Things to do with kids across Northern Ireland

Titanic Quarter is the easiest part of Belfast for a mixed-age day out: big indoor attractions, wide flat walkways for buggies and scooters, and enough space that toddlers and teenagers can both be busy without either being bored.

The Cathedral Quarter suits families who want a short, city-centre outing rather than a full day: cobbled streets, murals, cafés with room for buggies, and museums and libraries a few minutes' walk apart.

Botanic and Stranmillis are the go-to areas for a free family afternoon in south Belfast — a big park, a free museum and a riverside towpath, all within a short walk of each other.

East Belfast is where families go when they want green space without leaving the city — the slopes of the Castlereagh hills, the C.S. Lewis trail, and parks big enough that a 3-year-old and a 13-year-old can both find their own level.

North Belfast is the outdoors option: Cave Hill towering over the city, a castle with an adventure playground, and a zoo — a combination that keeps a wide age spread happy for a full day.

Derry's Walled City packs a lot into a small area: a complete circuit of 17th-century walls, museums, and a short walk between everything — ideal when you're managing a toddler's nap and a teenager's attention span on the same day.

The Waterside and Ebrington are Derry's easiest side of the river for families: a huge open square, riverside paths and a big park, all reachable on foot from the Peace Bridge.

Creggan is where Derry families go for outdoor activity close to home — a country park built around reservoirs, with trails, water sports for older children and easy paths for the youngest.

Shantallow and the wider Northside are residential Derry — this page is for the everyday outings rather than the big day out: parks, greenways and leisure facilities within a short journey of home.

Culmore and the Foyle shore just north of Derry give families shoreline walks, wildlife and big skies — the sort of outing where a toddler collects shells while an older child looks for birds through binoculars.

Lisburn city centre is compact enough that a mixed-age group can move between a park, a museum and a soft play stop without a long walk or a second car journey — handy when one child tires quickly and another wants a full day.

Hillsborough is a village outing rather than a city day: a big forest park with a lake loop, a historic main street and cafés with space for buggies. It suits families who want one long walk with plenty to look at.

Bangor seafront gives you a marina, a play park and a coastal path in one flat stretch, which is exactly what you want when a toddler needs the playground and an older child wants a proper walk with a view.

Ballyholme is the calmer, beachier side of Bangor — a long sandy bay, a coastal path toward Groomsport and much less crowding than the main seafront, which suits families who want space rather than attractions.

Newry works well as a base for a mixed-age day: a canal towpath and parks in the city itself, with the Mournes and the coast close enough that you can pick the outing to match the youngest child's stamina.

Warrenpoint is a seaside town on the lough with a promenade, a big central park and the Mournes behind it — an easy half-day where toddlers get a playground and older children get a real coastal walk.

Coleraine is the practical base for the north coast: a riverside town with parks and indoor options, and beaches and cliff walks fifteen minutes away when everyone has the energy for them.

Portstewart gives you a promenade, a harbour and a two-mile strand in one small town, so a mixed-age group can do sandcastles, rock pools and a long beach walk without moving the car twice.

Armagh packs a planetarium, a big walled park and two cathedrals into a small city, so a mixed-age group can swap between an indoor show for the older ones and open green space for toddlers without a long drive between stops.

Just outside Armagh, Navan Fort gives you a big grassy hill and an indoor visitor experience in the same visit — the sort of place where a 4-year-old rolls down the slope and a 12-year-old actually listens to the story.

Portadown works well as a base for a mixed-age afternoon: a riverside park in the middle of town, a big lakes complex minutes away, and indoor play and leisure options if the weather turns.

Craigavon Lakes is one of the easiest mixed-age days in the county: watersports and a pump track for teens, a huge playground and flat lakeside loop for the youngest, all in one car park.

Ballymena suits families who want everything within one short walk or drive: a central park, a free museum and gallery, and a large leisure complex that covers a wet afternoon for every age at once.

The Glens of Antrim give you a proper outdoors day within half an hour of Ballymena — waterfall boardwalks for confident walkers, and shorter loops and a beach if you have a buggy or a tired toddler.

Enniskillen sits on an island between two lakes, which makes it unusually easy for mixed ages: a castle and museum indoors, a big island park outdoors, and boat trips for anyone old enough to sit still for an hour.

Castle Archdale is the classic Fermanagh family day: forest paths, a marina, bike hire and a small farm, so older children can cycle a loop while younger ones stay near the play area and animals.

Omagh is a good middle-of-Tyrone stop for a mixed-age group: riverside walks and a big park in town, plus the Ulster American Folk Park a few minutes out for a proper half-day.

Gortin Glen, fifteen minutes from Omagh, is built for families with a wide age spread: a big adventure playground and forest drive at the bottom, and longer mountain trails for anyone who wants a real walk.

Newcastle is the strongest single mixed-age day in County Down: a long sandy beach and promenade, a huge coastal park with a play area, and mountain forest trails all within a mile of each other.

Downpatrick suits a shorter mixed-age outing: a heritage railway and cathedral hill for the older ones, a free visitor centre and park for the youngest, and the Mournes and coast twenty minutes away when you want more.