haven’t guessed it yet? The city that Reddit users believe to be the worst place to live in Northern Ireland is Lisburn.

Located just a half hour south of Belfast, the city has sadly lost its appeal in recent years, with numerous store closures, a lack of infrastructure and funding, and practically no nightlife.

The worst place to live in Northern Ireland – what Reddit users had to say

Responding to the question, hundreds of users shared their thoughts on the worst place to live in Northern Ireland, with one simply commenting, “Lisburn is depressing”.

One user highlighted the state of Bow Street Mall, which used to be a thriving shopping centre.

They wrote, “If you actually venture inside Bow Street Mall, you’ll notice as much activity in there as the mall in Dawn Of The Dead, a film which critiques the fickle nature of commercialism in a slightly less depressing way than Lisburn.”

Despite its proximity to Belfast, Lisburn has struggled to keep up with the prosperity that the Northern Irish capital has experienced in recent years.

With criticism over road conditions and lack of amenities, fewer people are making the trip to the city, adding to its run-down feel.

Wondering where the worst place to live in Ireland is? Find out more here.

Or, discover the top ten worst towns and cities to visit in Ireland here.

by spectacle-ar_failure

27 comments

  5. This place really isn’t that bad, could be better, yes, could be worse too, at least we aren’t English.

  6. Maybe city centre to city centre on a Monday morning when school is on?!

    I live in Finaghy. I could walk to Lisburn in less than half an hour!

  7. If they did even the slightest bit of research they would know the answer is Larne.

  9. How many times is this question gonna get brought up again and again

  11. Lisburn is shit, but nowhere is worse than Portadown.

    In Portadown it doesn’t matter which side you are on because they are both driven by hatred in Portadown and you would be too, if you had to live in Portadown.

  13. Lisburn is dead, but far from the worst. There wasnt even a single race riot, or news worthy effigy burning bonfire. Or loyalist drug fued spilling out into the estate. Surely one of the numerous towns wheres this took place list higher on the worst towns

  14. Why do I feel reports like this, just like Stormont, pretend West Of The Bann doesn’t exist?

  15. hey take your choice of places in England to live. most places in Northern Ireland, while maybe less going on, is way more safer to live

  16. Belfast city centre is thriving? There not what most of the posts here say

  18. I’m amazed that Lisburn is a city to be honest

  19. Whilst Newry, Strabane and Larne exist nowhere else can be the worst place to live in Northern Ireland

  21. Was in lisburn today and they had a Féile going on, 20 metres from the orange arch.

    Surprised me, but the place seemed to be buzzing a bit.

    And I’m from Newry so I know what bad looks like.

  22. Lisburn high street may be the most depressing sight in the north but the surrounding areas are good, sprucefield is great place to shop, Hillsborough & Moira are lovely towns on the outskirts of Belfast so able to access all the facilities there, which i think just about saves it from “the worst” for me

  23. Awk now, compared to certain other places Lisburn is grand!

  24. Strabane is more than half an hour from Belfast. The best bit of it is the bypass

  25. Coleraine thanks to moores held town back 25 years with their greed and council who can’t run feck all ie dunluce centre waterworld Portstewart town hall car parks all sold ..how fuck they get away with widespread mismanagement …bizarre

  26. The best thing about Dungiven is the new bypass that cuts it completely out of the journey.

  27. I ended up in Dungiven once. It was then I realised the Hills have Eyes movie was a documentary about the region.

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