Within 10 miles you'll find indoor karting at Need 4 Speed, rescued donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary Belfast, and heritage at Patterson's Spade Mill — alongside soft play, bowling, and horse riding.
Sixteen of the nearby places are completely free, including Sentry Hill Historic House, Mossley Mill Museum, and the Knockagh Monument Stargazing Spot. A useful spread when you're planning a full week of days out on any budget.
The best days out near Ballyclare
Ballyrobert Cottage Garden & Nursery
Mini Minds Play Café
Sixmile Leisure Centre
Borderline Combat Airsoft
Fisherwick Farm
Ballyclare Golf Club
Greenacres Golf Centre
Need 4 Speed Indoor Karting
The Wee Village
The Donkey Sanctuary Belfast
Ballylagan Trail Rides
Ballylagan Organic Farm
Aerosports Paragliding
Laurel View Equestrian Centre
Patterson's Spade Mill
Ballyearl Golf Club
Nationwide Paintball Ballyclare
Breckenhill
Mossley Mill Museum
Theatre at the Mill
Mossley Mill Bowls Pavilion
Colemans Nurseries
Newtownabbey Footgolf
Sentry Hill Historic House
Belfast Artisan Gin School
The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat
Glengormley Sportsbowl
Templetown Mausoleum
Hilton Belfast Templepatrick Golf & Country Club
Happy Littles Play Café
Belfast Artisan Distillery
Knockagh Monument Stargazing Spot
Delta Force Paintball Belfast
Bel-Aire Bowl
Movie House Glengormley
Scrapyard Golf
Funworks
Newtownabbey Greenway
Greenisland Golf Club
Little Play Studio
Gear of War Airsoft Belfast
The Spa at Dunadry Hotel & Gardens
V36 Valley Park
Jordanstown Loughshore Park Playground
Valley Leisure Centre
Playzone at Valley Leisure Centre
V36 Playpark, Valley Park
Belfast Zoo
What's on near Ballyclare
- 1JulExhibition by Diarmuid Delargy RUA REArtisAnn Gallery
- 6JulNature Through Our Eyes Alphabetography — Holywood LibraryHolywood Library
- 6JulBright Sparks Summer CampW5 Belfast
- 14JulEric Kuhne: A Tribute to the Genius Behind the Titanic Belfast BuildingTtianic Belfast
- 19JulFrom the Harbour to the MoonW5 Belfast
- 20JulTechno Sparks Summer CampW5 Belfast
Days out in Ballyclare — your questions
What are the best days out in Ballyclare?
Start with Need 4 Speed Indoor Karting for an active day, or head to Patterson's Spade Mill for heritage with the kids. The Donkey Sanctuary Belfast is free and great for all ages. Borderline Combat Airsoft or Delta Force Paintball Belfast suit older groups looking for something more action-packed.
What free things are there to do in Ballyclare?
There are 16 free options within 10 miles of Ballyclare. Sentry Hill Historic House, Mossley Mill Museum, and Mossley Mill Bowls Pavilion are all free to visit. The Donkey Sanctuary Belfast won't cost you a penny, and on a clear night the Knockagh Monument Stargazing Spot is a memorable free outing.
Where can you go on a rainy day near Ballyclare?
The Wee Village is a good call for soft play on a wet day. Mossley Mill Museum is free and indoors. Glengormley Sportsbowl has ten-pin bowling for mixed-age groups, and Mossley Mill Bowls Pavilion is a no-cost option. Theatre at the Mill suits anyone who fancies an afternoon show.
What's good for young children near Ballyclare?
The Wee Village is purpose-built for small children — a great first choice for a soft play day out. The Donkey Sanctuary Belfast is free, calm, and genuinely engaging for little ones. Ballylagan Trail Rides gives kids a gentle introduction to horses and farm animals.
More about Ballyclare
Ballyclare is famous for its May Fair, one of Ireland's great old fairs. It began under a royal charter granted in 1756 and started life as a horse fair; its reputation grew so wide that cavalry buyers came from all over Europe to purchase horses there. The May Fair still runs today.
The town grew up beside the Six Mile Water, so named because it was six miles on from Carrickfergus, and there is still a small Norman motte down by the river in the War Memorial Park.