Bangor Library Summer Holiday Activities

Bangor Carnegie Library runs free children’s activities throughout the summer school holidays, and the 13th July session is a good entry point into what is one of the better-stocked library programmes in Co. Down. If you have children aged roughly 4 to 12 who need something purposeful to do on a weekday morning, this is the kind of low-pressure, no-cost event that actually delivers - craft making, creative projects, story sessions and hands-on workshops in a building that has been serving the town since its Carnegie-funded origins.

What to expect

Libraries NI runs a full summer calendar at Bangor Carnegie, and the sessions shift week by week. Past and upcoming themes in the 2026 programme include manga character drawing for older children, Beatrix Potter-themed craft for the under-eights, a “plant a poem” session where children write on seed paper, and a Library Detectives mystery adventure for ages 6-12. Younger children (under-5s) get their own strand including museum-partnered play sessions.

Sessions are informal and welcoming - you do not need to be a library member to attend, and the drop-in format means siblings of different ages can come along together. The library itself has a dedicated children’s area, free Wi-Fi, and accessible facilities including a lift, a hearing loop, and baby-changing. Craft materials are provided.

Getting there

Bangor Library sits on Hamilton Road, a short walk from Bangor town centre. Bangor railway station is served by trains from Belfast Great Victoria Street roughly every 30 minutes, making this one of the more accessible day-trip destinations along the North Down coast - the journey from Belfast takes around 30 minutes. If you are driving, Hamilton Road has on-street parking nearby and there are car parks within a few minutes’ walk in the town centre. The library has dedicated disabled parking spaces at the building.

While you’re in Bangor

The library visit fits neatly into a longer morning out. Ward Park is a five-minute walk away and has open green space and a sensory garden that works well after an indoor session. The seafront and castle grounds are also within easy reach on foot. There is more to see in Bangor and across Co. Down.

Good to know

• Date: Monday 13 July 2026, from 10:00am
• Price: Free - no charge to attend
• Suitable for children aged approximately 4-12
• Drop-in basis; no booking required (checking librariesni.org.uk before you go confirms the day’s theme)
• Runs throughout July and August during school holidays
• Accessible building: lift, disabled toilet, hearing loop, baby changing
• Bangor Carnegie Library, 4 Hamilton Road, Bangor, BT20 4LB