I think this playground is one of the best playgrounds in the area and it really brightens up this…read morestreet. The equipment is modern, bright and safe - not like the rusty metal excuses for swings and slides I had when I was a child. This park is safe as although it is one the main street it has a gate and high fence around it - a very busy park on a good day. We are reminded of Holywood's best kept town by the plaque on the wall outside and the children are watched over by the sculpture of 'Johny the Jig' who was designed and made by a local artist and now sits proud of punch near the parks entrance. When I see modern parks like this surrounded in blooming flowers and filled with colour and laughter I always wish I was a kid again.

I loved this place when I was younger. It was simply the most exciting place in the world as far as…read moreI was concerned and now I am older I see how great it must have been for my parents too. Let your kid run wild for 45 minutes and then watch as he sleeps like an angel for the rest of the day. The playground is an eclectic mix of rope swings and climbing frames, with the big net climber in the centre as the hub for childhood adventuring. I still have memories of racing friends to the top and back down again. Overall this is a great place to bring the under 12's in your life. It is a fun and exciting place for them to run around and tire themselves out.

I used to go here as a younger, more athletic....oh God lets face it, I was never bloody athletic…read more But I did go here with friends and family when I was younger and could run for longer than ten seconds without getting out of puff. I blame the 90s. Anyway, this is a great place for little ones and young people to blow off some steam, get some fresh air, and have fun. It's like a Peter-Pan-Esque playground, with treehouse type structures and slides and climbing frames and even a zip wire, which always scared me - I was never brave enough. It's got handy parking and it's in the environs of the gorgeous Cavehill, so if it's a nice day, and you have sprogs - get them up here for a day of fun.

I had heard people talking about Sea park and how lovely it was, but it took me a while to come…read moreaccross it. I was delighted to find it when I first moved to the area. It is the most scenic, relaxing and popular area you could find in Belfast. Getting to the seaside, away from the hustle bustle of the town is therapeutic. You can see right accross to Carrickfergus on a clear day. The beach has clean white powdery sand. When the tide is out you can see the rocky pools and some people forage for cockels/mussels. There is a large grassy area and a good kids playpark. The esplanade runs along from the Dirty Duck right the way to Bangor and beyond. I have rode my bike the full way and it is super, however on parts of the path, bikes are not permittable. I would go in the evening or when I think there will not be many other people around. I took my dog to Seapark on a weekly basis, he loved going for a swim. Great place for a picnic. Seapark has events on from time too time, fireworks at halloween etc. You can find Seapark on you way out of Holywood towards Bangor on the left hand side. Drive under the railway bridge and turn right where you will find a car park. Alternatively park near the Dirty Duck and walk along the esplanade for a nice stroll.

One of my favourite spots for a walk. Seapark is great as it offers a lovely park in and of itself…read morewith play facilities for kids as well as parking (limited when it gets really busy) and can also be used as the starting point for long costal walks. it also offers one of the best seaside views of Belfast Loch and it is good to see the big ships coming and going from the Harbour. On warmer days there is often a decent ice-cream van there too.

This is handy for people visiting the nearby duck pond with young children or indeed following a…read morevisit to the leisure centre. The park itself was refurbished along with the leisure centre approximately 6 years ago and now looks a lot more modern. The play area has soft flooring to help little ones avoid cuts and bruises while playing with the equipment, and the park is generally kept very clean and tidy.

This is a super place for kids called Ludo Time in Carrick Leisure Centre. Great as part of a…read morebirthday package (like my little one attending).

If you don't have children you may be baffled by my enthusiasm here, but if you do have children,…read moreyou'll understand. If your kids are anything like mine, there aren't that many places you can go for more than half an hour without the brattish distress call of 'I'm BORED'. I love them dearly really. But Stormont Park is one of those places and then some. It's a massive children's play park with the added advantage of being slap bang in the middle of Stormont grounds which you can also explore. This is a well equipped and well maintained park. The super efficient park wardens see to that. 'Jobsworth' is a very cruel term, they just take their responsibilities seriously. There is something to amuse and tire out every age of child from toddlers right up to teens. Slides, monkey bars, tyre swings, zip line, large and small climbing frames and more. There are also picnic tables and portable BBQ stands so that you can 'make a day of it' as they say in Norn Iron. There are toilets too, not always clean at the busy times in summer, but any port in a storm. Just take your tissues and hand sanitiser and you'll be good. Even if you have to travel a few miles, Stormont Park is well worth a visit.

Gosh, it seems like only yesterday this place was built, and I was a mad, boisterous little thing…read moredesperate to try out the coolest play park in town. How time flies, yet so much remains the same... This was the park of parks. I mean, you really couldn't get much better than Stormont play park. It always reminded me of the really cool park up in Portrush that cost a couple of pounds to get into, except Stormont is free (parents can breathe a sigh of relief at this point...), and superior. The setting is a beautiful one - the park is nestled in amongst the trees at the edge of the estate, yet at the same time it's safely separate from the forest...so no missing little ones! As the two previous reviewers commented, there are a huge variety of different activities to keep the kids entertained for hours, plus a number of benches dotted around the place for mum and dad to chill. My favourite aspect of Stormont play park is the ever popular zip-line, which had a never-ending queue and was always surrounded by those cheeky wee louts who kept stealing everyone else's turn. Once you got on, you didn't want to get off, but unfortunately that had to be the way of it. Climbing ropes, swings, slides, frames and the rest are all there. And they're all so well maintained, which is lovely to see. If I was ten years younger, I'd be back in an instant...

Brought my daughter here on Sunday for the first time and I have to say I was shocked, it's so…read morebig!!!!! The place was completely packed out with people (which put me of abit) but my daughter loved every minute of it. They have a good range of food on offer from burgers to sandwiches to cakes, also a good kids range and lovely teas and coffee's. The place is double the size of places like funky monkeys and it's staff are a lot better with kids in my opinion. They also have party packages and 4 individual party rooms which are a good size. I'll definitely be back even though it's abit of a drive for me but it's worth it. My daughter hasn't shut up about it since lol. The only thing I will say is stay away from it Saturday and Sunday and go during the week if you can because it's less busy.

I Visited here this morning with the nursery school I work for. It's been our third visit here as…read moreour end of term treat. Each visit we as a team have been very impressed by the professionalism shown by Noel and his staff. Friendly and extremely efficient. All the Children all had a ball, many thanks. Looking forward to returning.

This is one of my favourite places to take the children and if you know how fussy I am with them ,…read moreyou would know that this is high praise indeed. Snakes and Ladders is huge, with an indoor football pitch, toddlers area, party rooms, motorised car racing track and 'the largest play frame in Northern Ireland'. I think this claim is in fact true - it's massive! My kids can disappear into it for ages and climb, jump, swing etc. As an over anxious mother I go and check on them from time to time as you can't see them if they go right to the middle or top of it. The cars are £1 extra but you can make two kids go on each one if you're feeling miserable, sorry thrifty. What really pleases me is the standard of the food served up in the cafe. Proper fresh chicken gougons, butchers style sausages and Heinz beans for the nippers and a deli style sandwich bar, panninis and baked potatoes for the adults. Not a frozen chicken nugget in site so all good. My only gripe is that at busy times there aren't enough seats for the adults and you may have to stand for a while until you can shame a child into letting you sit down or glare at an adult until they go away. I have it down perfectly. Entry is £4.95 eachwith a loyalty scheme where the eleventh visit is free.

If I were a little rug rat living in Donaghadee I would be really grateful to my local council and…read morecouncilors for building me such an AWESOME park. The little buggers are spoiled rotten with the features of the park as well as the setting. I remember when we were kids we used the local dump as our play park - how times have changed. The park is situated just above the beach - enough said already I feel! There are loads of new play equipment including swings that are so modern they look almost space age. All the items have a nautical theme and this means there is of course a pirate ship complete with flag and plank so you can make your mates walk it. There are various other things to climb on and things to ride and things to move and it is all placed on that extra safe sponge matting with lovely patterns of dolphins and anchors and life rings - these kids don't know hoe good they are getting it. You wanna see the scars I have on my knees from playing on supposed play areas that were teaming with glass and from falling off broken swings onto the hardest and sorest gravel God ever put on this earth! Anyhow, some one stop me having a moan - the park is great, it is walled in and safe from the traffic, there are park benches the entire circumference for mummy and daddy to watch from and the beach is literally a pebble chuck away. What child could ask for more?

Cairnburn park is my second fav park - see Stormont Park review for my number one!…read more This one comes in at a very respectable number two for several reaons: - it is fully enclosed, making it harder for the rugrats to go AWOL. Although not impossible I as found out the hard way. - the ground is completely covered in those safe wood bark chipping thingies. No, I'm not that outdoorsy. - it has a wide range of stuff to jump on, swing off, climb up, slide down and bounce on which saves my furniture from all of the above. There is plenty to keep my 4 and 9 year olds amused and some benches for me to park myself on. No public toilets though but I have boys and there are plenty of trees. But be warned. Another tick in the 'convenient' box is the large car park right beside the park. The only negative? The sheer amount of dog poop on the short walk between the park and the car. Dog owners of Belmont be ashamed.

Belmont gets 5 stars from me. Such a peaceful and natural place for a dander. Half an hour will…read moretake you around the main park, although you will probably want to stay for longer. It has been voted the best small park for the past couple of years. I used to take my dog here at least once per week and he knew the way around. There are lots of other dog walkers and areas to play fetch. I have seen people jogging around and the occasional cyclist possibly cutting through from Parkway to the Old Holywood road. Starting from the car park on Massey ave/ Upper Belmont road you can follow the path accross the carriageway bridge follow this around to the right will bring you to the kids play area. The play area is enclosed and dogs are not permitted. It has baby swings, a flying saucer swing, slides, rockers and cool climbing frames. The paths are always clear and the grounds are well kept. Summer events take place in Belmont park occasionally.

Marine Gardens is one of the nicest features in Carrickfergus. Situated along the Marine Highway,…read morethe gardens and park are close to Carrickfergus Castle and have fantastic views across Belfast Lough and beyond. The park has two adjacent car parks. At the 'far' end, going towards Larne, there is a medium sized, free car park. At the other end, the car park is bigger, but is pay and display. There is also a limited amount of on street parking. The area comprises a War Cenotaph, complete with an army tank and cannon, a large 'green' area with small rolling hills, plenty of park benches, trees, and a paved path going around it. The next part up, over a small bridge, is a large children's play park. The largest in Carrickfergus. This is a modern, newly installed, soft play area, with climbing frames, swings, ziplines slides, and features a large Pirate Ship. As you would imagine, the park is very popular and on bank holidays and especially on sunny days, it is absolutely packed! The entire park is enclosed from the road by a stone wall. The park has public bathrooms available within the 'Clock Tower' and is well loacted for cafes nearby within the Courtyard, and Mauds Ice Cream. The town centre of Carrickfergus is also a very short stroll away.

Fantastic green and park with stunning views of Carrickfergus castle, Belfast lough and beyond. The…read morecouncil have invested a lot in a great kids park with pirate ship etc and loads of parking and amenities nearby