whatdo

Ballymena

Ballymena is a town located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It is known for its vibrant shopping district and charming Victorian architecture. The town has a strong industrial history, particularly in the linen and textile industries.

Ballymena is also famous for its annual agricultural show, which attracts visitors from far and wide.

Day Plans

Things To Do

Famous Food

Pet Sitters

Places to visit

Giant's Causeway
Old Bushmills Distillery

Day plans

Spend a day exploring around

day 1

Exploring the Town

morning:Start your day with a visit to the Ballymena Town Hall, a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture. After, take a stroll through the People's Park, a peaceful green space in the heart of the town. For breakfast, don't miss the delicious pastries at Middletown Coffee Co.

afternoon:In the afternoon, explore the Arthur Cottage, an 18th-century thatched cottage offering a glimpse into Ballymena's rural past. Enjoy a traditional lunch at The Wild Duck Inn, a charming pub with a warm atmosphere. If you're feeling adventurous, you can hike the nearby Slemish Mountain, offering stunning views of the surrounding area.

evening:For a fun night out, head to The Ballymena House Bar for a relaxed atmosphere and live music.

day 2

Cultural Delights

morning:Kick off your day with a visit to the Braid Arts Centre, a hub of culture and creativity. Afterwards, wander through the Coleman Gardens, a hidden gem with beautiful landscapes. Make sure to grab a hearty breakfast at The River Room Restaurant.

afternoon:For the afternoon, delve into history at the Sentry Hill Historic House and Visitor Centre. If hunger strikes, indulge in a delightful afternoon tea at Lissanoure Castle. For a touch of adventure, consider a visit to the Ecos Nature Park.

evening:For an enjoyable evening, make your way to The Front Page Bar for a vibrant atmosphere and a wide selection of drinks.

day 3

Retail Therapy

morning:Spend your morning discovering the Fairhill Shopping Centre, home to a variety of shops, cafes and boutiques. Then, take a leisurely walk through the scenic People's Park. Don't miss breakfast at The Tullyglass House Hotel.

afternoon:Indulge in some retail therapy at The Tower Centre, a bustling mall with a wide range of stores. For lunch, enjoy a tasty meal at The Corner Bakery Cafe. If you're interested in history, consider a visit to the Mid-Antrim Museum.

evening:Cap off your day with a visit to The Rabbit Rooms for a cozy evening with great food and drinks.

day 4

Nature and Scenic Views

morning:Start your day with a leisurely walk through the expansive Ecos Nature Park, where you can admire the diverse plant and animal life. Then, visit the stunning Glenarm Castle Walled Garden for a serene experience. Enjoy a delightful breakfast at The Grouse.

afternoon:Continue your nature-focused day with a visit to Carnfunnock Country Park, known for its beautiful gardens and stunning coastline views. Recharge with a delicious lunch at The Ballygally Castle. If you're up for it, why not explore the nearby Sallagh Braes?

evening:For a laid-back evening, unwind at The Diamond Dancentre for a relaxed atmosphere and enjoyable music.

Ballymena Famous Food

Must-Try local dishes

Ulster Fry

A quintessential Northern Irish breakfast comprising bacon, eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, tomatoes, and soda bread. Sample this dish at popular breakfast spots like Fratelli or Middletown Coffee Co.

Must-Try!

Champ

Mashed potatoes mixed with scallions, butter, and milk, creating a delicious side dish often served alongside main courses. Find an authentic rendition at The Blackstone Bar.

Yellowman

A traditional honeycomb toffee originating from Northern Ireland, offering a sweet and crunchy treat. Look for this local delight at specialty sweet shops and markets like The Sweet Spot.

Food Markets & Street Food

A food market and street food guide

Ballymena Market

This bustling market features a wide array of stalls offering fresh produce, artisanal goods, and street food options. Don't miss the chance to savor local snacks like fish and chips or savory pies from the market vendors.

View on map

Pet sitters in Ballymena

Relax and unwind while your furry friend enjoys making a new companion!

Connect with nearby sittersBecome a sitter

Popular cities in United Kingdom

London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Southampton, Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leicester, Caerdydd, Edinburgh, Worthing, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Belfast, Reading, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle, Bradford, Bolton, Sunderland, Derby, Plymouth, Westminster, Wolverhampton, Northampton, Abertawe, Barnsley, Swindon, Norwich, Luton, Milton Keynes, Solihull, Islington, Aberdeen, Peterborough, Croydon, Bournemouth, Basildon, Maidstone, Ilford, Warrington, Huddersfield, Southend, Newport, Enfield, Oxford, Ipswich, Harrow, Dundee, West Bromwich, Gloucester, Poole, Birkenhead, Telford, Preston, York, Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Stockport, Brighton, Sale, Lincoln, Tottenham, Exeter, Cambridge, Romford, Colchester, High Wycombe, Gateshead, Slough, Blackburn, Cheltenham, Chelmsford, Rochdale, Wythenshawe, Sutton Coldfield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Walthamstow, Basingstoke, Crawley, Dagenham, Gillingham, Halifax, Salford, Wigan, Hounslow, Wembley, Saint Helens, Worcester, Eastbourne, Wakefield, Oldham, Hammersmith, Rayleigh, Hemel Hempstead, Bath, Hayes, Darlington, Wimbledon, Bedford, Hove, Southport, Hastings, Orpington, Watford, Stevenage, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Bromley, Chester, Fulham, Nuneaton, Derry, Ealing, Woolwich, Aylesbury, Ashford, Stockton-on-Tees, Edmonton, Saint Albans, Harlow, Burnley, Redditch, Batley, Scunthorpe, Dudley, Bury, Eastleigh, Brixton, Southall, Bracknell, Paisley, Guildford, Chatham, East Ham, Weston-super-Mare, Carlisle, South Shields, East Kilbride, Newcastle under Lyme, Burton upon Trent, Gravesend, Tamworth, Harrogate, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Gosport, Lisburn, Lowestoft, Rugby, Stafford, Chingford, Uxbridge, Mansfield, Rhondda, Tynemouth, Cannock, Walsall, Washington, Grays, Godalming, Walton upon Thames, Finchley, Thornton Heath, Torquay, Farnborough, Kensington, Boston, Paignton, Waterlooville, Guiseley, Bognor Regis, Hornchurch, Maidenhead, Mitcham, Feltham, Stourbridge, Rochester, Dewsbury, Woking, Sittingbourne, Acton, Twickenham, Runcorn, Wrecsam, Widnes, Margate, Ellesmere Port, Bangor, Taunton, Wallasey, Loughborough, Barking, Edgware, Littlehampton, Ruislip, Halesowen, Streatham, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Bebington, Aldershot, Macclesfield, Wellingborough, Kettering, Braintree, Royal Leamington Spa, Kidderminster, Barrow in Furness, Corby, Canterbury, Christchurch, Keighley, Hamilton, Hereford, Dunfermline, Brentwood, Altrincham, Lancaster, Crosby, Barri, Willenhall, Bootle, Stratford, Folkestone, Dartford, Weymouth, Horsham, Cumbernauld, Esher, Andover, Livingston, Neath, Clacton-on-Sea, Northwich, Rowley Regis, Scarborough, Leith, Yeovil, Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr, Eltham, Hampstead, Cwmbran, Sutton in Ashfield, Welwyn Garden City, Morden, Smethwick, Kirkcaldy, Durham, Perth, Barnet, Stretford, Banbury, Beckenham, Greenford, Ayr, Wokingham, Kilmarnock, Cheshunt, Havant, Kirkby, Salisbury, Erith, Hinckley, Ashton, Surbiton, Castleford, Catford, Worksop, Morley, Coatbridge, Wallsend, Merthyr Tudful, Sidcup, Kingston upon Thames, Middleton, Fleet, King’s Lynn, Hoddesdon, Fareham, Greenock, Urmston, Sutton, Caerphilly, Bridgwater, Leigh, Hatfield, Newbury, Welling, Kingswood, Dunstable, Bury Saint Edmunds, Ramsgate, Inverness, Strood, Cleethorpes, Skelmersdale, Tipton, Eccles, Pinner, Great Yarmouth, Tonbridge, Ilkeston, Leyland, Glenrothes, Chorley, Herne Bay, Bishops Stortford, Arnold, Long Eaton, Coalville, Stirling, Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard, Airdrie, Blyth, Port Talbot, Laindon, Redcar, Llanelli, Beeston, Small Heath, Camberley, Houghton le Spring, Whitley Bay, Denton, Chippenham, West Bridgford, Borehamwood, Hyde, Hendon, Falkirk, Walkden, Kenton, Woodley, Accrington, Bridlington, Winchester, Billingham, Winsford, Ewell, Morecambe, Grantham, Swadlincote, Exmouth, North Shields, Hitchin, Spalding, Rainham, Letchworth, Lichfield, Irvine, Wickford, Loughton, Glossop, Huyton, Abingdon, Trowbridge, Warwick, Motherwell, Dumfries, Brighouse, Wigston Magna, Windsor, Didcot, Earley, Bexleyheath, Rushden, Ecclesfield, Wisbech, Darwen, Prestwich, Epsom, Pontypridd, Rutherglen, Saint Neots, Bedworth, Dover, Chichester, Deal, Pontefract, Bicester, Beverley, Burgess Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon, Newark upon Trent, Northolt, Wishaw, Harpenden, Whitstable, Congleton, Radcliffe, Carshalton, Plympton, Bulwell, Newtownards, Kendal, Sevenoaks, Northfleet, Cramlington, Bromsgrove, Nelson, Cambuslang, Pont-y-pŵl, Hanwell, Stanford le Hope, Frome, Wood Green, Bushey, Heywood, Carrickfergus, Bearsden, Reddish, Billericay, Newry, Darlaston, Ashington, Jarrow, Witney, Shotley Bridge, Ashford, Longton, Melton Mowbray, Haverhill, Thetford, Aldridge, Seaford, Farnworth, Highbury, Newton Mearns, Cheadle Hulme, Newton Aycliffe, East Grinstead, Ashton in Makerfield, Clydebank, Wilmslow, Burntwood, Fleetwood, Bournville, Shenley Brook End, Consett, New Milton, Coulsdon, Farnham, Bilston, Wellington, Witham, Oldbury, Thatcham, Bishop Auckland, Longbridge, Bloxwich, Upminster, Kirkby in Ashfield, Workington, Kingswinford, Rhyl, Whitehaven, Droitwich, Daventry, Hindley, Portishead, Pitsea, Westhoughton, Broadstairs, Thundersley, Gorleston-on-Sea, Penistone, Thornaby on Tees, Hertford, Newton in Makerfield, Felixstowe, Rugeley, Kings Norton, Alfreton, Chester-le-Street, Farnley, Great Sankey, Golborne, Plymstock, Ryde, Ormskirk, Barnstaple, Rickmansworth, Littleover, Newport, Arbroath, Caversham, Oadby, Kidsgrove, East Retford, Huntingdon, Stalybridge, Stanmore, Droylsden, Marple, Perry Barr, Gosforth, Newton Abbot, Bishopbriggs, Whitefield, Elgin, Penwortham, Harborne, Rawtenstall, Clifton, Swinton, Bathgate, Market Harborough, Waltham Abbey, Gainsborough, Erdington, Haywards Heath, Wednesfield, Farsley, Kenilworth, Potters Bar, Foleshill, Formby, Pudsey, Evesham, March, Tiverton, Shoeburyness, Litherland, Yeadon, Acomb, Reigate, Penarth, Horley, Newquay, Camborne, Northwood, Atherton, Clevedon, Sandbach, Renfrew, Belper, Sheldon, Falmouth, Yate, Biggleswade, Bailleston, Truro, Stowmarket, Chesham, Richmond, Chandlers Ford, Kirkintilloch, Darton, Royton, Dronfield, Ossett, Penzance, Skegness, Saint Austell, Caterham, Woodlesford, Stratton Saint Margaret, Normanton, Wallington, Musselburgh, Norton, Leek, Leigh-on-Sea, Boscombe, Llandudno, Failsworth, Kirkstall, Crowborough, Dumbarton, Shoreham-by-Sea, Hythe, Hailsham, Omagh, Maghull, Newmarket, Sandhurst, Tewkesbury, Rothwell, Bellshill, Ely, Ripley, Seaham, Peterlee, Dorchester, Halewood, Killingworth, Horwich, Buxton, Bispham, Hampton, Minster, Antrim, Irlam, Biddulph, Spennymoor, Garforth, Sleaford, Stoke Gifford, Selby, Stamford, Davyhulme, Burnham-on-Sea, Abbots Langley, Mirfield, Goole, Kempston, Adel, Liversedge, Great Linford, Faversham, Dukinfield, Peterhead, Ecclesall, Ystrad Mynach, Frimley, Molesey, Prestatyn, Cirencester, Calne, Monkseaton, Southbourne, Horsforth, Larne, Lancing, Ware, Broughty Ferry, Eastwood, East Dereham, Stannington, Ebbw Vale, Appley Bridge, Rawmarsh, Staines-upon-Thames, Bedlington, Mill Hill, Almondbury, Hadleigh, Bingley, Bideford, Staveley, Shaw, Fulwood, Warminster, Redhill, Heckmondwike, Poulton le Fylde, Berkhampstead, Wandsworth, Sunbury, Mickleover, Bourne, Madeley, Ramsbottom, Colne, Alton, Portchester, Harwich, South Ockendon, Moreton, Whittlesey, Fern Down, Barrhead, Maesteg, Saint Andrews, Bonnyrigg, Quedgeley, Woodhouse, Royston, Bramhall, Louth, Hednesford, Thorne, Houghton Regis, Thornton, Heanor, Friern Barnet, Milton, Hatfield, Glen Parva, Cottingham, Clitheroe, Mosbrough, Heysham, Clayton, Guisborough, Morriston, High Blantyre, Maltby, Braunstone, Haslingden, North Hykeham, Devizes, Saltash, Haslemere, Brixham, Saint Ives, Fazakerley, Windlesham, Connahs Quay, Plumstead, Bredbury, Wellington, Banstead, Whickham, Grangemouth, Keynsham, Cleckheaton, The Mumbles, Cowley, Hebburn, Ashby de la Zouch, Enfield Lock, Kilwinning, Westbury, Stone, Denby Dale, Bangor, Birstall, Dungannon, Ripon, Queensbury, Stepney, Basford, Tyldesley, East Barnet, Upton, Buckley, Johnstone, Worcester Park, East Finchley, Lewes, Chertsey, South Hayling, Penicuik, Adwick le Street, Hayes, Addlestone, Northallerton, Lymington, Carterton, Ponders End, Ince-in-Makerfield, Porthcawl, Nailsea, Oswestry, Swinton, West Ham, Matlock, Saffron Walden, Shipley, Todmorden, Stapleford, Weybridge, Knaresborough, Broxburn, Seacombe, Baildon, Perivale, Wombwell, Stanley, Llantrisant, Broxbourne, Dawlish, Featherstone, Mexborough, Neston, Bidston, Northenden, Chellaston, Verwood, Redruth, Palmers Green, Totteridge, Blaydon, New Brighton, Thames Ditton, Hayle, Horsell, Raunds, Broadwater, Wilnecote, Lutterworth, Queensferry, Sherborne, Irthlingborough, Frodsham, Polegate, Ledbury, Coleford, Crigglestone, Towcester, Stevenston, Bowdon, Clay Cross, Bude, Totnes, Cullercoats, Tilehurst, Aberbargoed, Tiptree, Yatton, Yaxley, Littleport, Pencoed, Brandon, Haddington, Shanklin, Usworth, Portlethen