Spring into Northern Ireland
The newly opened Gruffalo Trail in Belfast is one of many family friendly highlights in Northern Ireland.
Whether you’re seeking a vibrant city break, a family friendly day out or an adventure in the great outdoors, Northern Ireland always guarantees a trove of destination options. Here’s some of the most exciting options for you to embrace your giant spirit in 2024.
Belfast has long been considered a capital of cool, but now it’s official! The city has found itself ranked in National Geographic’s 2024 travel hotlist alongside trending destinations like Miami and the Albanian Alps, no less. That’s largely due to the arrival of Belfast 2024; a yearlong celebration of all things cultural in the city which focuses on the themes of Our People, Our Place and Our Planet. Visitors can look forward to an eclectic calendar of upcoming events including the Festival of Foods, the Cathedral Arts Festival and the Spring Continental Market.
Elsewhere, visitors to Belfast can enjoy a range of tourism draws from enhancements to blockbuster attractions to exciting new options. Titanic Belfast, the world class museum based on the famous liner, enjoyed a multi-million pound refurbishment last year which has taken the visitor experience to the next level, while elsewhere along the Maritime Mile, the all-new Titanic Brewery makes a great spot to quaff some of the city’s top craft brews.
Bringing the kids? Just beyond the Belfast Hills at Colin Glen Forest Park, a new Gruffalo Trail, endorsed by the writer behind the popular children’s books, Julia Donaldson herself, is an exciting new attraction for children who have a grá for nature and fantasy!
Derry is quickly becoming one of the most appealing city breaks in all of Ireland thanks to its rich, storied history (not least its incredible walls) coupled with fresh new experiences and a brand new spa hotel to boot. Following the boost of screen tourism to Northern Ireland thanks to the recent wave of Game of Thrones mania, the Derry Girls series has added to the flow and been a major player in the seeing the city trend. Visitors can not only visit the already iconic Derry Girls mural as well as various filming locations across the city, but they can also head to the Derry Girl Experience, a quirky exhibition at Tower Museum featuring a cornucopia of memorabilia from the hit series.
For festival lovers, this summer will also see the return of the bi-annual Foyle Maritime Festival this June which will return to Derry’s riverfront and will feature tall ships, entertainment, interactive activities, festival bars, markets and a festival showcase. For literature lovers, The Ulysses European Odyssey (UEO), a celebration of James Joyce which produces artistic responses in public spaces to social and cultural themes identified in the eighteen episodes of Ulysses, has its grand finale in Derry after travelling through eighteen countries over the past two years.
County Tyrone is all too often bypassed by those heading for the likes of Donegal or Antrim’s Causeway Coast, but there’s many in these parts who will tell you there’s no need to motor any further.
The county makes for an excellent destination for natural escape, not least thanks to the Sperrin mountains, one of Ireland’s greatest open-air amenities. Along with offering excellent hiking for all levels of wanderers, 2023 saw the launch of the new Giants of the Sperrins Sculpture Trail, an immersive art installation created by world acclaimed recycle artist, Thomas Dambo, which storytells the geology, archaeology and heritage of the Sperrins through its three giant characters located across the range.
Elsewhere in the county, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, set in the remote Davagh landscape is an optimal location to enjoy some epic star-gazing while the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh is a great all-generation attraction where you can journey back to the Old World of Ulster, from which emigrants fled for a better life in the New World of America. Guests here can even step inside a full-scale emigrant ship to really sail back in time.
If you’ve not been to North Antrim, then pop it on your staycation wish list for 2024. The Causeway Coastal Route is on par with any other world class road-trip when it comes to, literally, breath-taking vistas, plus it’s also studded with blockbuster attractions from Dunluce Castle to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge…and that’s without even mentioning a certain Giant’s Causeway!
While in the area, make time to venture off the mainland too, whether it’s for a kayaking adventure or an exhilarating rib ride along the spectacular basalt cliffs. Keep an eye out for dolphins too!
Rathlin Island, meanwhile, offers a true sense of escape just 30 minutes from the mainland. Ireland’s most northern inhabited island makes an excellent spot for wildlife lovers too — keep an eye out for puffins at this time of year before they return to the high seas. The island reopens for tourism on Easter Sunday and upcoming events include the island’s annual Maritime Festival in May and June. Accommodation in the area can snap up, so get booking now!
Antrim’s eastern coastline also offers many other hidden gems in the county. Glenarm Castle Walled Garden, (located in the postcard village of the same name) has just been awarded with a prestigious gong as the Historic Houses 2023 Garden of The Year, the first Northern Ireland location to be awarded the UK accolade prize. The award offers recognition to gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal. You can even stay overnight here thanks to gorgeous glamping pods.
Looking for a destination to relax and unwind in? Or perhaps you’re in the market for a fabulous foodie break? The Fermanagh Lakelands is home to the Erne waterway and one of the tastiest food scenes you’ll find in Ireland! As the most sparsely populated county in Northern Ireland, it’s easy to unwind in Fermanagh and bases like Enniskillen offer everything from excellent food tours, to boat trips, to historic islands like Devenish.
Looking for something a little more active? The Cuilcagh Mountain boardwalk, a stunning hilly ascent also known as the Stairway to Heaven is a hugely popular route for those seeking a trek with a view, just get there early to avoid the crowds. Elsewhere, you can enjoy less taxing rambles in some of the county’s most beautiful stately homes like Florence Court and Castle Coole which are both run by the National Trust.
Bringing the dog? You’ll find Enniskillen to be one of the most pet-friendly towns in Ireland with a number of dog friendly accommodations as well as several gastropubs in the town which will welcome your furry friend.
It’s been a big year for Down. Due to its areas of outstanding beauty (alongside neighbouring Armagh) the region of Mourne Gullion Strangford has recently been recognised as a UNESCO Geopark. If you’re looking for a nature lover’s destination for all the family, Strangford Lough has even been billed as the Serengeti of Ireland due to its abundance of wildlife. That’s specifically due to its birdlife for any budding twitchers out there: incredibly, 85% of the planet’s Brent Geese population migrate here every winter; some are even thought to use Scrabo Tower in the area as a navigational tool. Head to the Castle Espie Wetland Centre where you can learn all about this incredible habitat with a range of child-friendly experiences.
For another great family friendly attraction, The Exploris in Portaferry is not only the only aquarium along Ireland’s Irish Sea coastline, but it also offers a seal rehabilitation centre, while The Game of Thrones Studio in Banbridge has just celebrated its second birthday and features a new regular bus service between Dublin and Belfast to the attraction.
Last but not least, you can expect a great crop of attractions in the picturesque Orchard County. Don’t know much about astronomy? The county is well known for the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, which sells itself as “the place for space” for all ages interested in the field. Visitors can explore the Universe here from its impressive full dome theatre show, or through the outdoor Astropark's series of trails.
Elsewhere, the Slieve Gullion Forest Park makes an excellent stop-off for those travelling between Dublin and Belfast and is a worthy destination in its own right. The designated Area of Outstanding Beauty features walking trails, a really gorgeous looped scenic drive as well as Fionn’s Giant Adventure Playpark which offers a fun story trail tapping into the mythology of a region known as Ireland’s Mystery Mountain!
Armagh also offers one of the most vibrant calendar of events across the year from its annual St. Patrick’s Day festival to its Food and Cider Weekend to its Georgian Festival.
For more on attractions, events and a wealth of getaway inspiration, see discovernorthernireland.com
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