Rainy day activities in Belfast

Airtastic Bangor

Bangor · ages 0+

Bowling, laser tag and soft play under one roof, with an arcade to mop up whatever cash you've got left.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyFree parking+5 more

Airtastic Lisburn

Lisburn · ages 6+

Laser tag, ten pin bowling, an Ultimate Challenges assault course and a pizza place all under one roof for a proper wet-day session.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyFree parking+7 more

Áras Uí Chonghaile James Connolly Visitor Centre

Belfast

A small Belfast museum on the Falls Road telling James Connolly's story through an interactive exhibition and an audio tour.

CaféGift shopWi-Fi

Ardoyne Library

Belfast · ages 0-11

A free Belfast library with a Saturday morning of Lego and board games, plus homework help and a rhyme time for babies and toddlers.

Accessible toiletBaby changeHearing loopToilets+2 more

ArtisAnn Gallery

Belfast

A small art gallery to wander round, with free parking right outside and wheelchair access on the ground floor.

Card onlyFree parkingWheelchair accessible

Axe Yard Urban Axe Throwing Belfast

Belfast · adults only (18+)

An 18+ session where you throw real axes at wooden targets, with a coach in your lane and your own playlist running.

Booking requiredFree parkingFood on siteWheelchair accessible

Banana Block

Belfast

Free-to-enter arcade and gaming spot in Belfast where you pay per game rather than for the door.

CaféDog friendlyWi-Fi

Base Arcade Belfast

Belfast · ages 0-15

Free-play retro arcade with pinball and classic consoles, but only the 11am to 3pm Saturday session is family friendly.

Booking requiredCaféFree parkingFood on site

Battle Inc Gaming CIC

Belfast

Board games, card games and LARP in a gaming space with over 600 titles, plus a craft room with 3D printers, for £6 a session.

Food on site

Belfast Black Taxi Tour

Belfast

A black cab driver takes you round Belfast's murals and street art, with a Crumlin Road Gaol add-on if you want the longer tour.

Booking requiredWheelchair accessible

Belvoir Studio Theatre

Belfast

A Cinderella pantomime with live music and big sets, running over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Boom Studios

Bangor

A pottery painting and craft studio with daytime opening hours across the week.

Bright Umbrella

Belfast

Family theatre shows, weekly mindfulness sessions and creative activities at a Belfast venue with tickets from £25.

Booking requiredIndoor seating

Cahoots NI

Belfast

Physical theatre, puppetry and circus-style shows that mix magic illusions with dance and music.

Carryduff Library

Belfast

Rhymes, storytime and craft sessions for young kids, plus free books, computers and wifi for everyone else.

Accessible toiletBaby changeParkingToilets+2 more

Coleman's Garden Centre

Templepatrick

A garden centre day out with a café, farm shop and dog-friendly wandering rather than a fenced-off kids' zone.

CaféGroup bookingsFood on siteRestaurant+1 more

Colin Glen Library

Belfast · ages 0-12

Free rhymes, Lego and homework help for kids, with regular sessions running right through the week.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingParking+3 more

Crescent Arts Centre

Belfast

An arts centre with a family book festival, baby raves and free drop-in activities alongside its theatre programme.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféChanging Places+4 more

Dawn Crothers Artist Studio

Belfast · ages 0+

Art classes and workshops for children and adults, run by an artist who also does school visits and an exhibition at W5.

DC Tours - Belfast Walking Tours

Belfast

Guided walks through Belfast's city centre history, from the Troubles to the Golden Mile, on foot with a local guide.

Booking requiredDog friendlyToiletsWheelchair accessible

Drumena Cashel

Newry

Free to visit, an underground stone passage you can duck into and explore beneath an old rath.

Dundonald International Ice Bowl

Belfast

Ice skating on an Olympic size rink, tenpin bowling and jungle-themed indoor play, all under one roof.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingBooking required+6 more

Dundonald Library

Belfast

Free rhymes, Lego and Duplo clubs and storytime sessions across the week, with no booking needed.

Accessible toiletParkingToiletsWheelchair accessible+1 more

Eden Pottery

Newtownards

Paint your own pottery from hundreds of sponge patterns, then settle in for homemade scones and soup after.

Allergy awareBirthday partiesCaféGroup bookings+4 more

Escapade HQ Escape Rooms

Belfast · ages 2+

Themed escape rooms where you solve riddles and puzzles together against the clock, from a magic shop mystery to a submarine reactor meltdown.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings

ESCARMOUCHE ACTIVITIES LTD

Randalstown

Paintball, airsoft, laser tag and a Gladiator-style assault course on one site, booked out as a full session rather than a quick game.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyFree parking+3 more

Exploris Aquarium

Newtownards

Seals, otters, sharks and a crocodile under one roof, with feeding times and hands-on extras like feeding capybaras or a shark encounter.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredDog friendly+4 more

Falls Road Library

Belfast

Free rhymes, storytime and coding sessions for kids, plus quiet corners to browse, all at no cost.

Baby changeToiletsWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi

Finaghy Library

Belfast · ages 0-12

Free rhymes, story sessions and Saturday Lego building for kids, plus books to borrow, all at no cost.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingHearing loop+4 more

Forbidden Quest - Escape Games Belfast

Belfast

Four themed escape rooms in Belfast, from a zombie outbreak to a haunted dream house, all booked in advance.

Booking required

Funky Monkeys Dundonald, Belfast

Belfast · ages 0-8

A soft play frame with twin wavy slides, splat pads and a floor piano, plus a fenced baby area and a café for parents.

Baby changeBirthday partiesCaféCard only+4 more

Game locker

Belfast

Console, PC and VR gaming under one roof, with tournament nights for the ones who take it seriously.

Birthday partiesCaféFree parkingGroup bookings+2 more

Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Banbridge · ages 0+

Walk through the real sets and costumes from Game of Thrones, from Winterfell to the Destroyed Throne Room, all under one roof.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+9 more

Giants Causeway Tour

Belfast

Coach tours out to the Giant's Causeway, some with a Game of Thrones detour thrown in along the way.

Glenarm Castle

Ballymena

A walled garden, a woodland walk and a play area to explore on a castle estate by the Antrim coast.

CaféDog friendlyGift shopIndoor play+5 more

Glengormley Library

Newtownabbey

Free rhymes, Lego and wand-making sessions for kids, tucked into the weekly timetable of a local library.

Wi-Fi

Global Adventure Play LTD

Ballynahinch · ages 0-11

Themed indoor play across Ancient Egypt, Jurassic and Roman zones, with a four-lane wavy slide and a proper baby zone too.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBirthday partiesBooking required+7 more

Grove Library

Belfast

Free weekly sessions for different ages, from Rhythm and Rhyme for babies to a Lego Club for primary schoolers.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingHearing loopParking+3 more

Happy Days Lisburn

Lisburn · ages 0-10

A big play frame plus a separate toddler zone, sold in 90 minute sessions with a café that lets you bring drinks in.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor playParty rooms

Happy Town

Newtownards · ages 2-11

Soft play frames with slides, spinning pads and a zip line for two-hour sessions, best booked ahead.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféIndoor play+2 more

Hollywood Bowl Belfast

Belfast · ages 0-15

Ten-pin bowling with bumpers for the small ones, plus arcade games and pool while you wait your turn.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingCafé+6 more

Holywood Arches Library

Belfast · ages 0-11

Free storytimes, rhyme sessions and a Lego club for kids aged 0 to 11 in a quiet library setting.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingParkingToilets+2 more

Holywood Library

Holywood

Free rhymes, songs and a Lego Club that turn a library visit into a proper morning out.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingToilets+2 more

Into The Woods Softplay NI

Belfast · ages 0-10

Soft play and a separate role play village under one roof, with a combo ticket if your child wants both.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor playFood on site+2 more

Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum

Lisburn

Free museum inside a 17th-century market house where kids can walk under old stone arches and see how Irish linen was made.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingGift shopHearing loop+2 more

Jumping Jacks

Lisburn · ages 0-11

A toddler kart track and slides on one side, a big adventure frame with rope bridge and dizzy discs on the other, for babies up to age 11.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor playKids menu+2 more

Kids Together Belfast

Belfast · ages 1-18

Sensory play and structured groups for children aged 1 to 18, from toddler Wave Playdays to afterschools and youth sessions.

Sensory room

Kumiko Cat Lounge

Belfast

A calm café where rescue cats wander about while you sip a coffee, read or play a quiet game.

Booking requiredCafé

Laganvale Farm

Lisburn · up to age 10

Pedal tractors, a maize maze and indoor play areas split by age, with a farm walk to see the animals along the way.

Baby changeBirthday partiesCaféIndoor play+4 more

Lisburn City Library

Lisburn

Free storytimes, rhyme sessions and craft groups in a Lisburn library with an actual Harry Potter day thrown in.

Sensory friendlyWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi

Lisburn Road Library

Belfast

Free Rhythm and Rhyme sessions, storytime and Lego building sessions for kids, plus book borrowing, in a library with disabled parking and a hearing loop.

Accessible toiletBaby changeHearing loopParking+3 more

Little Play Studio

Newtownabbey

Eight role play zones plus sensory and construction areas for younger kids to dip in and out of all morning or afternoon.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor playFood on site

Mini Ville Play

Carrickfergus · ages 0+

A mini pretend town of little shops and buildings for small children to potter round and role-play in.

Baby changeBirthday partiesCaféIndoor play+1 more

Mo Mowlam Play Park

Belfast

A free outdoor play park with a castle-themed climbing trail, cableways and a nine-metre wavy slide, open every day of the year.

Baby changeCaféChanging PlacesDog friendly+4 more

Mount Ida Pottery

Banbridge

Hand build or throw on the wheel at a Banbridge pottery studio where you shape your own clay piece from scratch.

Museum at The Mill

Newtownabbey

A small museum inside Mossley Mill telling the story of the flax workers who once kept the place running.

Natasha Swan Ceramics

Carrickfergus

Pick a blank piece of ceramic, like a salt pig, and paint it by hand to take home once it's been fired.

Need 4 Speed Karting

Ballyclare · ages 8+

Indoor karting with lap timing and Grand Prix heats, booked out exclusively for your group from age 8 up.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsIndoor seating+3 more

Newtownbreda Library

Belfast

Free storytime, rhyme sessions and craft afternoons for under-11s at a Belfast library with regular children's programming.

Blue badge parkingParkingToiletsWheelchair accessible+1 more

Northern Card Gaming

Newtownards

Trading card tournaments, board games and tabletop wargaming events for teens and adults who know their hobby.

Oh Yeah Music Centre

Belfast

A music charity's Belfast base with live gigs, open mic nights, arts and crafts days and the odd record fair.

Toilets

Ormeau Road Library

Belfast

Free storytimes, rhyme sessions and a Lego club fill the week at this Belfast library, no ticket needed.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingIndoor seating+4 more

Pickie Funpark

Bangor · ages 3-10

A pay-as-you-go park of little rides, a narrow-gauge railway and splash pads, all pay-per-go rather than one ticket price.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredCafé+5 more

Prison Island Belfast

Belfast · ages 6-99

Thirty one prison-themed cells to crack against the clock, plus axe throwing and a quiz arena, for six-year-olds up to adults.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredCafé+8 more

Queen’s Film Theatre

Belfast

An arthouse and independent cinema screening a proper mix of films, with a bar for a glass of wine before or after.

Blue badge parkingCaféCard onlyGroup bookings+2 more

R-space Gallery

Lisburn

Free contemporary art and craft exhibitions in the centre of town, with talks and workshops thrown in.

Rampyard Skatepark - Belfast

Belfast · ages 6+

An indoor ramp park where kids and teens turn up with a skateboard or scooter and get coached through drops and rails by professionals.

Birthday partiesBooking required

Retro NI ®️

Hillsborough

A retro arcade packed with sim racing rigs, light-up air hockey and a jump scare ride for the brave.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings

Roar and Explore

Belfast · up to age 10

Dedicated soft play at Dairy Farm Belfast - junior frame, toddler zone and cafe for under-10s.

ParkingCaféWi-FiBirthday parties+5 more

Seaforde Gardens & Tropical Butterfly House

Downpatrick · ages 3-16

Free-flying tropical butterflies in a warm glasshouse, then a walled garden and maze to explore outside.

CaféFood on site

Shankill Road Library

Belfast

Free story sessions, rhyme time and a proper book habit to build, all without spending a penny.

Accessible toiletBaby changeHearing loopToilets+2 more

Skate100 @ V36

Newtownabbey

An outdoor park for skateboards, scooters, inline skates, BMX bikes and parkour, with floodlights running until 10pm.

Somme Museum

Newtownards

Guided tours through First World War trench recreations and D Day exhibitions, with hands-on sessions for groups.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredGroup bookingsHearing loop+4 more

The Avenue Cinema Belfast

Belfast

A cinema with a proper licensed café and bar plus sensory friendly and subtitled screenings each week.

Accessible toiletCaféIndoor seatingRestaurant+2 more

The Ballance House

Crumlin · ages 0+

A guided tour round a 19th century homestead with New Zealand links, plus craft workshops, but you'll need to book ahead.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+8 more

The Dock Cafe

Belfast

A donation-based canalside café where you can bring your own food, grab a scone, and there's no bill at the end.

CaféPicnics allowed

The Great Light, Maritime Mile

Belfast

Free to see, outdoors and open all hours: a 130 year old lighthouse optic sitting right on the Titanic Walkway.

Blue badge parkingPublic transport nearbyWheelchair accessible

The John Luke Gallery

Belfast

Free art exhibitions and workshops in a gallery you can drop into on a weekday morning without booking.

Free parkingWheelchair accessible

The Lost City Apocalypse Adventure Golf

Belfast · ages 3+

Two indoor 18-hole adventure golf courses with a post-apocalyptic theme, plus interactive darts for the over-12s.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeFood on site+4 more

The Retro Room - Vintage 80s Arcade

Belfast · ages 8+

Unlimited freeplay on genuine 80s and 90s arcade cabinets, from Pac-Man to Tekken, for £7 an hour or £25 for the whole day.

Card onlyFree parking

The Rink Sports Arena & Multipurpose Centre

Portadown

Roller skating sessions and roller disco parties with an inflatable slide thrown in.

Birthday partiesParty rooms

The Spirit Circle: Sensorium & Belfast by the Glass

Belfast

An 18+ tasting experience in Belfast where cocktails are matched to sensory science or to the city's own stories.

Booking required

Theatre At The Mill

Newtownabbey

Pantomime and family shows in Newtownabbey, with babes in arms welcome free if the show's aimed at that age.

Allergy awareFood on site

Timescape - Live Escape Games

Belfast

You've got 60 minutes to crack codes and puzzles across themed escape rooms, from Titanic to Jack the Ripper.

Booking required

Titanic Belfast

Belfast

Immersive Titanic museum in Belfast's Titanic Quarter - book timed tickets, under-5s free.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféGift shop+4 more

Ulster Aviation Society

Lisburn · ages 0+

Guided tours through Second World War hangars packed with historic aircraft, free for families of up to ten.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredParking

University of Atypical

Belfast

A free gallery of soft-sculpture installation art in Belfast city centre, with a sensory pack for anyone who needs it.

Accessible toiletCard onlyStep-free accessToilets+1 more

Vault Artist Studios & Gallery - Bedford Street

Belfast

Workshops in sculpture, mosaic and set dancing at an artist-run gallery, though you'll need to arrange your visit first.

Accessible toiletWheelchair accessible

W5 Belfast

Belfast

Belfast science centre at Odyssey - hands-on halls, Climbit and rainy-day experiments.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+4 more

Whiterock Library

Belfast

Free rhyme time, storytime and a chess club run out of a local library with a lot more going on than shelves.

ToiletsWi-Fi