Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Douglas (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Tower of Refuge, Manx Museum, and Grand Union Camera Obscura. Also, be sure to include Douglas Head Amphitheatre in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Douglas (Middle).
Table of Contents
Tower of Refuge
Historical landmark on the Isle of Man. The Tower of Refuge is a stone-built castellated structure which was erected on St Mary's Isle in Douglas Bay, Isle of Man, in order to afford shelter to mariners wrecked on the rock. The tower was constructed through the endeavours of Sir William Hillary, who had been instrumental in several rescues of sailors stranded on the rock, and which culminated in the heroic rescue of the crew of the Saint George Steam Packet Company steamer RMS St George, when it foundered on the rock in the early hours of November 20, 1830. Sir William personally contributed a high proportion of the costs and secured a substantial number of public contributions for funding the structure.[1]
Manx Museum
Museum in Douglas, Isle of Man. The Manx Museum in Douglas, Isle of Man is the national museum of the Isle of Man. It is run by Manx National Heritage. In general, the museum covers 10,000 years the history of the Isle of Man from the Stone Age to the modern era.
The museum serves as headquarters of Manx National Heritage. The museum bears no relation to the institution with the same name founded by Trevor Ashe in 1825.[2]
Address: 1 Kingswood Grove, IM1 3LY Isle of Man
Grand Union Camera Obscura
The Grand Union Camera Obscura is an unusual building which, via methods of light and mirrors, reflects images of the surrounding area onto large white screens within the dark confines of the building. The apparatus used is called a camera obscura. It is one of the many attractions that sprouted up on Douglas Head in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[3]
Address: Douglas Head, Douglas
Douglas Head Amphitheatre
Amphitheater on the Isle of Man. Douglas Head Amphitheatre is a structure on the promontory of Douglas Head on the Isle of Man.
At the turn of the 20th century the Isle of Man was a hugely popular holiday destination with the working class factory workers from the northerly part of England and Douglas Head had many attractions, most of which have long since disappeared. One such attraction was the amphitheatre which remains in situ today after many years of neglect. On this stage there took place many shows including minstrels, pierrots, etc. all of which were ideal forms of entertainment to the discerning holidaymaker to the island and the popularity of the shows can be seen from the large number of concrete steps still extant which formed the seating (although wooden slats were once added to this). Cine footage exists of these entertainments but the popularity of the headland as a destination never really picked up after the war, with several of the other attractions being closed in 1939 and never re-opening, most notably the spectacular tramway which ran on the roadway alongside the stage. Although not used for a great number of years, the stage area was still periodically maintained, receiving a coat of paint every so often.[4]
All Saints Church
Building in Douglas, Isle of Man. All Saints Church, Douglas, Isle of Man, is a 1967 Modernist Anglican church which closed in May 2017.
The building was listed as a Registered Building of the Isle of Man in 2001.[5]
Address: Alexander Dr, IM2 Isle of Man
Douglas Head Lighthouse
Lighthouse on the Isle of Man. Douglas Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Douglas Head on the Isle of Man located between England and Ireland.
The lighthouse was established in 1857, although the vicinity was under the control of the Isle of Man Harbour Board from 1832.
It was made by the engineering brothers David and Thomas Stevenson with a total elevation of 32 metres (105 ft). The white tower is 20 metres (66 ft) in height and its base is at an elevation of 12 metres (39 ft).
The lighthouse staircase has 71 steps and the light has an average range of 24 nautical miles (44 km). The lantern is composed of eight brilliant reflectors made of pure silver built in 1831. The light flashes white every ten seconds.[6]
Gaiety Theatre
Theatre. The Gaiety Theatre and Opera House is a theatre in Douglas, Isle of Man which together with the Villa Marina forms the Villa-Gaiety complex. The Gaiety is situated on Douglas promenade, overlooking the sea and adjacent to the Villa Gardens, Arcade and Butts.
Built in 1899 to the designs of architect Frank Matcham as an opera house and theatre the Gaiety, along with the nearby Villa Marina, stands on the site of a lodge occupied in the early 19th century by Castle Mona architect and Atholl family retainer George Steuart, and then later bought by benefactor Henry Bloom Noble and donated for recreational use.[7]
Address: Douglas, Harris Promenade
Hutchinson Internment Camp
Hutchinson Internment Camp was a World War II internment camp in Douglas, Isle of Man, particularly noted as "the artists' camp" due to the thriving artistic and intellectual life of its internees.[8]
Douglas War Memorial
Historical landmark on the Isle of Man. The war memorial in Douglas, Isle of Man is dedicated to those who died during World War I and World War II. The rolls of names are segregated by service and year of death.
The inscriptions on the memorial read:
- Douglas commemorates the loyalty, courage, and self sacrifice of those who fell in the Great Wars 1914 - 1918, 1939 - 1945
- These are they who for their country & freedoms / sake loved not their lives unto the death / therefore they shall be as the stones of a crown / lifted up as an ensign upon this land (over four sides of the memorial separated by /)
Douglas Head
Douglas Head is a rocky point on the Isle of Man overlooking Douglas Bay and harbour. Views extend to include Snaefell Mountain and Laxey.[10]
Address: Douglas Head, Douglas
St Mary's Isle
St Mary's Isle is a partially submerged reef in Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man. Prior to 1832 the rock was the property of the Quane family until John Quane, Attorney General of the Isle of Man, presented the rock to Sir William Hillary, in his capacity as President of the Isle of Man District of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to build the Tower of Refuge. Since then the custody of St Mary's Isle has been held by each president of the local lifeboat association.
The reef is not far from the ferry terminal. Its eastern part, the Conister Shoals, had to be blasted away when a new harbour breakwater was built in the early 1980s. The rocks are only fully submerged at spring high tides; they can be accessed very briefly on foot at low spring tides.[11]