Northern Ireland family holidays: top UK destinations

Northern Ireland is an often overlooked UK holiday destination but is highly recommended for family holidays doable on a budget. That's why it is one of our Top 5 UK Holiday Destinations for Families.

Northern Ireland is a beautiful country packed with activities and attractions to keep your kids – and you – entertained through a trip of any length. Even better, its small size means it’s perfectly set up for a motorhome holiday, as all destinations are within easy driving distance of each other.

Getting to Northern Ireland and around with your family

If you live in or have visited Northern Ireland, you’ll already know how easy it is to have a motorhome holiday or static caravan break there. But it’s simple to arrange from other parts of the UK too.

Hire a motorhome in your nearest destination in England, Scotland or Wales to take the vehicle ferry from Stranraer to Larne, or arrive in the Republic of Ireland at Dublin, via Holyhead in Wales and drive north – or fly over on one of the many available budget flights and arrange your caravan hire in Belfast or nearby. Incidentally, UK citizens don’t need a visa to visit Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Why moving around with a van

Travelling in a motorhome is one of the most immersive, exciting and comfortable ways to dive into Northern Ireland – and it’s easily affordable for a family too.

If you’re hiring static caravans in Northern Ireland, we recommend the north coast as a stunning base between Belfast and Derry (search for static caravan parks around Ballycastle or the Antrim glens), then moving on to a static caravan park in Fermanagh or Co Londonderry to explore the northwest, or Jordanstown/Newtownabbey to be within easy reach of Belfast.

You could even hire a static caravan in Donegal, as it’s an easy and short drive over the border towards Londonderry and the rest of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland family holiday road trip

For a Northern Ireland family holiday road trip, we recommend the north coast first. That way you can spend time on the sandy beaches of the Antrim coast and visit famous attractions like the Giant’s Causeway (and events like the Ould Lammas Fair if you’re around in August).

Older kids will enjoy sightseeing and shopping in Belfast, Derry, Newry and Coleraine, plus outdoor activities around the Mourne Mountains and Northern Ireland’s waterways.

Then drive south for a campervan holiday in the Republic of Ireland, home to more spectacular beaches , the lively cities of Dublin, Galway and Cork, and well-known destinations like Kerry, the Aran Islands, Dingle, Killarney, Westport, Fota Wildlife Park and Dublin Zoo.

Campervan holidays in Northern Ireland are just as easy. Arrive with your own vehicle in Larne via the ferry service from Stranraer, then hit the road right away or park up wherever you like near Larne to be close to the some of the best parts of Northern Ireland like Belfast, Whiteabbey, Helen’s Bay, Greyabbey and Strangford Lough.

From there, drive along the Northern Ireland’s outer (Irish Sea) coast to arrive on the north (Atlantic) coast and world-famous destinations like Giant’s Causeway and the Bushmills Distillery. Children will love a day on Ballycastle’s golden beach and at the seaside towns of Portstewart and Portrush : Portstewart also has a golden beach, plus high dunes, and Portrush has Barry’s Amusements, an amusement park and fun fair owned by the same company as Alton Towers. Portrush is home to the Royal Portrush Golf Club, a must-see for golf fans as a venue of the Open Championship and the Irish Open.

Family-friendly activities in Northern Ireland

Families are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. You can visit the UNESCO-listed Marble Arch Caves, Titanic Belfast, the W5 Discovery Centre, "We Are Vertigo" trampoline park and adventure centre , Dundonald International Ice Bowl, the Ulster Museum and boat trips on Lough Erne, among many more. Teens will probably hanker after a Northern Ireland Game of Thrones tour or a look at some of the Derry Girls locations: ask for details at any tourist office.

Northern Ireland is also noted for its outdoor activities, like golf or fishing -particularly around the Fermanagh Lakelands-. If your family likes cycling , you can hit in around Belvoir Forest and follow the route of the Giro d'Italia Big Start around Belfast, Co Armagh and the Causeway Coastal Route.

Walkers have the spectacular Mourne Mountains and many other spots to explore … and the more adventurous among you can tackle paragliding , bouldering , skydiving , microlight flying , sand yachting , coasteering and much more.

Northern Ireland festivals and events for the whole family

Events and festivals run throughout the year. Belfast has the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (CQAF), the famous Culture Night celebrations, Belfast International Arts Festival and the " Young at Art" Belfast Children’s Festival , while Derry runs the Foyle Film Festival , the Maiden City Festival and its own Culture Night. Festivals take part all around the region too, so ask at your caravan park to see what’s on nearby.

Gigs, comedy nights, theatre and other live events are plentiful, either in small pub venues or big complexes like the Odyssey, Ulster Hall, Grand Opera House and Waterfront Hall. In Belfast, the Black Box and the "Oh Yeah Centre" are music and cultural hubs excellent for information on local events; the Londonderry equivalent is the Nerve Centre.

If you’d like to see one of Northern Ireland’s traditional Orange marches , these take place in the Order’s “marching season” leading up to and including 12 and 13 July every year. Bear in mind however that these aren’t holidays participated in by everyone, and that many Northern Ireland natives leave the country in early and mid-July to holiday elsewhere. Most shops, restaurants and pubs will be closed over the 12 and 13 July bank holidays, so if you don’t want to see the marches it’s best to avoid visits during mid-July.

Other Northern Ireland destinations

We also recommend that you and your family visit Cave Hill and Belfast Castle , Dunluce Castle , the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge , Colin Glen Country Park , the Derry city walls , Belfast’s Golden Mile , Botanic Gardens , the seaside town of Bangor and birdwatching at Lough Neagh.

For Northern Ireland shopping and souvenirs , try the fresh food and seafood sales of St George’s Market in Belfast; Belleek Pottery from Fermanagh and whiskey from Bushmills. Dulse (dried seaweed) and “ yellow man ” (honeycomb) are popular in the northwest around Ballycastle.

Do our family need a visa to visit Ireland from England?

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so UK citizens can visit without needing any documentation other than ID for the flight/ferry. The same applies to the Republic.

If you’re from another European country , you may need a visa to visit Northern Ireland (not the Republic) after the UK leaves the European Union. We’ll update this page accordingly if so. You won’t need a visa to visit the Republic of Ireland as it will still be in the EU.

Is Northern Ireland dangerous to visit with my family?

Not at all. Northern Ireland has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK and is generally considered very safe for family holidays. It’s also known for its friendly and helpful population. If you get into difficulties or need some help, someone is very likely to assist.

Northern Ireland is one of the top UK holiday destinations for families

As you have seen, visiting Northern Ireland can be a perfect plan for the whole family for the upcoming holidays.

But there are many more destinations that we consider ideal for family holidays around the UK. Among them are:

• Lake District

• Isle of Wight

• Yorkshire Dales

• South West Coast

With Camplify you always have the option to rent a motorhome, van or caravan near your home and visit them; or go there and rent them at the destination.

**Choose the type of van that best suits the needs and size of your family**and start planning your adventure today.