Looking for things to do in Belfast with toddlers? We’ve got you covered!
As a city that thrives in history, culture, and fun, you’ll be able to keep you and your little one busy easily. From Belfast Zoo, culture seeking at Ulster Museum, and right down to the world-leading Belfast Titanic attraction — there’s a lot to do in this family-friendly city.
Step out hand-in-hand with your toddler and explore more of Northern Ireland’s beating heart. Excitement and adventure are around every corner, and we’ve made keeping your kids entertained a whole lot easier with this guide.
Not only have we provided you a list of our favourite activities to do in Belfast with kids, but exciting adventures that even adults can enjoy!
Best Toddler Days Out In Belfast
Belfast Zoo
Nothing says pure child-like enjoyment like the zoo! Only a 15-minute drive from Belfast City Centre and located on Cave Hill’s slopes, the Belfast Zoological Gardens has the perfect view across Belfast Lough.
With more than 55 acres home to over 120 species to explore, you’ll find joy and excitement viewing the zoo’s unique and popular attractions like the California sea lions, Malayan sun bears, Eastern bongo, Asian elephants, and Barbary lions!
As one of the oldest visitor attractions in the city, the Zoo is one of the most popular things to do in Belfast with kids and offers plenty of learning experiences. You can take a zoomable on an inclusive tour or hilltop drop-off. Maybe you’d like to see how the animals are fed? Want to hear some fun facts on featured animals on an audio guide? The zoo’s got it all!
Ulster Museum
Home to the fantastical treasures of Northern Ireland and seated in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum has free admission to all kinds of visitors — art lovers, thrilled kids, and history enthusiasts. This attraction tickles every fancy!
Ulster Museum brings history, art, and science to life with galleries and interactive exhibits for never-ending excitement. From life-sized dinosaur statues and real ancient Egyptian mummies to beautiful art galleries, explore the rich history of Northern Ireland from the earliest times to the recent past.
With a regular programme of exhibitions and events, there’ll never be a moment of boredom for you and your toddler with this firm family favourite!
Andersonstown Indoor Aqua Park
Get wet and wild at one of the largest indoor aqua parks in Northern Ireland. With a surf simulator, three exhilarating high-speed water slides, and a children’s adventure aqua play area and shallow lagoon, there’s non-stop fun for all ages!
Brush up on those surfing skills and give the surf simulator a go — it’s the first of its kind in Northern Ireland! Let your little ones have an adventure in the Aqua Play Area with unique features like shooting water jets, rope bridges, and twisting turns on the slides.
If you or your kid are not a fan of adrenaline rides, don’t worry, there is a 25-metre swimming pool with a 29.5C average water temperature for some laid-back swimming. Anderstown Indoor Aqua Park boasts family fun experiences for everyone.
So, if you’re looking for some swimming fun on a bad weather day, this is the perfect option!
Victoria Park
A 12-minute drive from Belfast City Centre and nestled alongside Lady Dixon Park and Ormeau Park, Victoria Park is the perfect place for your kids to blow off some steam!
Besides being a beautiful oasis for swans, ducks, and geese, the park offers plenty of exciting children’s activities. Its features include a BMX track, dual lakeside walking and bike trails, soccer pitches, and a traditional bowling green to keep you and your little ones occupied and entertained.
Moreover, it offers great views of the famous Samson and Goliath Cranes and has handy parking in the Titanic Harbour.
Lost City Adventure Golf
Lost City Adventure Golf is perfect for adventure seekers of all ages. Not only will you get to work on that swing, but you’ll be exploring a city of wonders while you do it!
There are two 18-hole indoor golf courses at Lost City Adventure Golf, complete with interactive obstacles like crumbling relics and moving walls, as well as exciting special effects to immerse you and your kiddies in the experience fully.
If you’re feeling hungry, you’ll find delicious food and drinks to enjoy after the game at the Tiki Bar & Restaurant. Whatever the weather, the golf course is open every day of the week, all year round!
Get ready for tropical thunderstorms, waterfalls, and talking trees. Yes, talking trees! Fancy an adventure?
Titanic Belfast
Crowned the world’s leading tourist attraction, Titanic Belfast dominates much of the visitor attractions in East Belfast. It takes you on an experience as it walks you through the story of the RMS Titanic, right beside the historic site of the world-famous ship’s construction.
Discover the real legend of the Titanic through nine interactive galleries that have you walking the decks, exploring the shipyard, and travelling to the depths of the ocean. Even for those not particularly interested in the Titanic, this immersive experience will still be a whole lot of fun.
This is an incredibly popular attraction, especially for young ones, so make sure you check busy periods to get at the front of every line!
W5 at Odyssey
Ditch the seas and take to the skies with W5 at Odyssey, an interactive science and discovery centre. Located at the gateway to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, you’ll find limitless fun and exciting discoveries at every corner!
Acclaimed an award-winning visitor attraction, W5 has eight new exhibit zones with over 250 interactive exhibits for the whole family. This interactive science centre offers seasonal events all year round.
Perfect for a rainy day with the family, W5 pulls out all the stops for all the family. It has a multitude of permanent exhibitions like the Skull Cave, Energise Zone, The Lost Planet, and a huge multi-storey climbing structure, Climbit.
Cave Hill Country Park
A perfect adventure for a city break with the kids, Cave Hill Country Park, is decorated with natural and historical features, including eco-trails, Belfast Castle, Cave Hill, and orienteering routes.
Not only does it offer beautiful picnic and woodland areas for some perfect laid-back family fun, but it also has archaeological sites like the remains of a Stone Cairn, Cashel, and Crannog. There’s something for children and adults alike with a visitor centre and children’s playground.
Take a walk on the wild side with three circular walking routes of varying distances. It offers unmatched views from the top of Cave Hill, where you can view the sprawling city, Belfast Lough, and the Mourne Mountains.
Streamvale Open Farm
Streamvale is the ideal spot for families looking to learn and play together. With cuddly animals, play areas, and dog agility shows, you’ll find a long list of activities running throughout your day.
The farm offers a fun “Digger Zone” for kids to be a builder for a day. Bottle-feeding lambs and cuddling pet rabbits sounds equally as exciting as it is adorable, and you can do that here! Fancy a free tractor and barrel ride? Streamvale will take you on a beautiful countryside ride around the farmyard to enjoy fantastic views over Belfast and Dundonald.
Streamvale also has a “Cannon Area”, a great place for parents and kids to play together while shooting noisy targets at each other. Kids have an open space and a big slide to explore here.
Get excited for some family fun, and be prepared for the funky smells at Streamvale Open Farm..!
Window On Wildlife
One of Belfast’s popular outdoor attractions, Window on Wildlife, abbreviated as WOW, which is exactly what you’ll be saying when you set your eyes on the thriving wildlife seated in the heart of the Belfast Harbour Estate – just 10 minutes from the city centre.
Get some fresh air and catch a break from the hustle and bustle of Belfast City to see a huge diversity of wildlife. The reserve has a variety of butterflies, fish, plants, and mammals to see and is home to over 200 different bird species.
WOW has two hides for viewing, both constructed from shipping containers to tie in with nature’s surroundings. You’ll have helpful and enthusiastic staff and volunteers to give you a hand with the binoculars and telescopes and answer any questions you throw their way.
With a chance to spot the resident konik ponies grazing or the lapwings bird taking a bath, who wouldn’t enjoy this wildlife escape?
Looking for another location? Check out our Days Out section for more ideas.
