Indoor Days Out in Northern Ireland
24 places to explore
Inflatable World Cookstown
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Inflatable World Cookstown is an indoor inflatable play experience packed with bouncing, climbing, sliding and active fun. A great all-weather option for energetic kids looking to burn off some energy, with plenty of inflatable challenges to tackle.
Wee Adventurers Play Hub
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
A bespoke indoor soft play frame with slides, netted bridges and a role play village in Cookstown, plus a calming sensory room and comfortable seating for parents.
Hunters Quest
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Primary (5–11)
An exciting indoor activity centre in Magherafelt, packed with fun challenges and adventures for kids. Perfect for active little adventurers, birthday treats and family fun!
Tower Museum
Ages: Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Fascinating museum set within Derry’s historic walls, with exhibitions exploring the Story of Derry from its earliest settlements through to the present day, alongside the Armada Shipwreck exhibition featuring artefacts recovered from La Trinidad Valencera, one of the ships of the Spanish Armada. Families can explore interactive displays, historic objects and local stories before heading up to the open-air viewing platform for fantastic panoramic views across the city and River Foyle.
Museum of Free Derry
Ages: Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
The Museum of Free Derry tells the story of the civil rights movement and the events surrounding Bloody Sunday through photographs, artefacts and personal accounts. Best suited to older children and teens who are interested in learning more about this important part of Derry’s history.
Guildhall
Ages: Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
The Guildhall is one of Derry/Londonderry’s most recognisable buildings and a great free stop while exploring the city. Step inside to see the beautiful stained-glass windows, impressive Main Hall and exhibitions telling stories from the city’s history.
Foyle Arena
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13)
Large family leisure centre with a 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool and family swimming sessions, alongside an indoor climbing wall, sports halls and a wide range of indoor activities. Outside, families can also enjoy the surrounding St Columb’s Park, with walking paths, green space and a children’s play park, making it easy to combine a swim or climb with some outdoor play.
Itsy Bitsy Wonderland
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
A colourful role-play village designed especially for little ones, where children can explore different themed areas and let their imaginations take over. Kids can dress up, pretend to shop, cook, care for babies and act out everyday adventures in the miniature play spaces, with plenty of toys and props for hands-on play. A lovely indoor option for toddlers and younger children, with sessions designed to encourage imaginative and social play.
Giggle & Grow
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
Giggle N Grow in Bellaghy is a welcoming indoor play space for younger children to play, explore and burn off some energy. A handy all-weather option for families with little ones looking for somewhere relaxed to enjoy some playtime together.
Wee'uns World
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
Wee'uns World in South Belfast is an imaginative indoor role-play centre where little ones can explore child-sized themed spaces, dress up and create their own adventures. With a café for the grown-ups too, it’s a lovely play option for younger children.
W5
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13)
Huge interactive science and discovery centre packed with hands-on exhibits, experiments, technology, engineering challenges and creative play across multiple floors. Kids can climb, build, test, investigate and learn through play, with the brilliant Climbit multi-storey climbing structure a particular favourite. There are dedicated areas for younger children, changing exhibitions and demonstrations, plus seasonal family events and themed experiences throughout the year, making it a brilliant all-weather day out with plenty for toddlers right through to older kids.
Ulster Museum
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Free family museum packed with fascinating collections covering dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, archaeology, natural history, art, science and Northern Ireland’s past. Kids can come face-to-face with dinosaur skeletons, discover the famous Takabuti Egyptian mummy, explore animals and wildlife from around the world and wander through changing exhibitions and hands-on family displays. Set beside the Botanic Gardens, it’s a brilliant free indoor day out that can easily be combined with the Tropical Ravine and gardens.
Titanic Belfast
Ages: Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
World-famous interactive visitor attraction telling the story of Titanic, from Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage and the construction of the ship through to her maiden voyage, sinking and legacy. Families can explore immersive galleries, full-scale recreations, interactive displays and the Shipyard Ride, before heading outside to explore the historic slipways and board SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line vessel. With lots to see, touch and discover, it’s an impressive indoor day out for curious kids and adults alike.
Tír na nÓg Belfast
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5)
Tír na nÓg in West Belfast is an indoor role-play centre where children can explore their very own child-sized town. With miniature shops and imaginative play areas filled with props and toys, it’s designed to encourage creativity, make-believe and learning through play.
The Lost City Adventure Golf – Cityside
Ages: Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13)
The Lost City Adventure Golf at Cityside offers a fun indoor adventure golf experience with themed surroundings, obstacles and challenges along the way. A great all-weather activity for kids, teens and grown-ups to enjoy together.
Templemore Baths
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13)
Family leisure centre with a 25-metre swimming pool offering public and family swimming sessions, alongside a gym, sports facilities, squash and an outdoor athletics track. The centre also runs children’s activities and birthday party packages, including pool parties, sports activities, pedal race karts and inflatable options, making it useful for much more than just swimming. derrystrabane.com
SS Nomadic
Ages: Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Step aboard SS Nomadic in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and explore the historic ship that once carried passengers out to Titanic. Families can wander through the restored vessel, discover its fascinating story and imagine what travelling aboard would have been like over 100 years ago.
Ulster Transport Museum
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
A brilliant museum for kids who love anything that moves, packed with historic trains, trams, buses, cars, motorcycles and other vehicles to discover. Families can get up close to an amazing collection of transport from across the years, explore the different galleries and see how travel has changed over time. With so much to look at and explore indoors, it’s a great family day out whatever the weather.
Rafiki's Treehouse
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
Rafiki’s Treehouse in Castlewellan is a fun indoor soft play centre where kids can climb, slide and explore across the play equipment. With areas for younger children and a café for the grown-ups, it’s a handy all-weather option for a play date or some family fun.
Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Huge family leisure centre with an impressive leisure pool, flumes, interactive water features, toddler splash areas and a 50-metre swimming pool. Beyond swimming, families can enjoy the indoor soft play area, sports facilities and a large outdoor 3G activity area, making it a brilliant all-weather option with plenty to keep different ages entertained.
Prison Island Belfast
Ages: Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Immersive indoor challenge experience where families work together to tackle a series of themed prison cells, each containing a different physical, mental or skill-based challenge. Race against the clock solving puzzles, testing your reactions, climbing, balancing and completing team challenges to collect as many points as possible. With lots of different rooms to attempt, it’s brilliant competitive fun for older kids, teens and grown-ups, especially for families who enjoy escape rooms and game-show-style challenges.
Tiny Tornadoes
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
An indoor soft play option in Banbridge where children can climb, slide and burn off plenty of energy. It’s a handy rainy-day choice when you need an easy family activity that keeps the kids moving.
The Super City
Ages: Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11)
A fun miniature role-play city where children can step into the grown-up world through imaginative play. Little ones can explore themed areas, dress up and take on different roles as they shop, work, care for others and create their own adventures around the city. A great indoor activity for younger children, with lots of opportunities for independent, imaginative and social play.
Banbridge Leisure Centre
Ages: Babies (0–1) • Toddlers (1–3) • Preschool (3–5) • Primary (5–11) • Tweens (11–13) • Teens (13–17)
Great family swimming centre with four different pool areas, including a 25m main pool, learner pool, leisure pool and dedicated toddler pool, plus a brilliant 50m winding water slide for bigger kids. It also offers family swimming sessions, a café and a sensory pod, with a Poolpod providing accessible entry to the main pool.