❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Kids menu is great (£6.50 for 3 courses)
✓ Colouring sheets & puzzles while waiting 

✓ Older ones love sharing the MASSIVE 24-inch

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Opened in 2009 & has become a favourite of Belfast families, now with 4 Belfast locations plus venues across NI. You’ve probably already been to Little Wing. If not, it’s worth the visit with the family.

🌐 littlewingpizzeria.com

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Play area for small kids

✓ Child-friendly food options 

✓ Fun, colourful atmosphere

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Pitches itself as a fun, family-orientated meeting point for local parents. It’s not huge but there’s plenty to keep kids entertained while you enjoy a chat and a bite from their decent menu.

🌐 jellybean-cafe.square.site

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Fresh-baked buns, scones & treats. 

✓ Colourful artwork & local Belfast history

✓ Perfectly placed along the Maritime Mile, close to W5, O2 Arena (formerly SSE) and Titanic Belfast

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

A hidden gem. Unique in being ‘donations-only’ and run mainly by volunteers, it provides a community-led environment that feels very different than your typical high-street café.

🌐 the-dock.org/cafe

If you’ve done the above or they don’t particularly interest you, why not try:

🔘 The Doyen (Lisburn Rd)

Popular with all ages, with a dedicated kids play inside the cafe bar.

🔘 Mona’s Cafe (Stewartstown Rd)

Eat then get outdoors in Colin Glen or calm the nerves after the Gruffalo Trail.

🔘 Wynne & Pym (Botanic Gardens)

Part of the Ulster Museum with lots of space and natural light.

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Endless natural terrain to walk, run & climb.
✓ Panoramas stretching across Belfast City, Belfast Lough, Lough Neagh, the Mournes and out to Scotland and the Isle of Man.
✓ Caves to discover at Cave Hill. Wooden boardwalk at Divis & Black Mountain.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Cave Hill Country Park and Divis and Black Mountain are the two picks of the 6 sites in Belfast Hills. For Cave Hill, try the car park at the quieter Upper Hightown Road which provides a shorter path summit. Divis & Black Mountain arguably has the finest panoramic views in Belfast with a new Visitor Centre scheduled to open in 2027.

🌐 belfasthills.org

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Plenty of spaces to zoom about without worrying about cars.

✓ Cover way more ground than little legs can manage on a standard walk.

✓ Easy to connect routes directly to local parks and play areas.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Ride out of the city along the flats of Lagan Towpath & Comber Greenway, or scoot through East Belfast and City Centre on the Connswater Community Greenway. The Forth Meadow Community Greenway has a few gentle hills, but the reward is extra scenery.

🌐 belfastcyclecampaign.com
Our friends at Belfast Cycle Campaign are working for safer, more connected streets in Belfast
🌐 instagram.com/criticalmassbelfast

An informal, family friendly, group cycle round Belfast city centre on the last Friday of each month.

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ 185 acres of woodland and river trails to explore.

✓ Searching for a 12th-century Norman motte, an 18th-century ice house, and what is likely NIs oldest oak tree.

✓ If lucky, spotting red squirrels, the blue flash kingfishers along the River Lagan, or the drumming of woodpeckers (February to April).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

An amazing spot, right on the city's doorstep. Main Car Park is located off Belvoir Estate & is the easiest starting point for exploring trails. An alternative is to park near Instonians hockey pitches and gives bonus of finishing the walk with  coffee / ice-cream at The Lock Keeper's Inn.

There are so many more places to get outdoors in Belfast including:

🔘 Cregagh Glen: a real hidden gem with woodland glen into the Castlereagh Hills.

🔘 Bog Meadows: stroller-friendly nature reserve.

🔘 North Down Coastal Path: walk or cycle from edge of Belfast Lough to Seapark Beach & beyond.

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❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Dedicated Discovery Centre helps kids get hands-on and explore art, history and nature.

✓ The fossils, dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian mummy, life-size Irish Wolfhound (Patrick of Ifold)

✓ Age appropriate history of NI conflict.

✓ Lots of exhibitions (we loved the incredible ‘Wild Ireland’ in 2025. We’ll keep an eye on any great future exhibitions and share in our weekly emails.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Avoid our rookie error of starting at the bottom and going up. This museum is best explored by getting the lift to the top or middle floors and working your way down.

Free admission with donations welcome. Combine with an hour exploring Botanical Gardens next door.

🌐 ulstermuseum.org

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Everything is hands-on - none of that ‘don’t touch’, ‘don’t climb’, ‘don’t run’ so common in museums (poor Paddy Raff)

✓ 250+ exhibits across 8 zones, loads to do.

✓ Experiment, build, climb, explore technology, discover nature.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

W5 is one you can go back to again and again. It feels more like a giant adventure playground for curious minds than a traditional museum. Dedicated areas for younger children and more challenges for older ones. 

Entry around £10, free for under 3s. Check their website for Daily Live Show Times. 

🌐 w5online.co.uk

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ ‘All Aboard!’ : Getting inside the trains and trams is the big draw. 

✓ Children are awed by the up-close size of the steam locomotives, vintage buses & fire engines.

✓ Interactive exhibits and plenty of things to discover including an original DeLorean DMC-12 built in Belfast. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

A brilliant choice for vehicle-mad kids and one of the most comprehensive transport collections in Europe. Particularly good for younger children who might find a traditional museum less engaging.

Spacious grounds for kids to run around in. A bonus is the North Down Coastal Path accessed directly from the museum grounds

🔘 Crumlin Road Gaol: fascinating for slightly older kids to see inside a jail & learn local history. 

🔘 Titanic Belfast: a tourist magnet, definitely worth doing as a local also. 

🔘 Ulster Folk Museum — recreated historic NI village, sister of the above Transport Museum but with separate entry and payment.

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Free public art-supply stations let them draw, build, or create any time they visit. 

✓ Weekend family theatre, storytelling, and puppetry shows for young audiences. 

✓ The huge open atrium makes exploring the building itself feel like an adventure.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

A low-pressure venue with an award-winning Family Room, baby-changing, and buggy-friendly access. Great for a rainy afternoon. The CaféBar has a kids’ menu if you want to combine the visit with lunch.

The Play Room and some family activities are free, while theatre shows and workshops are paid. It’s worth checking each show’s age recommendation rather than assuming. 

🌐 themaclive.com

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Kids get to actively participate in workshops — arts and crafts, music, drama, dance.

✓ Classes run from Family Creative Movement sessions for crawling babies right up through broader kids’ courses. 

✓ The programme changes throughout the year, so there’s always something new to try.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

There’s a café on site, plus some free / drop-in and pay-what-you-decide activities, so it doesn’t have to be an expensive outing. It’s best to check the current programme and book a specific class or event in advance. 

It’s right on University Road in South Belfast, making it easy to pair with the nearby Botanic Gardens or Ulster Museum for a fuller day.

🌐 crescentarts.org

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Kids pick their own blank ceramic piece — mugs, animal figurines, plates — and paint it however they like, no experience needed. 

✓ There’s real excitement in knowing their piece goes into a kiln to be glazed and fired.

✓ Special packages add a fun treasure-hunt feel to choosing a piece. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Recently moved from Botanic to Victoria St. Sessions run about 2 hours, with a parent required to supervise and everyone in the studio needing their own ticket. Initial £5 ticket is a deposit toward the piece and finished items take about 3 weeks to glaze and fire.

🌐 belfastpotterypainting.co.uk

There are plenty of options across Belfast during term times and holidays including:

🔘 Golden Thread Gallery:  has a dedicated Community Hub with a children's play area, Junior Gallery and free art materials.

🔘 Belfast Arts For All: provides completely free, accessible community art classes and seasonal creative workshops

🔘 New Lodge Arts Academy: offers affordable, weekly creative classes—including drama, dance, and visual arts.

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Three exciting water slides, including a high-speed vertical drop, give older kids a real thrill. 

✓ A jungle-gym style Aqua Play area is packed with mini slides, rope bridges, water cannons, and a giant tipping bucket for under-12s. 

✓ Toddlers get their own safe, shallow Little Lagoon, while older kids and teens can try Surf Belfast, Ireland’s only indoor wave/surf simulator.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Family-friendly sessions run on fixed, timed slots that need to be booked in advance, so booking online through the Better UK app or website ahead of time is essential. 

Weekends and school holidays get busy with queues for slides and bustling changing rooms, though a separate learner pool alongside the main 25m, 6-lane pool means kids of different abilities all have somewhere to swim.

🌐 better.org.uk

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ Candy is made by showman-like characters whose demonstrations delight younger kids. 

✓ Kids get hands-on, dipping marshmallows or candy floss into chocolate to eat. 

✓ Weekend candy shows and a Saturday chocolate master class add extra entertainment.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

It’s a small, charming, artisan shop rather than a large commercial attraction, so seating and amenities are minimal though it is pushchair and wheelchair friendly with onsite parking and accessible toilets. 

The shop is only open to the public at weekends, though group visits can be booked Monday–Friday by calling ahead, and picnics are welcome if you want to make a day of it.

🌐 auntsandras.com

❤️ WHY KIDS LOVE IT

✓ The big draw for Belfast families is the Odeon Kids Club which offers £1 ticket deals and make it an easy, affordable outing.

✓ Heading into town and the buzz of Victoria Square.

✓ Riding the escalators or lift up is part of the fun.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

ODEON Belfast is known for its autism-friendly initiatives, with staff described as understanding and welcoming to all families. 

Its location in Victoria Square makes it easy to combine with shopping, dining, or other city-centre activities. Take the lift to The Dome or a 360-degree view of Belfast City skyline

🌐 odeon.co.uk

🔘 Let’s Go Hydro: Offers high-energy fun with massive inflatable aqua park obstacle courses.

🔘 Lost City Adventure Golf (Cityside): Delivers immersive, tropical jungle-themed indoor mini golf that works in any weather.

🔘 Holywood Bowl: Provides classic family-friendly entertainment with ten-pin bowling, food, and arcade games all under one roof.

“If you’re a teenager looking for something to do in Belfast, there’s lots happening beyond staying at home. 

I like to head into the city centre for a shopping trip and check out the recent additions that have been added to Victoria Square, grab a coffee at Black Sheep or a bubble tea at HeyBoba, catch the latest film at the Odeon, or challenge my friends at mini golf in the O2 Arena. 

On sunny days, I sometimes take a walk down the Lagan towpath and make a quick stop at Lock keeper’s Inn, relax in Botanic Gardens, or enjoy an ice cream beside the river.  

I also try to keep an eye out for things such as pop up markets, festivals or other fun things to do, but no need to worry, Belfast Brief say they will do most of that for you!”

Belfast is a great city to bring up kids and teenagers. Here are our top 5 extra things that are great for teenagers in Belfast:

#1. Better Leisure Centres: an absolute gem for Belfast teenagers (once you get your head round their booking system!). Depending on their location and interest they can swim, do a junior gym, ride the slides, climbing walls, laser tag, tennis, pickleball, badminton and lots more. 

#2. Let's Go Hydro: Massive outdoor water park with giant inflatables and wakeboarding.

#3. Colin Glen: zip-lining, alpine coaster in Belfast Hills.

#4. Dundonald Ice Bowl: ice skating, cinema, and bowling combo.

#5. Prison Island: Team-based challenges combining physical and mental puzzles.

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