10 things to do in Northern Ireland
Here are ten exciting things to do 10 – 16 April
1.The Great Rabbit Runaround, Hillsborough, County Down, 10 – 11 April. Hop on down to Northern Ireland’s royal residence this Easter to enjoy the Great Rabbit Runaround. Run free in the fresh air of the spacious gardens as you discover fun facts, complete the challenges, and find out about Easter traditions along the way with the help of the resident bunnies. You’ll also see thousands of tulips bloom across the gardens as part of Spring Spectacular. After all that exploring, you’ll be rewarded with a chocolate lolly when you finish the trail, supplied by local quality chocolatiers Fosters Chocolates.
- The Who Wants to be a Superhero Show, Belfast, 10 – 16 April. Calling all superheroes! Don’t miss W5’s FREE interactive theatre show this Easter. Join W5 for a brand-new interactive stage show and put your powers to the test. Are you willing to be transformed into a superhero for the greater good? Five volunteers from the audience are needed to form a new superhero team. Using some real science (and a lot of not so real science) become part of W5’s ‘Stormforce 6,’ the first step in the Titan Defence Force’s new superhero team initiative. Now is the time to defend the world against an alien invasion. Booking essential.
- Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market, Ballycastle, County Antrim, 10 April. Visit the flagship artisan market by Naturally North Coast and Glens located on the beautiful Ballycastle Seafront. This is an excellent showcase of local food, culture, heritage, and traditions, and it is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience. These markets aim to keep things authentic, providing an opportunity to meet some of Northern Ireland’s many producers and creative small businesses.
- Bronze Age for Kids, Marble Arch Caves, County Fermanagh, 10 April. Join Ian as you discover evidence left on today’s landscape left by the settlers from the Bronze Age by searching for stone circles, ancient field boundaries, rock art, standing stones and ring forts. You will become a detective and discover 2,500-year-old rock art and ancient field boundaries. Looking for signs on the landscape you will learn why the settlers were attracted to the area to live and how it would have looked different to today.
- Easter Own a Horse/Pony Day at Crindle Stables, Limavady, County Londonderry, 11 April. You could have the chance to enjoy four full hours of owning a Crindle pony. This includes two riding sessions, each 40 minutes long, along with the chance to lead, groom, untack, catch, clean tack, trek, and let your pony loose. Make use of all the great facilities with your horse/pony, such as the use of Crindle stables’ bridle, saddle, saddle pad, brushes, and tack cleaning equipment on the day.
- The Spirit of the Bann, Coleraine, County Londonderry, season starts 12 April. Causeway Coast Foodie Tours’ ‘Spirit of the Bann’ river whiskey tasting experience is an ideal and unique opportunity to slowly savour distinctive colours and flavours, enjoy a warm glow and celebrate the beautiful blend of natural and man-made wonders our stunning Causeway Coast has to offer.
- Vegan Table Tour, Belfast, 15 April. A combined vegan food and walking tour of Belfast City Centre, for vegans, vegetarians and those who want to taste a growing food movement. Meet your guide and allow them to fascinate you with stories of Belfast’s people, industry, inventors and hidden rivers one bite at a time. Explore the colourful streets and vibrant city centre on the tour, taking in sights you might otherwise have missed. Hear about the range of foods Northern Ireland is famous for, while eating and drinking your way through a delicious plant-based menu.
- 8. Wild Atlantic Distillery Gin School & Distillery Tour, Castlederg, County Tyrone, 14 & 15 April. Meet the people behind Ireland’s Tyrone’s distillery in a fun and friendly environment just 15 miles from the Wild Atlantic Way. Learn the craft of making a spirit under the guidance of award-winning master distillers and discover the origins of the botanicals including kelp and dillisk, that are hand harvested from the Wild Atlantic Ocean.
- Gosford Karting, Markethill, County Armagh, see website for dates. Experience the thrill of racing on an outdoor tarmac track. Racing outdoors gives you the same experience as racing in a professional grand prix race. Gosford Karting provides practise sessions for children aged eight years upwards on our junior karts as well as intermediate karts and Grand Prix karts for adults with a need for speed.
- A Taste of Castle Ward, Strangford, County Down, see website for dates. The Castle Ward estate provides a varied selection of edible options from woodland to shore. During your foraging experience, your tour guide, Clare will demonstrate how to identify unique edible coastal plants, fruits, trees and fungi and share exciting ways to use these in your cooking safely and confidently. You’ll learn what to pick and when, as well as how to preserve and prepare it.
Booking is essential for most activities. Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Subject to availability.
For more information on what’s on or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit https://discovernorthernireland.com/