Top choice in County Antrim
About 6km west of Ballymena in a pretty spot overlooking the River Main is the Galgorm. Accommodation is in pleasant, classically decorated rooms, suites and cottages, but the Galgorm's biggest draw is the state-of-the-art Thermal Village spa, with hydrotherapy pools, snow cabin, steam rooms, open-air hot tubs and a daily Celtic sauna meditation ritual led by the sauna master.
There are several excellent restaurants and bars, including one in the former stables.
25.67 MILES
The stunning, star-shaped Titanic Belfast is the city's number-one tourist draw. Standing majestically at the head of the slipway where the Titanic was…
24.71 MILES
This medieval castle ruin is perched on top of a dramatic cliffside overlooking the glorious Causeway Coast.
25.71 MILES
This spectacular rock formation – Northern Ireland's only Unesco World Heritage site – is one of Ireland's most impressive and atmospheric landscape…
25.72 MILES
Belfast's classical Renaissance-style City Hall was built in fine, white Portland stone in 1906. Highlights of the free, 45-minute guided tour include the…
26.35 MILES
You could spend hours browsing this state-of-the-art museum, but if you're pressed for time don't miss the Armada Room, with artefacts retrieved from the…
25.72 MILES
There are not many historical monuments that you can enjoy while savouring a pint of Guinness, but the National Trust's Crown Liquor Saloon is one of them…
22.69 MILES
The view from the summit of Cave Hill (368m) takes in the whole sprawl of the city, the docks, Belfast Lough and the Mourne Mountains – on a clear day you…
26.45 MILES
The showpiece of Belfast's green oasis is Charles Lanyon's beautiful Palm House, built in 1839 and completed in 1852, with its birdcage dome, a…
3.12 MILES
Ballymena's museum is housed in a dramatic modern building that is also home to the town hall, tourist office and arts centre. Interesting exhibitions…
3.74 MILES
Built as an interpretative centre designed to increase awareness of environmental issues and alternative energy sources, the impressive Ecos Centre…
8.27 MILES
Nobel Prize–winning poet Seamus Heaney's home town of Bellaghy, 54km northwest of Belfast, is the location of a wonderful museum and arts centre…
9.81 MILES
The skyline to the east of Ballymena is dominated by the distinctive craggy peak of Slemish (438m). The hill is one of many sites in the North associated…
12.06 MILES
Antrim's 10th-century Round Tower, on the northeast edge of town, is 28m tall, and is one of the finest examples of these monastic towers in Ireland. The…
6. Antrim Castle Gardens & Clotworthy House
12.17 MILES
Pass through the Barbican Gate (1818), a portion of the old castle walls, and the underpass beyond to reach Antrim Castle Gardens. The castle burned down…
12.85 MILES
At the head of the Glenariff Valley is Glenariff Forest Park, where the main attraction is Ess-na-Larach Waterfall, an 800m walk from the visitor centre…
8. Glenarm Castle & Walled Garden
16.85 MILES
Since 1750, Glenarm has been the family seat of the McDonnell family, earls of Antrim; it's currently the home of Lord and Lady Dunluce. The castle itself…