Cheap family days out in N.I?

falko89

So we are having a staycation this year and the plan was/is to have days out here or there but we are finding the cost of things ridiculous, We are a family of 2 adults 2 kids, The Titanic Visitors Centre £34, Belfast Zoo £27 and all the rest of the major visitor attractions are similar, I mean you pay your entry, the kids maybe want a souvenir, then you've your lunch of whatever else, it leads to a very expensive day. Any recommendations for cheap family days out in N.I? (Apart from Portrush) that cards been played to many times now.

AO78

What age are the children? I have a 3 year old, so apologies if recommendations aren't relevant. Bangor Pickie Park - a few things are charged but playpark and splash pads are free (and great fun). Crawfordsburn is great for a walk / picnic / splash in the water (wellies if weather isn't great). Same with Loughshore (although only with the wellies there for us - lots of kids go in barefoot there but I wouldn't!). Park there and also at Stormont are great. You could bring bikes and scooters to any of these places. Or a kite - great fun.

Ulster Museum is free entry and again, Botanic is nice for a walk / cycle / scooter / skate!

I hear great things about Carnfunnock although haven't been.

savingannie

hi there is a sea life up in belfast and if you have 02 priority moments you get a 2 for one on tickets.Also if you keep an eye or google there might be local events that can be worth going to.a lot of car shows that can be fun if you have boys.

D.A.

There's public skating available at the Odyssey this week - admittedly it's still £25 for a family of 4 though.

http://www.odysseyarena.com/skate-odyssey-public-ice-skating.html

falko89

Thanks for the suggestions, Went to W5 today, £25 or something it was, by the time we got something to eat it was £60, won't be having to many days out like this, everything has gotten so expensive.

warmhands.coldheart

falko89 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions, Went to W5 today, £25 or something it was, by the time we got something to eat it was £60, won't be having to many days out like this, everything has gotten so expensive.

That's where packed lunches come in handy.... £25 would seem OK for family of 4... as you say though it's when you start buying food in these places, that's when prices go skywards !!

totallybroke_2

D.A. wrote: »

There's public skating available at the Odyssey this week - admittedly it's still £25 for a family of 4 though.

http://www.odysseyarena.com/skate-odyssey-public-ice-skating.html

Skip that! The ice bowl are doing sessions this saturday for £2.12 per person!

Also, wallace park in lisburn is great. If its raining head to the ulster museum, its free!

What about the leisureplex in lisburn? Delamont park, killyleagh? Or the aquarium in portaferry? Carrickfergus castle? Dublin zoo?

snowmen

would second pickie park in bangor - sure the rides you have to pay for but we didnt spend that much and had a great day.
As has been said before, take a packed lunch or watch your expenditure douible at least!

mofopants

What about getting a national trust membership? We did it last year and had great days out all over ni that after the initial payment, was really cheap things like carrick a rede, castle ward

deirdre42c

Have a look at the Belfast Waterfront - they are running films on a big screen next week for kids and only £3 per ticket for kids and adults alike.

i've been and taken the kids three times now and its always a brilliant day

PS-you can bring in your own sweets etc!Keeps the costs down

Willyk

Stormont Park to the play park. Bring a picnic (helps if you get the kids involved in making it,) maybe stop at Lidl and get some fresh rolls. Have a charge about the estate, some great paths, looks for the badger sets and the bomb crater etc etc. Bring a ball, frisbee etc...maybe even a disposable bbq. Take a walk right to the top of the glen (left of the main building) Get off the beaten track and get the kids to dam the stream. Some free exercise equipment just on the left inside main gates are good for the kids aswell.

Play park at Holywood and a mess about on the beach, another great stream to dam, but this time bring some spades. Another picnic or get a chippy takeaway for down the beach (bring a big bottle of fizz and some ketchup to reduce costs). Go for a walk along the coastal path.

If Holywood does not do it for you head for Crawfordsburn and take the coastal path to Bangor. Bring some buckets and do some rock pooling en route. If you have the energy to get to the whole way to Bangor head for the enclosed harbour and do some crabbing. Few lengths of string, a weight and some bacon tied on the end will work well. Kids love it. Head for the amusements and a few quid in the 2p shovers will last a while.

Other similar venues. Scrabo Park, Cregagh Glen (another great dam spot ) and a brilliant walk right up to the castlereagh hills.

Belfast Zoo is good value if you are close and can afford to join for the year. You can then just pop in anytime for the odd hour.

Dundonald ice bowl take Tesco vouchers which can be used on skating, bowling and Indiana land.

Ulster Musuem, Hot house and main glass house all free. Great big area of grass for whatever you want. Ball games, hide and seek etc etc

Get on your bike on the Comber greenway !

Belvoir park has some great forest tracks and lots of wildlife. Have a walk into the cattle field if they are there near the meadows. Kids will like it if not used to farms.

Good Luck.

There is not such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing ;-)

Oh and of the course we have the Antrim Glens and the Mournes. All for free.