Things to Do in Ballymena: Shopping, Food & a Girly Day Out
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you’re looking for somewhere for a girly day out in Northern Ireland, with good food, a lovely walk, shopping and plenty of time for a catch-up, Ballymena is definitely one to think about.
Mary, my friend and colleague at Digg, came along with me for the day and we based ourselves at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena, one of the seven hotels owned by the family-run McKeever Hotels.
The plan was simple: breakfast, a walk, scones, shopping and dinner. My kind of day!
Breakfast at the Adair Arms Hotel
You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to go for breakfast, which is worth knowing if you’re planning a day out in Ballymena.
Sourdough, Avacado and poached eggs at the Adair Arms Hotel Ballymena
Mary and I arrived at the Adair Arms Hotel at 9 am. There’s plenty of choice, from cereals and fresh juices to a Full Irish cooked breakfast, which is exactly what I went for! It was a lovely way to start the day before heading out for a walk.
Keep reading because I have a discount for you to use on ALL food at the Adair Arms too.
A Morning Walk Around The People’s Park
After breakfast, we headed over to the beautiful People’s Park in Ballymena for a morning walk.
It has plenty to do if you want to spend a bit longer there, with walking paths, tennis courts, bowling green, outdoor gym equipment, a lake and plenty of open green space. If you were there with kids it has amazing children’s play parks.
It’s a lovely spot for a morning walk, a great way to break up a day of eating and shopping, although in our case, we were really just making room for the scones! We had a good dander around the park and a catch-up before making our way back to the hotel.
Coffee and Those Famous Adair Arms Scones
By around 11.30 am, it was time for coffee and scones.
The homemade scones at the Adair Arms are really well known among locals and regular visitors, so obviously we had to try them. I can see why people talk about them!
Here's a question... Do you put jam then cream on your scone, or cream then jam?
You can pop into the Adair Arms for coffee and a scone without staying at the hotel too, so if you’re shopping in Ballymena and need a wee pit stop, this is one to remember.
Imagine Being 180 Years Old...
I didn’t realise just how much history there was behind the Adair Arms Hotel. It first opened in 1846 and celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2026. 180 years!
It’s one of the oldest buildings in Ballymena and has stood at the heart of the town for generations. You can still see some of that original character today, with exposed wooden beams and deep windowsills remaining in selected bedrooms.
It has also been part of generations of local family celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and special occasions.
We spoke to Iris, the General Manager, who has worked there for over twenty years. What really came across was just how much the Adair Arms is part of Ballymena. Families have been coming here for generations, guests keep returning, and team members have worked here for years.
There’s a real sense of history, but it still has that warm, familiar feel of a local hotel, and I think that’s a big part of why people return.
Shopping in Ballymena
If you haven’t been shopping in Ballymena for a while, there is plenty to make a day of it.
Ballymena is compact and really walkable, with two main shopping centres plus lots of independent shops around the town.
At Fairhill Shopping Centre, you’ll find Primark, River Island, H&M, M&S, Waterstones, JD and Next. Then there’s the Tower Centre, with shops including Rituals, Dunnes, Miniso and Tommy Hilfiger.
But make sure you explore outside the shopping centres too.
Ballymena has some brilliant independent retailers, including Camerons, Wallace, Woodgreen, McKillens Fashions, Fred Funk and many more. I always love seeing local businesses holding their own alongside the big high-street names.
And Ballymena has a big birthday of its own this year. The town is celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2026.
So the Adair Arms Hotel is 180, Ballymena is 400... Mary and I felt very young by the end of the day.
More Things to Do in Ballymena
If shopping isn’t your thing, or you want to make a full day or overnight stay of it, there’s more to do nearby.
The Braid Theatre is only around a five-minute walk from the Adair Arms Hotel and has a programme of entertainment including live music, comedy and theatre, so it’s worth having a look at what’s on when you’re planning your visit.
If you’re staying overnight, Ballymena is also a really handy base for exploring further afield, with many of the North Coast’s attractions around a thirty minute drive from the Adair Arms Hotel.
If you’re from Northern Ireland, you’ll probably know the award winning Dougies Goodies. Ballymena is the home of the much loved bakery, and their bread and treats are actually served across all seven McKeever Hotels.
Back to the Adair Arms for Dinner
After an afternoon around the shops, we had built up an appetite so we headed back to the Adair Arms for dinner. It was delicious. Food is a big part of the Adair Arms Hotel. They have a Tea Time Offer Monday to Friday, with two courses for £23.95. Such good value.
This is why I loved using the hotel as our base for the day. We could have breakfast, head out and explore Ballymena, come back for coffee and a scone, go shopping and then finish the whole day back where we started with dinner.
No rushing about and no complicated itinerary. Just a really lovely girly day out.
Digg Community Discount at the Adair Arms Hotel
Now for the bit I told you to keep reading for!
You can get 10% off food at the Adair Arms Hotel. Simply quote DIGG when dining to receive your discount. That means you can use it whether you’re calling in for food as part of a day out in Ballymena or staying at the hotel.
The 10% Digg food discount is valid until 30th September 2026 and cannot be used alongside another offer.
And if you fancy turning your Ballymena day out into an overnight stay, there’s another Digg offer for you. Use code DIGG15 for 15% off bed and breakfast stays in Adair Arms Hotel. You can use this code across all seven McKeever Hotels. The offer applies to B&B stays only and cannot be used in conjunction with another offer.
Planning a Day Out in Ballymena?
If you’re searching for things to do in Ballymena, a girly day out in the North of Ireland or somewhere to combine shopping and good food, this was such an easy day to recreate.
Start with breakfast at the Adair Arms, take a morning walk around the beautiful People’s Park, head back for coffee and one of those scones, spend the afternoon shopping and exploring Ballymena and finish with dinner back at the hotel.
Breakfast. A walk. Scones. Shopping. Dinner.
Sometimes the simple days out are the best. And remember... quote DIGG for 10% off your food at the Adair Arms.
Enjoy! x
This trip was in partnership with McKeever Hotels
