This post is all about things to do in Northern Ireland with kids, including the North West of Ireland but it doesn’t include Belfast which is where we flew into.
What’s Northern Ireland Like?
The first thing you should know about Northern Ireland is that it’s super child and family friendly and that’s because it’s still quite a religious place.
Most places are quite rural with the exception of Derry which is a small city. You’ll need a car to get to all of these places. Click here for a car rental quote. I haven’t included Belfast in this list but Belfast is a modern, thriving city with great pedestrian and public transport access to everything. You don’t need to drive in Belfast however the rest of Northern Ireland I’d recommend driving.
For most of these places I list below, you’ll also need a National Trust membership, which you can see here. The price of a membership per year is less than a week’s worth of activities. That was the selling point for us.
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When To Visit
The best time to visit is probably April/May through to October as it can rain quite heavily in the winter. That being said, it is prone to showers throughout the year and it never really gets hot. I’d advise taking wet weather clothes with you.
Don’t visit during the Portrush Golf because traffic around the Northern Coast almost comes to a standstill. Check here for its dates.
This is a map of all the places I’ve mentioned below.
Northern Ireland Things To Do With Kids
Just a reminder, you’ll also need a National Trust membership, which you can see here. The price of a membership per year is less than a week’s worth of activities.
Carrick-A-Rede Bridge
Famous for its rope bridge which links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It is 20 metres in length and 30 metres above the rocks below. The bridge is mainly a tourist attraction and is owned and maintained by the National Trust. There are walking routes around the area.
Whitepark Bay Beach
Unsafe for swimming but paddling on the shore is fine, as is surfing! The photo at the top of this post is from Whitepark Bay Beach. The beach is wide and wild and 3 miles long. Plenty of room for everyone.
Giants Causeway
The result of ancient volcanic fissure eruptions during the Paleogene period, The Giant’s Causeway is an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. This area is busy but there’s plenty to see and quite a few walking trails above the causeway. I’d recommend spending half a day exploring the routes.
Dunluce Castle
A picturesque and romatic but totally delapidated castle. This is not owned by National Trust and there is a fee to enter. Find prices here.
Portrush
A lively town with a nice causeway and in ther summer months, the kids jump off the marina into the sea. There are lots of shops and cafes here and also a great kids playpark on the front.
Downhill Walled Garden, Belvedere & Mussenden Temple
The Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne is a National Trust property which includes the Mussenden Temple which is a viewing point. There’s also a nice walled garden here and a coffee stand
Hezlett House
Hezlett’s picturesque thatched cottage has an early timber frame dating from 1690, making it one of the oldest vernacular domestic houses.
Dunne Waterfall & Downhill Beach
This Waterfall tumbles down from the top of the cliffs behind Downhill beach
Portstewart
A small but lively town with a great beach and a golf course.
Binevenagh Carpark Lookout Point
Look out over the coast of Northern Ireland from one of the highest points in the area
Derry
Home of the Derry Girls, a lively little city with a quaint walled area. Cross the Peace Bridge and enjoy the large number of restaurants here.
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North-West Ireland Things To Do With Kids
Inshowen Head Lighthouse
You can’t go inside the lighthouse but there’s plenty to do around it.
Built in 1837, the penninsula gives open coastal views of Lough Foyle across to Magilligan Point. You can walk on the beach, the Inishowen Head Loop Walk or have lunch at one of the point’s picnic tables.
Stroove Beach + Sea View Sauna
Stroove beach is a blue beach and has a lifeguard during the summer holidays. There is also a sauna here and it looks so much fun to go into the sauna and then have a dip in the sea.
Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way is 1600 miles (2600 km) long and is one of the longest coastal routes in the world. It winds all along the Irish west coast, passes through nine counties and three provinces, stretching from County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula in Ulster to Kinsale, County Cork, in Munster, on the Celtic Sea coast. You can pick it up at lots of different places but it’s definitely worth doing some parts of it.
Malin Head, Stone Stacks, Devils bridge
Malin Head is the most northerly point of mainland Ireland. It is a rugged area with wild hiking. Keep kids away from the edge but enjoy the view and the wild waves. The cliffs here lead to Hells Hole, a subterranean cavern 250 feet long and 8 feet wide where the waves crash high.
Sand Dunes at Lagg & Five Finger Strand
The name comes from five narrow sea stacks that protrude from the water on the north side of the beach. The sand dunes to the north of the beach are great fun to climb.
The Doagh Strand is on the opposite side of the beach and there are caves and a cafe there.
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Northern Ireland Beaches Where You Can Drive Onto The Sand
SOme of these beaches have lifeguards during the summer but still the currents are strong and at times the waves are big. You can surf on most of these. Because you can drive onto them, they do become busy. Families tend to come for the day and bring tents and picnics.
Benone Beach
Portstewart Strand
Castlerock Beach
Downhill Beach
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Where Could You Stay
I really like Portrush & Portstewart because they’re busy little seaside towns however, the city of Derry is quaint and the town of Ballymoney is central to most areas.
Get Your Guide Tours
If the thought of driving in Ireland terrifies you, don’t worry, there are plenty of tours too.
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