If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day inspiration in Northern Ireland you’ve come to the right place. Check out our Valentine’s Day ideas here – they might well spark some ideas of your own.
Start a love affair with Belfast
Belfast’s Merchant Hotel (5*) rocks glamour with a capital ‘G’. And a Victorian and Art Deco twist. It also comes with a roof top hot top and a reputation for exceptionally fine cocktails. Sounds like a Valentine’s Day to remember.
Or meet Dinky, Comfy and Roomy at Bullit Hotel. Cosy rooms that have everything you actually need for a city centre stay. King size beds, rain showers and super-fast Wi-Fi. It’s romance on a budget, though with the city as your playground, you’ll be having so much fun you’ll never notice.
The chic, yet comfortable, Café Parisien is naturally the place for a romantic, French-inspired evening. Brasserie classics take on a modern twist here. Contemporary Italian is on the menu at Coppi and Home is all about fresh, local and seasonal feel good food.
Stay in a castle made for two
If you like that top of the world feeling, the three-storey Helen’s Tower in County Down (3*) is just made for you. In fact, it’s a castle made just for two, with sky-high views that go on forever. And it’s hidden on the edge of a winding country lane, with wonderful forest walks nearby. Perfect for a romantic getaway.
Larchfield Estate Cottages in County Antrim hides a truly romantic getaway gem. Myrtle Luxury Glamping Truck is a beautifully adapted and fitted out 1952 Saurer Swiss Army truck - complete with a wood burning stove, under bed heating, sauna and fire pit. Cosy.
Treat yourselves to a Spa Treatment
Overlooking Belfast Lough in County Down, the magnificent Hastings Culloden Estate & Spa (5*) used to be a Bishop’s Palace, so it knows a bit about stately elegance. Super-luxurious bedrooms and a beautifully appointed Spa area – with swimming pool and fantastic luxury treatments - make it a perfect retreat for couples in search of pamper time. Just a short drive from Belfast city, it’s surrounded by 12 acres of gardens and woodlands, so outdoors is as relaxing as indoors.
If it’s Fermanagh, it’s got to be lakeside. And lakesides don’t get much prettier than the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges (4*). Immerse yourself in the stunning local scenery or retreat from it all with a pampering spa treatment. Or indulge in some me (or us) time in the sauna, steam room or outdoor hot tub.
Let’s cook
It’s true the north-coastal town of Portrush rarely hits Mediterranean temperatures, but the tapas taste just as good. Especially when you make them yourself. Cookery classes with Ocho Tapas are the real deal. So you’ll create authentic mouth-watering paella, delicious seafood dishes and a variety of tasty tapas. The classes, much like the tapas, are pretty informal.
Cook like a pro
At Waterman Cookery School in Belfast, everyone’s welcome – from kitchen newbies to confident amateurs. And there are classes to suit your tastes, whether that’s meat and barbeques, fish or classic Italian. Though, to really experience it all, leave yourself time to relax and enjoy the meal with your fellow chefs when you’re done cooking. Perhaps with a carefully chosen glass of wine.
Get out and about
50m above the ground, a staggering 500m long and more fun than you ever thought possible. Welcome to Todds Leap in County Tyrone. A custom zipover will take you along dirt tracks to the highest point before you soar through the skies over the forest below. It’s just one of the many action-packed activities here in this home for daredevils.
Downhill zorbing?
It’s a sad fact that there are not many places where you can climb inside a giant inflatable ball and roll down a hill. JungleNI is probably the only spot in Northern Ireland to encourage it. So, if this is your only chance to ‘zorb’, it’s definitely worth taking and definitely good for a laugh. Which probably should be what Valentine’s Day is all about.
Find that special gift
With a flagship store on Belfast’s Bedford Street, Steenson's Jewellery are recognised as Northern Ireland’s leading independent craft jewellers. Set up by Bill and Christina Steenson in 1976, today their work continues to be inspired by Northern Ireland’s natural landscape and geometric forms. Perhaps this in turn inspired the makers of Game of Thrones®. They commissioned a number of pieces for the series which were seen by audiences around the world. Visit them at the workshop or at the store.
Born & Bred
Formerly Studio Souk, Born & Bred brings together local designers and crafters at their Belfast studio and shop to create stunning and sometimes quirky pieces with a unique Northern Ireland flavour. Their work, in the words of founder Linzi Rooney, “involves mentoring makers, welcoming people into our studio and selling beautiful, locally-made gifts in our shop”.
Take some time to potter about here and you might see ceramic makers, painters or textile designers at work. There are up and coming fashion designers, artisan coffee and candle makers. And Linzi herself who turns antique cutlery into amazing jewellery.
Stop for tea
Set in 163 acres of lush parkland and with the spectacular River Maine flowing through it, it’s hard to beat the Galgorm (4*) as a location.
Though, happily, the Gold Edit Afternoon Tea here is just as stunning as the setting. Miniature savouries such as Brie, onion chutney bruschetta or a demitasse of soup, buttermilk or cherry scones and salted caramel macaroons or a passionfruit pastille are just some of the delights that might feature on your menu. It’s served daily in the exquisite River Room Conservatory. (And, of course, the award-winning Spa is always worth a visit if you feel like making a day of it.)
Tea and Thrones
Surely, no self-respecting Thrones fan could resist this. Dothraki trifle with mini dragon eggs? Kingslayer cupcakes? A foodie homage to the iconic TV show, there’s always time to enjoy a Game of Thrones inspired High Tea at Ballygally Castle Hotel.
Looks like it could be a Valentine’s Day with a difference. So, whatever you get up to, here’s to a happy one.
Situated in the heart of Belfast city centre's historic Cathedral Quarter, the grandeur of the original Grade A listed building is complemented by an elegant Art Deco inspired wing with a multitude of exciting amenities.
At Bullitt, our no-nonsense philosophy means we’ve ditched the expensive mini-bars, bellboys and butlers so that we can deliver a top-quality service with no hidden costs.
Coppi restaurant, located right in the heart of the buzzing Cathedral Quarter, is Belfast’s first cichetti bacari/restaurant inspired by those found in Venice and named after cycling legend Angelo Fausto Coppi.
The food at Home is vibrant and bold yet familiar and comforting making our customers happy and our team proud. Made fresh every day, free from preservatives and colourings, we always try to source our foods locally from Northern Ireland.
Helen’s Tower, perched above the rolling hills of County Down, is an enchanting three storey, stone tower nestled deep in the woods of the Clandeboye Estate, standing on top of the world with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Adults only
Renovated to a very high standard. Double bedroom, spacious bathroom with roll top bath, kitchen with mod cons, sitting room with double sofa bed, ensuite bathroom with rain shower. Patio. Luxury breakfast hamper. Entrance via Bailliesmills Road.
Standing high on the wooded slopes of the Holywood hills, overlooking Belfast Lough and the Co. Antrim coastline, is the magnificent Culloden Estate and Spa, one of the most prestigious 5 star hotels in Northern Ireland.
The four star Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel is idyllically set on the shores of scenic Lough Erne, bordered by private grounds and gardens, yet only one kilometre from the historic Island town of Enniskillen.
Ocho Tapas Bistro is a Spanish restaurant that serves a large variety of freshly prepared, authentic dishes using locally sourced and seasonal produce. They have a good selection of wine and beer, and offer a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Waterman House Cookery school is one of Irelands leading cooking schools, following our relocation from James Street South in 2021. Our cookery school offers a range of day, evening classes for all ages and abilities. We aim to celebrate great cooking skills at all levels, demystifying and engaging the class to learn new skills that will enable you to make delicious dishes that can be prepared quickly or in advance to be enjoyed with family and friends at home. Our classes are informal and relaxed, but well-structured and feature a mix of demonstration and hands-on cooking. We run our kitchen with you in mind, we remove the jargon and ensure equipment being used can be found in most homes. At the end of most classes, you will sit down toge
Days outs at Todds Leap are all about getting outdoors, spending time with friends and having lots of fun! There are over 20 action packed activities available including off road driving, a 500m zipline, a giant swing, a free fall drop zone, woodland trails and the Big Yella Slide, all spread across a purpose-built off-road track, so getting around is really fun!
Nestled in an enchanting woodland in the very heart of Northern Ireland, just 45 minutes from Belfast, The Jungle is the perfect location to engage with life and put to test your sense of daring and adventure. Some of the activities on offer include high ropes Tree Top Adventure for kids and adults, archery, coasteering, kids Polaris Quad Bikes, Llama trekking, segway tours and downhill zorbing.
The Steensons are delighted to welcome visitors to their workshop and gallery. A fascinating and rare opportunity to watch highly skilled craftspeople at work. The goldsmiths can be observed using a variety of techniques.
Galgorm is one Ireland's premier Resorts, set in 163 acres of lush parkland near Northern Ireland’s most renowned scenic attractions it is the perfect location to truly relax & unwind.
The Ballygally Castle Hotel faces the soft, sandy beaches of Ballygally Bay. The Castle dates back to 1625 and is unique in that it is the only 17th Century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland.
