You’re only one small step from giant educational experiences
When it comes to hands-on learning with activities that enable young people to think creatively and solve problems without compromising on endless fun, Northern Ireland is one of the best classrooms.
A recent poll of 5,000 families sees parents increasingly seek meaningful educational experiences for their children during holidays, short-trips and days out. Northern Ireland is bursting with giant experiences to ignite the imagination of young minds in fun and entertaining ways.
Interested in history and the natural world? Try stargazing at OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, or view an early edition of one of the world’s greatest fantasy adventure books, Gulliver’s Travel’s at Armagh Robinson Library.
Experience the place where the Titanic was built and launched or step onboard a real-life warship at HMS Caroline, while a myriad of museums and monuments tell the story of Northern Ireland’s extraordinary history with a unique flair, entrancing visitors young and old.
Ahead of the half-term break, Discover Northern Ireland has put together top activity suggestions to inspire young minds with endless fun and some learning by stealth.
- W5 is the ultimate family day out with eight exhibition zones and over 250 interactive exhibits covering everything from climate change and nature to optical illusions, built engineering, medical science and much more with limitless fun. From February 8-16 experience Multiverse Mayhem, a theatre show that features big bangs and crazy chemical concoctions, where you can meet the scientists who are travelling through the multiverse. They have landed at W5 and are here to see if the fundamental scientific theories in this world match those in other dimensions. With only 30 minutes before they are sucked back into the vortex, they must conduct as many out-of-this-world experiments as possible.
- National Museums NI looks after four distinct museums in Northern Ireland which serve as custodians to 1.4 million objects in collections spanning art, history and natural sciences. Belfast’s Ulster Museum is home to a range of multidisciplinary natural sciences, art and history collections while the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra, in County Down, houses heritage buildings and objects allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a bygone way of life. Also at Cultra, The Ulster Transport Museum takes you on a journey with a comprehensive collection of vehicles from trams and railcars to an iconic DeLorean, the model made famous in the Back to the Future movies. In Omagh, County Tyrone, the Ulster American Folk Park tells the story of emigration to America over two centuries, with 30 buildings and exhibits for the kids to explore, and – you can even board a full-size emigrant ship. With 30 buildings and exhibits for you to explore – and loads for the kids to do – the Ulster American Folk Park is a unique experience.
Armagh Planetarium & Observatory, County Armagh
- There are a number of special astronomical events happening this year and Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) is ‘The Place for Space’. Watch an amazing Full Dome Theatre show and explore the Universe. Touch Northern Ireland’s largest meteorite, create your own solar system, or black hole, and visit the Astropark children’s trail with augmented reality and sculptures. With daily shows aimed at everyone from pre-schoolers to adults, there’s always something out of this world going on at AOP.
Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary, Portaferry, County Down
- Enjoy a diver’s view of marine life from around the world. An underwater glass tunnel lets you experience friendly sharks, a dwarf crocodile, a waddle of penguins at Northern Ireland’s only aquarium and seal rehabilitation centre in Portaferry. The Tropical Ocean zone hosts over 100 species of colourful coral reefs. There is a soft play area, café and afterwards why not take the short car journey or ferry crossing over to Strangford and explore the National Trust’s Castle Ward or Audley’s Castle.
Marble Arch Caves, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
- Unexplored until little over a century ago, the Marble Arch Caves feature stalactites, cavernous passages, underground pools and streams which have been formed and reformed as the water slowly dissolved the limestone bedrock over countless millennia. First opened to the public 40 years ago, explore the extensive caves on foot, or by boat with one of the popular guided tours and you’ll uncover a mind-boggling number of fascinating facts about geology, geography and archaeology in a cave system dating back over a million years.
Whitehead Railway Museum, Whitehead, County Antrim
- This fascinating five-gallery museum provides an exciting opportunity to rub shoulders with the giants of steam. You can step onto the footplate of a heritage steam engine and learn how it works, walk through several historic carriages and observe from a viewing gallery as restoration work takes place on locomotives and coaches. The children’s play area enables younger visitors to fire their imaginations by dressing up in Edwardian-style clothes. Keep an eye out on special events for a special ride in one of these fantastic steam engines.
Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, County Londonderry
- Treat the writers and poets in your life to a day they will never forget as they explore the Seamus Heaney HomePlace and discover how the Nobel Laureate’s formative years served as a source of inspiration throughout his career. Found between Heaney’s two childhood homes at Mossbawn and The Wood, let Heaney’s distinctive voice guide you through the exhibitions and enjoy the atmospheric video projections and touchscreen displays that sit alongside precious items donated by the Heaney family that transport you to important moments in his life.
Hill of the O’Neill & Ranfurly House, Dungannon, County Tyrone
- Explore a special place at the very heart of Ulster and home to one of our most important heritage sites. It was from this very hilltop that The O’Neill dynasty ruled for more than 300 years. On a clear day, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the glass observation tower on top of the hill. On your way back down, learn all about the Flight of the Earls and the Plantation of Ulster in the permanent multi-media exhibition at Ranfurly House. This Victorian listed building is also home to an array of art classes including crocheting, felt making and sewing.
To plan your next fun-filled learning experience in Northern Ireland, visit discovernorthernireland.com/familyfun