We loved these 8 new birthday ideas in Belfast so much, we felt like main characters all day!
Our family’s go-to birthday tradition has always been dining out. While we love simple celebrations, we decided to go out this year not just to eat but to try out different activities we may have been missing out on.
We did our research and included some of the birthday activities we recently attended. So if you’re looking for fun activities to do on your special day, continue reading this blog as we give you the best birthday ideas we have in Belfast.
1. Learn How to Make Sushi
– Media credit: @thesoberraver
Website: https://www.cozymeal.com/uk/belfast/cooking-classes
Growing older also means growing wiser. Well, that’s the plan, that’s why one great way to celebrate your birthday is learning more things in the kitchen—and that’s making sushi for me!
When I celebrated my birthday last year, I was able to book a class through Cozymeal.
Here, you can try making maki rolls, salmon nigiri, and uramaki rolls.
I’ve got to tell you, it was slightly chaotic as my friends and I couldn’t organize all the ingredients in front of us.
But we loved that we were allowed to document everything, so we had our cameras ready to capture our mess, of course with some cute and Instagrammable shots on the side!
Our instructor, Chef Naz, was patient with us. Our group was a bit noisy since we couldn’t hold off our laughs, but he was also making fun about it, so the entire experience has been less intimidating.
The best part is that you get to eat what you make, so if you love Japanese food like us, then this could be the best birthday treat for you!
| Pro tip: Since making sushi takes time, consider eating a light snack before going to your class—or else you’d end up eating all the ingredients in front of you! |
2. Play Mini Golf at Scrapyard
– Media credit: @scrapyardgolf
Website: http://www.scrapyardgolf.co.uk/
Address: Unit 6, 11 Glenwell Rd, Glengormley, Newtownabbey BT36 7RF
Contact Details: +44 28 9090 7805
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
If you’d love to try golf but want to skip the fairway, then you should try playing mini golf at Scrapyard. You’ll also be able to skip the heat from the sun as you can get to play it indoors.
It’s a good way to celebrate your birthday with friends, even with kids around! This place doesn’t serve alcohol, so it’s a wholesome party for you—but still chaotic!
As soon as you get inside the room, you’ll instantly know why the place is called a scrapyard. You’ll be surrounded by upcycled materials, making you feel like you’re in a junk shop, but way cooler (and cleaner!).
Here, you can enjoy different types of holes too, depending on your skill level. There are also different types of obstacles, so it will surely leave the competitive spirit up in the air!
For me, I still had so much fun even if the ball didn’t go into the holes most of the time.
And while the music is pretty loud, you could still manage to enjoy your conversations with your friends.
| Pro tip: Don’t miss out on the slide at Scrapyard–even the adults love it! |
3. Survive an Adventure at Timescape Games
– Media credit: @timescapegames
Website: http://timescapegames.com/
Address: 121-125 Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1FF
Contact Details: +44 28 9002 6028
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
When we were looking for an interesting birthday activity to do during a rainy day in Belfast, the first thing that popped up was to survive an escape room at Timescape Games.
We were debating on which adventure to choose among the available escape rooms, but since we were all wondering what it was like to be Jack and Rose in Titanic when it sank, we finally went for it.
The main challenge here is to go through different challenges as you try to survive the sinking ship. But the thrilling sound effects were so loud and realistic, we were panicking inside the escape room!
While it was a family-friendly activity, we suggest briefing your kids properly if you want them to join the activity. We had my friend’s 10-year old kid join us, and he was trying to hold back his tears until the end.
| Pro tip: If you’re also going to try Titanic: The Final Hour at Timescape Games, try to pay attention to some of the decorations around the area. One of those is actually part of the puzzle! |
4. Enjoy a Big Playground at We Are Vertigo
– Media credit: @wearevertigobelfast
Website: http://www.wearevertigo.com/
Address: Factory Estate, Unit 1 Cedarhurst Rd, Newtownbreda, Belfast BT8 7RH
Operating Hours: Friday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Aging doesn’t mean saying goodbye to the kid in you; that’s why celebrating at We Are Vertigo is always a great idea. We recently attended a birthday party here, and we got three full hours of playtime in their large indoor inflatable park.
What’s great about celebrating here is that you get to have your own party host, ready to guide you through all the fun indoor activities.
Before we entered the inflatable park, we were given our own grip socks. You can still bring your own if you have a pair at home.
While we enjoyed jumping around the foam pits, we only lasted for fifteen minutes as it’s pretty tiring. So if you’re planning to stay in the area, make sure you’re fully charged—but please make sure you’re not full, as you might end up vomiting.
Our personal favorite was the rock climbing area. We were trying so hard to climb to the top, but we ended up laughing and falling at the same time!
And of course, a celebration won’t be complete without food. So it’s great that their birthday package already comes with a party room filled with pizza, ice cream, and unlimited juice for everyone.
| Pro tip: Feel free to bring your own decorations so you can enjoy your own theme when celebrating at We Are Vertigo. You may also bring your birthday cake, and party bags, which are all free from corkage. |
5. Dance with the Drag Queens at Union Street Bar
– Media credit: @unionstreetbarbelfast
If you’re a fan of drag, then you’ll surely have the best birthday ever at Union Street Bar. Just by walking inside the venue, you’ll immediately feel that you’re being celebrated, complete with great energy from everyone in the venue.
Make sure to lead your way upstairs because as early as 4 in the afternoon, different drag queens will give you a great show, whether that’s acting, singing, or dancing!
And if you happen to be there during karaoke night, don’t hesitate to make your way to the stage. But if you need more guts, just order in a few cocktails, and we’re pretty sure you’ll be ready after just a couple of shots.
How do we know, you’d ask? Well, that’s what we did, and we loved that the people in the venue were just too nice, or maybe there weren’t tomatoes available to throw at us!
We’ve got zero regrets, definitely, except for the last tequila shot we took before we attempted to whistle like Mariah Carey!
| Pro tip: Make sure your phones are fully charged before heading to Union Street Bar, so you can join their smartphone quiz. They announce the exact time for their quiz sessions so make sure to check that one on their social media pages. |
6. Customize Jewelry at NI Silver Jewelry
– Media credit: @nisilver_com
Website: https://nisilver.com/
Contact Details: +44 7879 698286
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
When we were in Bali, we were able to try creating our own silver rings and bracelets at one of the top workshops we found there. So when we saw that we’ve got NI Silver Jewelry here in Belfast, we immediately booked it to celebrate our friend’s special day.
What we loved most about the experience was that we never felt like we were in a workshop. The vibe was just casual, and we felt like all of us were just hanging out at a friend’s place.
We decided to bring bottles of pink moscato, too, so feel free to bring your own booze. Just make sure to drink moderately so you won’t end up torching your hands instead of the silver sheets.
The celebrant also decided to bring an heirloom piece, and it’s great that they were able to breathe new life into it! Don’t worry, they still managed to keep the vintage vibe to it. They just added a modern trinket.
At the end, all of us were able to bring a piece that’s 100% us, and we loved it!
| Pro tip: Consider saving a few photos of the jewelry design you wish to make before going to NI Silver Jewelry. |
7. Get a Relaxing Massage at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort
– Media credit: @galgormresort
Website: https://www.galgorm.com/
Address: 136 Fenaghy Rd, Ballymena BT42 1EA
Contact Details: +44 28 2588 1001
Two years ago, I planned a simple birthday celebration—a well-deserved relaxing massage at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. So if you want some “me time”, get yourself a pamper session on your special day too, and just thank us later!
This isn’t your ordinary spa parlor as this one feels like you’re in a set of White Lotus, or maybe even Sex and the City.
If you love the smell of essential oils as much as we do, then you’ll instantly feel relaxed the moment you walk into the spa. We’re not exaggerating here, but we instantly felt stress-free!
We didn’t even have to tell the therapist about the pressure that we wanted. But if you’re a little sensitive, we suggest telling her to lessen the intensity, especially if you want to avoid getting bruises.
Here’s a quick tip: for the ladies out there, you can have your hubbies enjoy their tee time at the golf course while you enjoy your spa. At least you can still squeeze in a fancy dinner after getting a good massage.
It’s also located in a resort, so you can also get a room for a romantic staycation.
| Pro tip: Consider trying the Sound & Soul therapy at Galgorm Spa. it’s a great way for you to feel calm and restore your inner peace as you listen to different sound waves and tunes during this session. |
8. Laugh Out Loud at The Pavilion
– Media credit: @pavilionbelfast
Website: http://www.pavilionbelfast.com/
Address: 296-298 Ormeau Rd, Ormeau, Belfast BT7 2GB
Contact details: +44 28 9601 3688
If your birthday falls on a Monday, or if you don’t mind celebrating on a different day, then you should know that comedy shows are back at The Pavilion. We promise you, it’s a great cure for Monday blues–it’s the perfect birthday gift we ever wanted!
Here, you can catch old and new stand-up comedians that are ready to make you laugh. Just remember to be a good sport, and don’t take their jokes seriously.
There’s limited space here at The Pavilion, so if you’re coming as a big group, be ready to squeeze into a table that’s meant for a few people. Don’t worry, you’ll be more focused on the stage than your seating arrangement.
We also enjoyed ordering from their fully stocked bar. Most of us just got a pint of Guinness, though!
They normally post their comedy lineup on their social media pages, so make sure to check it out if you want more details.
| Pro tip: Consider arriving early at The Pavilion so you can join the raffle where you could possibly win £10 worth of drinks. |