The best things to do in Belfast with kids
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The best things to do in Belfast with kids
There’s a great range of things to do in Belfast for families – whether you’re travelling with tots or teens, you should find plenty to keep everyone occupied. The city has interactive museums, lovely walks and some great restaurants.
Although there are enough things to do in Belfast with kids to make North Ireland’s capital a great city break destination, it’s worth hiring a car if you’re spending more than a day or two in Belfast. Some of Northern Ireland’s most famous attractions – the Giant’s Causeway and the Antrim Coast – are easily accessible as day trips.
If you’re having an extended stay in Belfast with kids, there are lots of family-friendly attractions such as indoor water parks, soft play and many other rainy day activities. There are plenty of free things to do in Belfast for families – we loved the outdoor art and public sculptures in Belfast, there are some really good parks too.
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W5 Interactive Discovery Centre
This science and discovery centre at the Odyssey Complex claims to answer all those who, what, where, when, why questions which children come up with. It’s another one of those new generation “museums” offering a hands-on experience for children. I really wish this had been open when we visited Belfast (we were there during covid), I know our kids would have loved it.
Set over four floors, there are over 250 interactive, educational and entertaining exhibits, workshops, and live demonstrations with something for the whole family. Highlights include an under 8s area full of imagination and storytelling; another area explores medicine and the human body while the Studio looks at film and TV production.
Find out more about the W5 Interactive Discovery Centre
Titanic Belfast
We loved our visit to Titanic Belfast. There are plenty of interactive elements to this well thought out and sensitive museum. Our kids loved travelling through the dockyard on carts and taking the elevator to different floors of the ship.
The final moments of the Titanic are handled really well – I was worried our kids might find this part upsetting but it is interpreted in a very sensitive way.
Find out more about Titanic Belfast
SS Nomadic
You might not be able to explore the real Titanic but you can step aboard the real SS Nomadic – tender to Titanic. As Titanic was too large to dock in shallow harbours, guests were transported aboard SS Nomadic. The ship has been restored to its former glory and visitors can learn about her rich history which also included minesweeping in World War One and acting as a floating restaurant on the Seine in Paris – among many other roles.
A visit to SS Nomadic is included in the entry ticket to Titanic Belfast.
Find out more about SS Nomadic
Crumlin Road Gaol Ghost Tour
Would you believe that this Victorian gaol full of horror stories and ghosts, only closed to prisoners in 1996? Today, you can take a guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol or tour it independently but something a bit different, you can take the Gaol Ghost Tour.
This isn’t a Belfast attraction for little children – you’ll see the hanging cell, the graveyard and walk the tunnel which prisoners used to take from the courthouse to the gaol.
Apparently you can even have your wedding at Crumlin Road Gaol…
Find out more about Crumlin Road Gaol
Belfast Bred Walking Tour
If you’re looking for unusual things to do in Belfast, this might be just the thing. Running for over ten years now, the Belfast Bred walking tour combines theatre and food along with history and humour. The tour visits several eateries as well as taking in the sights, sounds and smells of St George’s Market.
Find out more about the Belfast Bred Walking Tour
Murals and Street Art Tour
Street art tours are an increasingly popular experience when you visit a city, and in Belfast they are a particularly integral part of the city’s history.
You can take in the political murals as part of a black taxi tour of the city. Many of the murals are on the Peace Walls – barriers constructed to separate Republicans and Unionists. Some of the artworks feature guns and violence but there are also murals asking for peace and civil rights.
There are plenty of contemporary artworks adorning the walls of Belfast which look at issues unrelated to politics – so if you’d prefer your children not to dwell on Northern Ireland’s troubled past, these might be for you. Highlights which will appeal to children include a giant squirrel scaling a building on Donegall Street, and “Life Preserver”, a piece on High Street reflecting the city’s vulnerability to climate change.
Seek out Belfast’s sculptures
We came across all sorts of fun sculptures whilst we were exploring Belfast. The kids particularly liked the seals by the River Lagan and the Salmon of Knowledge nearby.
Explore Belfast’s “Quarters”
Cities these days like to promote their different neighbourhoods. In Belfast, the Cathedral Quarter is worth a wander to see some of the more historic streets of the city. The cobblestone streets are a good place to head for if you’re hungry (or thirsty) – there are plenty of good cafes and restaurants in this part of the city.
The Linen Quarter is another good area to head for if you’re in search of eateries. This part of Belfast used to be the centre of Irish linen production but many of its historic warehouses are now offices and restaurants. If you’re visiting Belfast with older children, an evening drink in the Grand Central Observatory – the highest bar in Ireland – is a great way to get your night started. The Grand Central Hotel also offers afternoon tea with a view in case evening drinks aren’t possible for your family yet!
Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about the culture, music and language of Ireland, the Gaeltacht Quarter – with its Chúlturlann art centre – is an informative area to explore.
Belfast Zoo
There are plenty of crowd pleasers at Belfast Zoo – a troop of gorillas, a pride of three lions and lots of leaping lemurs (my favourite). There’s also a good range of snakes and a section of native creatures.
Belfast Zoo offers educational talks, feeding times, and there’s the essential adventure play area for kids.
Find out more about Belfast Zoo
Free things to do in Belfast with kids
C.S. Lewis Square
If your children enjoyed reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, they will love exploring CS Lewis Square – the author was born in Belfast – where they’ll find seven bronze sculptures from Narnia.
On the edge of the square is the East Side Visitor Centre which has a handy coffee bar. Tours depart from the centre exploring some of East Belfast’s famous names including George Best and Van Morrison.
Cave Hill Country Park
This is a great place for family walks. There are various trails to follow depending on the age of your children and their willingness to walk. Little ones will enjoy the one mile Castle Trail which takes in the adventure play area. The 4.5 mile Cave Hill Trail meanwhile offers more of a challenge but rewards you with caves and McArt’s Fort as well as good views of Belfast.
Find out more about Cave Hill Country Park
Victoria Park
This is a great spot in Belfast for toddlers and families with buggies. There are two paths encircling the park – a longer outer path and a shorter inner route. Victoria Park also has a BMX track, a playground and a lake.
Botanic Gardens
The main attractions here are the historic glasshouses – the Tropical Ravine and the Palm House – which date back to the 19th century. There are digital and interactive exhibits to keep younger visitors entertained. There’s also a play area.
Find out more about the Belfast Botanic Gardens
Ulster Museum
Set in the city’s Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum is a great place for families, featuring a wide range of exhibits on art, history, and nature. Expect to come across everything from Egyptian mummies to a history of the Troubles.
Admission is free, and there are often special events and workshops for kids.
Find out more about Ulster Museum
Indoor activities in Belfast for families
The W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, Titanic Belfast and Crumlin Road Gaol, all mentioned above, are ideal indoor attractions in Belfast.
There are also plenty of typical rainy day activities in Belfast including bowling at the Odyssey Bowl, a ninja assault course and indoor skydiving at We Are Vertigo in the Titanic Quarter, and an amazing looking pirate-themed indoor play space and inflatables at Newtonbreda just outside the city centre. Meanwhile, at Cityside Retail and Leisure Park, you’ll find cinema screens, crazy golf and soft play – perfect things to do in Belfast on a rainy day.
For something a little more cultured, it’s worth checking out the Metropolitan Arts Centre – MAC – which hosts art exhibitions, theatre and dance. There are usually activities on for families during school holidays.
Things to do near Belfast with kids
Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster American Folk Park
The Ulster Folk Museum features recreated homes, shops and a school – all based on rural life in Ireland some 100 years ago.
The Ulster American Folk Park explores the journeys Irish migrants took during the 18th and 19th centuries when they made the crossing to America – looking at life in Ireland and in the New World during this period.
I’ve always found open air museums are a great way to engage young children with history.
Like the sound of outdoor museums? Read my article about the best open air museums across the UK.
Zoom through the trees at Colin Glen
There’s a choice of alpine coasteering or zipwires as your means of transport through the woodland at Colin Glen – they both look like essential activities if you bring your kids to this brilliant adventure park. The alpine coaster travels at speeds of up to 25 miles an hour and the park feature’s Ireland’s longest zipline.
If you’re visiting Belfast with toddlers, you might prefer the more restrained Gruffalo trail while older children will no doubt enjoy the high ropes course or archery.
Find out more about Colin Glen
Streamvale Open Farm
It’s all about diary cows and milk at this family-friendly farm located just outside Belfast. Streamvale Open Farm offers a hands-on experience with farm animals including animal feeding, petting and demonstrations.
You’ll also find tractor rides, a milk vending machine and various themed events as well as plenty of play areas.
Find out more about Streamvale Open Farm
Indoor water parks near Belfast for kids
Andersonstown Indoor Aqua Park
Situated to the south west of Belfast city centre, this indoor swimming centre has three big slides, an indoor surf simulator and a water play area.
Find out more about Andersonstown Indoor Aqua Park
Lagan Valley LeisurePlex
This swimming complex in nearby Lisburn has a lazy river and slides plus a splash area for little children.
Find out more about Lagan Valley LeisurePlex
Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex
The town of Bangor is a little further to travel (around half an hour north east of Belfast) but it’s worth the journey if your children are after slides and waves. There’s also a pirate-themed splash zone for younger children.
Find out more about Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex
Day Trips from Belfast for families
Game of Thrones tour
If you’re visiting Belfast with older teenagers, it’s worth considering a trip out of the city to track down some of the locations from the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Ballintoy Harbour, Cushendun Caves and the Dark Hedges can all be visited in a day trip from Belfast.
Giant’s Causeway
No trip to Northern Ireland is complete without a trip to the incredible Giant’s Causeway. It’s just over an hour by car from Belfast to this coastal wonder but it is well worth the journey. Our kids loved clambering around over the rocks and taking the walk along the seafront and then up the cliff and back round to the car park.
There’s an excellent visitor centre which explains how the Giant’s Causeway was formed with plenty of hands on exhibits to engage young minds.
A day at the seaside
On a sunny day (there are plenty, I promise!), the beaches of Northern Ireland can rival any across the world. The Antrim coast has some stunning sandy and rocky beaches – White Rocks and Portstewart are two of our favourites. Further south, Murlough Nature Reserve and beach is simply stunning – even in poor weather – with the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains.
Do you have a favourite place to visit in Belfast for families? Let me know in the comments below.