Glenarm Castle
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Ballymena
What it’s like
A walled garden, a woodland walk and a play area to explore on a castle estate by the Antrim coast.
Under-12s get in free here, which makes the walled garden the obvious place to spend your money on the grown-up tickets. It's a proper working garden with seasonal displays and water features, not just lawns to walk past, and it opens an hour earlier for members if you want the place quiet.
Kids have the Woodland Adventure Play Area and a separate Children's Play Area to work through, plus a Mini Land Rover Experience that'll be the thing they talk about on the way home. The Woodland Walk gives you somewhere to stretch legs between the two, and the Antrim McDonnell Heritage Centre is there if anyone wants the history without it feeling like homework. The castle itself is a private residence, so you only see inside on a pre-booked guided tour on selected dates, which is worth knowing before you plan a full day around it.
Food-wise there's the Tea Room doing local beef and salmon, The Potting Shed for coffee and cake, and The Milk Parlour for gelato if it's warm enough to justify it. The Pizza Pavilion runs evenings Friday and through the weekend, and parking is free after 5pm on those days if you're just going for pizza. Parking otherwise runs from 50p to £3 depending how long you stay, charged March to October.
Dogs are welcome on the walks and there's a Dog Park included free if you're staying in one of the pods, plus one dog-friendly pod for anyone bringing the whole household, four-legged members included. The walled garden's last entry is 4:15pm even though the estate runs to 5pm, so build that in if the garden's the main event for you.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Under 12s, who get in free while the castle grounds do the entertaining
- Last entry
- 4:15pm to Walled Garden
- Parking
- £0.50 to £3.00 per visit (17 Mar-31 Oct)
- Food
- Tea Room with local produce (Glenarm Shorthorn Beef, Glenarm Organic Salmon, homemade cakes)
- Dogs
- One dog-friendly pod available
- Worth knowing
- Children under 12 receive FREE admission to the Walled Garden and Woodland Walk during September & October
- Walled Garden last entry is 4:15pm, an hour before the rest of the estate closes
- Parking charges only apply 17 March to 31 October, and Pizza Pavilion evening visitors park free
- Under-12s get free Walled Garden and Woodland Walk entry in September and October
- The castle is only viewable on pre-booked guided tours, not on a general visit
- One dog-friendly pod is available for overnight stays with a Dog Park session included
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Adults are £10, juniors aged 12 to 17 are £5, and children up to 11 get in free. Concessions are £8.50 and carers get 50% off an adult ticket.
Do we need to book ahead?
There's no booking link listed for general admission. Castle tours run on selected dates and need to be pre-booked separately.
What's the parking situation?
It's £0.50 up to an hour, rising to £3 for the full day, charged from 17 March to 31 October. It's free for members, ticket holders, accommodation guests, and Pizza Pavilion visitors between 5pm and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Can we go inside the castle?
Only on a guided tour, since it's still a private residence. Tours run on selected dates rather than every day.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Tea Room does local Glenarm beef and salmon plus homemade cakes, The Potting Shed is more of a coffee and baked goods stop, and The Milk Parlour does gelato. Pizza Pavilion opens evenings Friday and across the weekend.
What time does everything close?
Most of the estate runs 10am to 5pm, but the Walled Garden has last entry at 4:15pm. The Potting Shed keeps slightly different hours depending on the day.
Is it dog friendly?
Yes, the Woodland Walk and Walled Garden allow dogs, and there's a dedicated Dog Park. There's also one dog-friendly pod if you're staying overnight.
Are there discounts for kids in autumn?
Children under 12 get free admission to the Walled Garden and Woodland Walk during September and October, on top of the usual free entry for under-12s.
Are tickets refundable if plans change?
Admission tickets are listed as non-refundable, so it's worth being sure of your date before you buy.
Is the site accessible with a wheelchair or buggy?
The estate is listed as wheelchair accessible.
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