Rainy Days in Belfast

The Titanic Experience spans 9 galleries telling the story of the Titanic through interactive special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative features. Explore the shipyard, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic, in the city where it all began.

A top, free attraction in Belfast, the Ulster Museum captures the imaginations of old and young visitors alike. Temporary exhibitions include Art of the Troubles and Posters of the First World War, Costumes Parisien as well as all of the usual collection of natural science and human history. Don’t miss Takabuti, the Theban mummy.

Dating back to 1845, Crumlin Road Gaol was a working prison until 1996. Explore the Tunnel linking the courthouse and Hanging Cell, the Historic Holding Cells, Governors Office and more on the unique tour, which runs daily. For those with an extra sense of adventure, take the Paranormal Tour, bringing you to various hot spots of the Gaol where Paranormal Activity has been reported. Discover where there have been sightings, noises and unexplained happenings within the walls where 17 men were executed over its 150 year history.

Part museum, part interactive play centre, W5 answers all those difficult questions – who, what, when, where, why? Exploration begins on the ground floor with butterflies on an interactive wall, where you can create smoke rings or launch hot air balloons high into the air. Climb the musical stairs to Level 2 where you’ll find START, a colourful interactive exhibition area specially created for 8s and under. Younger visitors can make music, make a splash or even role-play in a miniature supermarket, boat, castle or café! Climbit is an unusual mixture of physical fun, exploration and art!

Challenge yourself and your friends at Clip n Climb in Dundonald International Ice Bowl where you’ll find 24 climbing activities for ages 4 and upwards and a unique climbing experience.

Visit High Rise in the centre of Lisburn, offering lots to do for all the family including Clip n Climb arena, soft play, a cafe and quiet rooms.

Go bowling with friends or family, the ideal activity for a rainy day. Visit Odyssey Bowl where there are 20 state-of-the-art lanes, pool tables, an arcade and glow bowling with food and drinks served.

Try your hand at Xtreme Bowling at Dundonald International Ice Bowl, with glow balls and ultra violet lights for the extreme bowling experience.

Get lost during a rainy day in Belfast! Visit GoT To Escape for a 60 minute game for up to six players. After meeting your gamemaster, enter the escape room which is packed with clues and puzzles where only the best teamwork and determined focus will help you escape.

Go to Prison Island where there are 25 different prison-themed challenge cells, using a mix of physical and tactical skills where a live scoring system will let you know how you are doing against your challengers!

Get your skates on at Dundonald International Ice Bowl with public sessions 7 days a week. Northern Ireland’s only public Olympic sized ice rink, Dundonald is the training ground for the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team. There is a 30 lane tenpin bowling centre with glow in the dark extreme sessions and Indiana Land, a wild, jungle inspired playground for under 12s.

Stay out of the rain and go swimming instead! Based in the heart of Lisburn City, the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex boasts the largest leisure pool in Northern Ireland. Dominating the vast free form family fun pool area is a great sunken pirate ship complete with water cannons and mast.

Visit Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex, leisure waters with flumes and sidewinder slide and three swimming pools.

Immerse yourself in majestic locomotives, horse-drawn carriages, vintage motorbikes and cars, along with exhibits of historical materials, including photographs of the Titanic. You can easily reach the museum via NI Railways on the Belfast to Bangor line, getting off at Cultra Halt which is a 2 minute walk to the museum.

This fascinating gallery museum allows you to rub shoulders with the giants of the steam engine age. You can step on the footplate of an engine, get on board several historic carriages and locomotives from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s collection and watch as restoration work takes place. Visitors with a valid rail or bus ticket will receive 20% off their ticket price. The scenic coastal line to Whitehead NIR is just a 10 minute walk from the Museum.

Located in Portaferry on the shores of Strangford Lough, you can enjoy a diver’s view of marine life from around the world. Explore the colourful coral reefs of the Tropical Ocean and see if you can find ‘Nemo’ and ‘Dory’ before entering the smugglers cove where sharks circle above you!

Do you find yourself backflipping out of bed or scaling your drainpipe whilst brushing your teeth? You need to go to We Are Vertigo. Vertigo Titanic Park is Ireland’s only indoor skydiving centre and Ninja Master Course – both located in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.

Check out We Are Vertigo , home to the world’s largest Inflata-Park, indoor ski slopes and an alpine themed adventure centre at Newtownbreda.

Enjoy an epic adventure at The Lost City Adventure Golf – food, drinks and indoor fun for all ages. Open seven days a week from 10am, including Sundays, experience two indoor 18-hole jungle themed adventure golf courses, complete with incredible special effects and interactive obstacles. A great activity for the whole family on a rainy day!

North Down Museum is located in the picturesque grounds of Castle Park in the centre of Bangor. This free attraction is popular with all ages. The displays reflect the pivotal role nearby Bangor Abbey held in early Christian Ireland and throughout Europe. Discover how the monks met their fate at the hands of the Vikings and visit the full-sized Monk’s Cell and Viking Long-house.

Thunder Park brings a whole new dynamic to the term ‘indoors fun’! Test your skills at this 14,000 square ft purpose-built facility with ramps and obstacles to cater for the beginner or seasoned enthusiast. Try BMX biking, freestyle mountain biking, stunt scooters, skateboarding, inline skating and parkour. Don’t worry, they have a wealth of hire equipment on site for those who need it.

Belfast City Centre is full of shops and shopping centres you can duck into during a downpour. CastleCourt is the ultimate shopping experience with all your favourite shops under one roof right in the heart of Belfast, with over 80 great stores and 15 great food places. Victoria Square boasts fantastic shops split over four levels with covered streets and topped by an iconic dome, with panoramic views across the city, the river Lagan. Between Friday and Sunday call into St George’s Market, the UKs best indoor market, filled with fresh food, local merchandise and mouth watering food.

The Cathedral Church of St Anne’s is over a century old, consecrated in 1904. With an imposing façade and Romanesque architecture, you can’t help but notice the Spire of Hope, added in 2006. Enjoy the audio guide which takes you on an intimate, 40 minute tour of Belfast’s magnificent cathedral. Point by point you’ll find out how the Cathedral’s story is intertwined with that of its home city, discover its rich historic artefacts, and be introduced to the people who helped to shape this sacred place. You’ll find hidden gems from the unique craftsmanship and architecture to the stained glass and stonework.