Cheap family days out in N.I?

Phoolgrrrl

As said National Trust membership is a good money saver, often they have an offer on quidco too.

If going to Carrick Castle there is the Andrew Jackson house on past it a bit to eden, a small period cottage and army ranger museum but would extend the day. There is also a small museum in Carrick town hall. Both free. There is a gas works museum but I'm not sure if it is free.

You can use tesco clubcard vouchers on the Ark farm, Ulster american Folk park and Somme heritage centre.

City hall tour is free.

Ulster Museum is free except for special exhibits.

Exploris is great! They also do a yearly pass I think like the zoo.

lazer

Castlewellan Forest Park and peace maze

Park in the town square and walk in and its free entry (otherwise £4.50 for a car entry fee).

The maze is good fun, and can finish the day with a picnic beside the castle.

A.L.D.A

All the National Trust properties, family membership is £70 per year (I think). Many of the beaches etc are free anyway but with the membership you can go to Mount Stewart and all the other houses, no extra charge.

Good beachs:- Murlough (on the Belfast side of Newcastle) Just park along the hard shoulder and bring a packed lunch. White Park Bay on the North Coast.

If you like walking, and depending on the age of the children, try the Brandy Pad in the Mournes. Great on a good day. What about a walk along the Lagan toe path? The Cavehill, walk up to via Belfast Castle? All the forest parks, Lough Navar Forest, Binevanagh Forest both have stunning views.

The Folk Museum is £20 for a family.

HeadAboveWater

Tour of all N.I.!! Translink are doing their £20 family & friends ticket - check it out here. Get a map and highlight your journey. Try an 'I spy' game on your way. Take a camera and get as many towns or landmarks snapped as you can to document your journey. Fill a rucksack with picnic stuffs and lots of junk food, away you go!!

sandraann

Omagh PCSP hold their annual lark in the park event on 17th August 3.00-9.30pm with a huge range of free entertainment throughout the grange park ie zorbing, sky diving,bouncy castles,climbing wall, archery, young bands, cool fm,

Ex-Spendaholic

My list of favourite free places:

Stormont Park

Seapark, Holywood

Paddling Pool/Park at Donaghadee (you can get great chips at the Captains Table and Ice cream in The Cabin)

Tommy Patton Memorial Park, Holywood Road

Shaws Bridge

Loughshore Park, Jordanstown

Duck Pond, Bradshaws Brae

Lady Dixon Park

Drumglass Park (Lisburn Road)

Kinnego Marina

Ulster Museum

Ward Park

Ikea (younger 2 like going into the creche and playing in the park) and getting a cheap ice cream


When these lot are exhausted I move onto the paid for activities:

Streamvale Farm

Indianaland (closed until 1 August)

Cinema - check each venue as they have deals

Swimming - again not cheap any more

Zoo - costs a fortune now

Daytrips to Bangor, Newcastle etc


Awe well nearly half way through the summer holidays :eek:

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

You've probably seen this but there's a voucher for up to 3 kids to go free to National Trust properties until the end of August http://www.u.tv/nationaltrust/
What about the Giants Causeway? Just steer the kids away from the more expensive things in the shop though!

corey

Hi there, I know this is a bit late but you could go on a day out anytime over the year I guess.

National Trust is very good, I pay £80 approx for a year and that gets 2 passes if you say you have 2 vehicles so I give this one to a relative. Castleward is probably the best venue with them, its excellent, so much to do and 35km of trails to walk or bike. Well worth the money, we have been canoeing there as well.

Delamont park - you can get in here free if you are heading from killyleagh direction and keep going past it until you get to the next road past the entrance to Delamont I think, if you go on down here and park you can access it through here, also theres a walk out to another island which you can take a picnic to and trees for shelter if it rains. We had my daughters birthday party here last year and had a campfire and bbq, we were always responsible and cleaned up obviously but its great fun.

Treasure trails - look up there website and you can download treasure maps for all over Northern Ireland for £5 which is so much fun! We have done a few of them now and taken a picnic with us, probably 4-5 hours for the walking trails and 2-3 hours for the driving ones. Although if its an unfamiliar town you will probably take longer. Highly recommended though and for a fiver its great fun for the whole family.

Cinema - try and go to matinees or early birds depending on age and you get an adult free with early birds. I always take my own sweets in and maybe just buy a popcorn.

Hope this is a bit of help, I think most other things have been mentioned. Look for offers online and on groupon etc and you should be able to find quite a lot of things.