10 Best Things To Do In Coleraine, Northern Ireland

1. A family day out at Mussenden Temple

Located in the wonderful compounds of Downhill Demesne, Mussenden Temple is a small stone temple dramatically perched on top of a 120-foot (36.6-metre) cliff. Being highly positioned makes this charming temple the perfect place on the coast for panoramic views and bird watching. Not to mention that it’s also a great spot for a picnic.

Soak in spectacular views of the ocean and the sandy beach below along the cliff. Get inside and discover the temple’s secrets and delve into the greater Downhill Estate. Visit the temple in the evening to catch the stunning sunset views from the top of the cliff. Move away from the temple and have a look at it from a distance to appreciate its precarious position.

Have a picnic with your loved ones at the secluded green area by the temple, and relax watching the birds and taking in the views. Kids can use a set of binoculars and bird identification cards for the ultimate experience.

Mussenden Temple

Address: Sea Coast Rd, Coleraine BT51 4RH, United Kingdom

Website: Mussenden Temple

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

2. Enjoy breathtaking views at Christie Park

Located a short distance from the Coleraine town’s center, Christie Park is an oasis of calm in an ideal location with spectacular views. You can cycle or walk along River Bann as you enjoy stunning views and a huge variety of trees, flowers and birdlife swans. Keep an eye on the river for occasional seals, herons, and cormorants. You can extend the riverside walk by passing under the bridge or getting to Somerset Riverside Park, which has a countryside feel. The park has public toilets and a free parking lot. Additionally, it’s easily accessible from Strand Road.

Christie Park

Address: 55-65 Strand Rd, Coleraine BT51 3AB, United Kingdom

Price: Free

3. Marvel at ancient discoveries of hunters and gatherers

Located beside River Bann, Mount Sandel Mesolithic site is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the UK, dating back 7000 BC. The site is home to the remains of some of the earliest hunters and gatherers. There are also other uncovered artifacts including microliths, which are small stone tools like needles, flint axes and hide scrapers.

The site sits on the edge of a bluff that falls into River Bann. You can access the site by walking along the River Bann.

Mesolithic Site Mountsandel

Address: 2 Mountfield Dr, Coleraine BT52 1TW, United Kingdom

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

Price: Free

4. Enjoy quality coffee with breathtaking views

Located at Lions Gate, AL’S coffee is the jewel in the crown of this stunning area. The establishment serves a variety of fine coffee-based drinks, including latte, cappuccino, espresso and more. This little gem is an outdoor coffee bar that also serves its customers with cold drinks, such as iced tea and iced coffee, as well as snacks. This outstanding coffee shop cannot be matched with any other in Coleraine.

Al's Coffee - Lion's Gate

Address: 11-15 Mussenden Rd, Castlerock, Coleraine BT51 4SB, United Kingdom

Website: Al’s Coffee - Lion’s Gate

5. Have a fun-filled day at Damhead Miniature Railway

Traveling with toddlers and kids can be overwhelming, but ensuring they are entertained and having fun can be an exhausting and daunting task. Luckily, at Damhead Miniature Railway, you don’t have to worry about all that. It is a perfect place for families to have pure fun for a couple of hours. You can enjoy an amusing ride or relax in the breathtaking park. The park also has picnic benches for a warm and homely picnic lunch. And during Christmas, they offer special Santa events to keep you and your family fully entertained.

Damhead Miniature Railway

Address: 48 Damhead Rd, Coleraine BT52 2JS, United Kingdom

Website: Damhead Miniature Railway

Opening hours: Sat: 12pm - 4pm (closed from Sun - Fri)

Price: From 1 USD

6. Learn about a beautiful piece of history in a natural setting

Downhill House is a fantastic historical building with lovely thinking and walking space located in the heart of the North Coast. It is a gorgeous place to visit with family and has lots of space for kids to run and play and holds a kite festival event in August. Downhill House has beautiful walks and amazing scenery and you can view all world-class beaches in Ireland as well as Port Rush and Port Stewart. There are two entrances and can be quite busy during events’ days, and disabled access is available.

Downhill House

Address: 44 Mussenden Rd, Castlerock, Coleraine BT51 4RP, United Kingdom

Opening Hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: 8 USD

7. Watch a fascinating performance at the Riverside Theatre

Situated on the ever-busy Ulster University, Riverside Theatre is an intimate 350-seater auditorium, providing a wide array of annual programs including art, drama, dance, comedy, and music for both children and adults. The theatre is always open to all on performance evenings as well as on special requests. It’s an interesting place to check out if you’re into performance art. Before going, do check out their website for a schedule of performances.

Riverside Theatre

Address: University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, United Kingdom

Website: Riverside Theatre

8. Enjoy a thrilling car race at Aghadowey Oval

Oval car racing is alive and well in Ulster, and Aghadowey Oval is a well-known stadium that hosts such stock car and motorcycle racing events. It’s a track that has its fair share of historical moments since the 1970s. Currently, this racing venue is handled by DMC Race Promotions, and it has been renovated to have tracks that are more suited for modern racing. If you want to watch a race at Aghadowey Oval, visit DMC Race Promotions’ official page for announcements.

Aghadowey Oval

Address: Glasgort Rd, Coleraine BT51 4AE, United Kingdom

Website: Aghadowey Oval

Things to do nearby

9. Tour the magnificent Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle is an iconic and ruined medieval castle located on the Northern Ireland coast. It is perched on the edge of dramatic coastal cliffs and bears witness to an era of rebellion and violence. Visitors can view archaeological digs within stone houses and cobbled streets of the abandoned Dunluce Town. It has a dramatic history filled with stories of banshees and an incident when its kitchens collapsed into the sea in one stormy night. If you want to take a tour of this castle, do consider getting the free Dunluce Castle app, which is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices.

Dunluce Castle

Address: 87 Dunluce Rd, Bushmills BT57 8UY, United Kingdom

Website: Dunluce Castle

Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 3 USD

10. Visit the amazing Giant's Causeway basalt columns

Situated in Country Antrim approximately 5 km (3 miles) northeast of Bushmills, the Giant’s Causeway is a National Nature Reserve which features 40,000 natural, interlocking columns made up of solid basalt. Most columns are hexagonal, but there are others with four, five, seven and even eight sides. The highest one is approximately 39 feet (12 meters) in height, while the solid lava in the area is about 92 ft. (28 meters) thick. UNESCO declared the causeway as a World Heritage Site in 1986, and it is one of the greatest natural wonders in the UK. The columns form stepping stones from the cliff and disappear to the sea towards Scotland.

The center is free and open daily and has an exhibition and an audio-visual presentation, which allows visitors to learn more about the history of the causeway and the best starting point for walks along the cliff top and coastal paths. The walks are guided, and there is a bus service ferrying visitors to and from the main causeway, and there is a gift shop as well.

Giant's Causeway

Address: Bushmills BT57 8SU, United Kingdom

Website: Giant’s Causeway

Have a great time in Coleraine, UK

Are you looking for a perfect getaway overlooking iconic landscape? Coleraine is the best place to be, and it has a lot to offer.