Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Belfast

"OK, so a bit like Belfast Zoo, the Botanic Gardens is in fact in the city, but it’ll feel like you’re a million miles away from the hustle and bustle. Although the Botanic Gardens was established as a private park in 1828, it wasn’t until 70 years later that they were fully opened to everyday people. The big attraction here is the Palm House."

"Belfast Castle is located in the grounds of Cave Hill Country Park, which has a host of other things on offer for families. As well as trails for walking, there is a playground, archaeological sites, gardens and orienteering routes. Cave Hill is so called because of the five caves located on the side of the cliffs."

"Cave Hill Park sits on the northern fringes of Belfast, right next to the castle. It skirts the green wall which encircles almost all of Belfast, nicknamed the Devil’s Punchbowl. For this reason, walking it will provide a hearty workout, but the views are well worth it."

"The Cathedral Quarter is named after its majestic resident, St. Anne’s Cathedral. Consecrated in 1904, the cathedral boasts the eye-catching Spire of Hope, added in 2006. Inside are marvellous mosaics, striking sculptures, spectacular stained glass windows and the poignant Titanic Pall, as well as the shrine of Edward Carson, leader of the Unionist movement during the partition of Ireland."

"s Cathedral sits at the heart of Belfast and is famous for being the seat of not one, but two serving bishops ?. the Bishop of Connor and the Bishop of Down and Dromore. The historic building was, until 2007, noticably different to most European cathedrals because it had no spire."

"Built in imposing Hiberno-Romanesque style, St Anne's Cathedral was started in 1899 but did not reach its final form until 1981. As you enter you'll see that the black-and-white marble floor is laid out in a maze..."

"Guided tours of Belfast's notorious Crumlin Road Gaol take you from the tunnel beneath Crumlin Rd, built in 1850 to convey prisoners from the courthouse across the street (and allegedly the origin of the judge's phrase 'take him down'), through the echoing halls and cramped cells of C-Wing, to the truly chilling execution chamber. Advance tour bookings are recommended. The jail's pedestrian entrance is on Crumlin Rd; the car-park entrance is reached via Cliftonpark Ave to the north."

"Guided tours of Belfast's notorious Crumlin Road Gaol take you from the tunnel beneath Crumlin Rd, built in 1850 to convey prisoners from the courthouse across the street (and allegedly the origin of the judge's..."

"Completed in 1857, the building has been used by various governmental departments, including the Belfast Board of Works, the Inland Revenue, and an Income Tax Office. Designed in 1847 by English architect Charles Lanyon and finished in 1857 at a cost of £30,000. Throughout the years the building has undergone numerous alterations."

"The magnificent 18th-century Mount Stewart is one of Northern Ireland’s grandest stately homes. A three-year restoration project has seen the house transformed to how it looked in its 1930 heyday, by unveiling the central hall's original 1840s Scrabo stone floor, repairing the delicate plaster work and returning the cream colour scheme. The house overlooks formal gardens filled with colourful sub-tropical plants.Mount Stewart is on the A20, 3km northwest of Greyabbey. Buses from Belfast to Portaferry stop at the gate."

"A dynamic three-year makeover, costing £7.5 million and completed in 2015, has opened a new chapter in the history of Mount Stewart,…"

"HMS Caroline has undergone extensive restoration and visitors can now discover a range of historic spaces including the Captain Crookes Cabin, Royal Marines Mess, Seamen’s Wash, engine room, sick bay and galley kitchen. Explore the importance of the Battle of Jutland and discover what life was like at sea for over three hundred crew who served on board. In the Torpedo School, visitors can learn about the role of naval weaponry and design a ‘Dazzle’ paint scheme for their ship, explore the insides of a torpedo and learn about the various roles of crew when in battle."

"A newer addition to the already excellent collection of attractions in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, HMS Caroline is one of the last surviving vessels to have seen service in both world wars. Recently refurbished, the ship was commissioned in 1914 and patrolled the North Sea, as well as participating in the pivotal Battle of Jutland. Opened in her present location to the public in 2016, a tour of this floating museum and its visitor center provides a great deal of fascinating information about WW1 and the ship's history."

"Just to the east of Belfast city, this international ice bowl has plenty of activities under the one roof. It’s home to Northern Ireland’s only public Olympic size ice rink which is the real highlight so you can head off ice skating at any time of year. The rink is open to the public every day, or you can opt for some of the designated ice-skating lessons for the younger kids if it’s there first time."

"One of the most popular places to eat in Victoria Square, COSMOS is an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant that includes a fusion of world flavours. You can sample everything here from continental European cuisine, Asian delicacies and curries, as well as carvery roasts. In addition to the buffet of delicious dishes, you have a varied and colourful selection of desserts to choose from."

"If you are looking for an authentic and delicious Naples-style pizza then look no further than Little Wing Pizzeria. You will find their flagship restaurant on Ann Street in Belfast and offer a total of nine restaurants throughout Northern Ireland. A special kids menu is available as well as colouring and toys to keep them entertained while they wait for their pizza."

"Does that mean it doesn’t have mouth wateringly good pizza pie that is now an establishment in Belfast restaurant terms?"

"With superb views over Belfast Lough and the South Antrim Hills, Redburn Country Park is just off the A2 near Holywood. It offers a choice of country walks all starting at the car park. Whether you’re a serious rambler, a runner or a weekend stroller this country park has something to suit including bridle paths for horse riders."

"The Belfast Peace Walls are barriers that separate Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods through the city. They were originally built in 1969 to establish peace by separating sectarian groups. Today, they are popular tourist attractions."

"Those that fancy escaping the city for a while will be treated to a spectacular view out over Belfast (and ever county in Ulster, in fact) from up Divis Mountain. There’s a specifically designed 3-mile loop walk on Divis Mountain that was designed to maintain the condition of the mountain slope while providing handy public access. Difficulty wise, it’s moderate, but if you’re wondering what to do in Belfast that’ll treat you to glorious views without having to travel far, get yourself here!"

"The new 4.2 mile Ridge Trail on Divis and Black Mountain has wide points of view of the city, and the Mourne Mountains. For a long time Divis was unavailable to the overall population, however, in 2000 the National Trust assumed control over the administration of Divis and Black Mountain and have progressively opened it up for the delight and entertainment of local people and visitors."