City
9 Best Activities In Ballymena
Four beaches appear on Ballymena's list — Cushendun Beach, Cushendall Beach, Carnlough Beach and Waterfoot Beach — which says plenty about how families use this part of County Antrim: the town works as a base for the coast as much as a destination in itself. Eight of the nine listings are outdoors, and three of the four beaches carry family ratings of 4.5 or better, so the sand is not just plentiful but well-liked.
Showing 1–9 of 9
BeachesCushendun Beach
BeachesCushendall Beach
Sports & ActivitiesRaceview Karting
Parks and PlaygroundsThe Peoples Park
BeachesCarnlough Beach
Parks and PlaygroundsThe Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail
Indoor PlayFun Factory Ballymena
MuseumsECOS Millennium Environmental Centre
BeachesWaterfoot Beach
1 more within 10 miles of Ballymena
Off the sand, The Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail is the small-child favourite, The Peoples Park handles the ordinary afternoon, and Raceview Karting is among the few options here with any cover. Fun Factory Ballymena takes whatever energy is left.
Visiting Ballymena with kids: FAQs
Which beach near Ballymena should we try first?
Cushendun Beach and Cushendall Beach share the top family rating at 4.7, with Carnlough Beach close behind on 4.5, so you are choosing between good options rather than hunting for the one safe bet. Waterfoot Beach completes the set. With four to work through, a week based in Ballymena can reasonably feature a different stretch of coast every other day.
What's the plan if the coast is a washout?
Thinner, but workable. Only three of the nine listings offer indoor space: Fun Factory Ballymena is the purpose-built soft play, and Raceview Karting — rated 4.7 — is flagged for indoor as well as outdoor running, making it the pick for older children. Beyond those two, an Antrim downpour mostly means wellies and defiance at The Peoples Park.
Who is the Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail for?
The Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail is squarely a younger-child outing — an outdoor walk built around spotting and imagining rather than climbing or competing, rated 4.5 by families. It suits the age where a tiny door in a tree is a major event. Older siblings tolerate it best when it's the warm-up act for karting or a beach rather than the whole day's bill.