The city is a popular shopping centre, with a wide range of retail outlets both in the Lisburn town centre and in the out-of-town Sprucefield and Sprucefield Park centres. Also in the town centre is the Irish linen centre and Lisburn Museum, which is free to enter and contains displays about the history of the linen industry (which was a key industry in the history of Ulster).

Lisburn is one of the four cities that make up the Dublin-Belfast corridor region which has a population of just under 3 million.

 Lisburn Coat of Arms - Description...

The fleur-de-lys on the extremities of the cross refer to the town's historic connection with the Huguenots.

The bishop's mitre is reference to the fact that for three centuries there has been a cathedral in Lisburn.

The weaver's shuttle and the sprigs of flax are symbolic of the linen industry.

The ostrich head with the horeshoe on its beak are from the arms of Sir Richard Wallace and refer to his fame as a collector.

The mural crown, that is the crown in the form of wall with battlements, is the badge of the municipality.

The gamecock is a punning reference to the old name of the town – Lisnagarvey, the fort of the gamesters.

The two phoenix rising from the flames and the motto 'I will arise out of the fire' refer to the fact that the town was twice burnt down and rebuilt in its early days.

The moto - Ex Igne Resurgam - "Out of the fire, I shall arise"