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  2. Family, home and community
  3. Leisure and recreation

Places to visit with your children

There are many interesting places to visit with your children in Northern Ireland. Museums and libraries have interactive exhibitions and creative activities. To find out what's on in your area, check noticeboards in libraries, museums, galleries and tourist offices or their websites.

Open farms

There are several open farms across Northern Ireland. They offer a great chance for children to see - and often play with and feed - newborn animals like lambs, chicks and piglets. Children can also see tractors in action and learn about how food is grown.

To find an open farm near you, go to:

  • Discover Northern Ireland

Children’s outings

Days out at the beach, in the country, or visiting heritage sites, can be affordable and enjoyable for both adults and children. Trips to amusement parks and adventure playgrounds are another option.

  • Things to see and do in Northern Ireland
  • National Trust

Outdoor recreation and sport

  • Outdoor recreation and sport
  • Country parks
  • ​Forests

Libraries

When you and your child join the library, you can borrow:

  • books
  • CDs
  • DVDs

You can also get free internet access. You don't need to worry about your child going online in the library as there are parental controls in place.

To find out more about libraries, go to:

  • Libraries NI

Museums and galleries

From dinosaurs to space rockets, local history to modern art, museums and galleries have different exhibitions and collections.

Museums and galleries often hold special workshops, activities and events. These are often suitable for children and on during school holidays.

  • National Museums Northern Ireland

Arts and culture

Getting involved in arts and culture helps children learn how to express themselves creatively. 

  • Crescent Arts Centre
  • Arts and culture

BBC tours

Many BBC TV and radio stations, especially regional ones, offer free guided tours free of charge. The tour of BBC, Broadcasting House, Belfast will provide children with a unique opportunity to take a look "behind the scenes" at BBC Northern Ireland.

  • Book a BBC tour

Childcare in the holidays

For working parents, childcare during the holidays can be difficult. Many families get help from grandparents and other relatives, while others arrange holiday childcare or book children in for summer activity programmes.

  • Childcare
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Leisure and recreation

  • Arts and culture
  • Libraries
  • Museums and galleries
  • Northern Ireland Civil Service Art Collection
  • Outdoor recreation and sport
  • Places to visit with your children

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

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