Days Out NI
Luxury Spa Resort Ballymena, Co. Antrim

Galgorm Resort & Spa

A five-star spa resort on 550 acres by the River Maine — home to the outdoor Thermal Spa Village.

5 photos
Thermal Spa VillageOutdoor riverside bathing
Stay or day-visitCabins · spa · dining
BallymenaCounty Antrim
Full day+How long
AdultsBest for
In & outIndoor + out
On siteParking
PremiumPrice

A five-star spa resort spread over 550 acres by the River Maine, with an outdoor riverside Thermal Spa Village at its heart. Said to be Northern Ireland's premier luxury resort — and the thermal village is said to be the first of its kind in Ireland.

  • What it is — the whole Galgorm destination in one place: soak in the outdoor Thermal Spa Village (riverside wood-fired bathing tubs, saunas, a Snow Cabin, a Salt Cave and indoor and outdoor pools, set across gardens by the water), stay in a riverside log cabin, cottage, shepherd's hut, forest den or suite, dine from fine dining at the River Room to McKendry's whiskey bar, and try activities like falconry, clay pigeon, archery, tennis and padel.
  • How to visit — you don't have to stay the night. Come for a booked day spa, a meal in one of the restaurants, an activity, or a full overnight stay — pick whichever suits and build the day around it.
  • How long — a full day for a spa day or a round of activities; a couple of hours for lunch or afternoon tea; a night or two if you stay. Easy to lose a whole day here.
  • Cost — this is a premium, five-star resort: the spa, dining, activities and stays are all paid and priced to match, and vary by what you book. Prices change, so check and book on the official site before you set off.
  • What to bring — swimwear and a robe-friendly kit for the spa (robes and slippers are usually provided — check when you book), smart-casual clothes for the restaurants, and a water bottle and warm layer for time outdoors by the river.
  • Parking — free parking on site, close to the resort entrance.
  • The Thermal Spa Village is adults-only — strictly 16+, and 16 and 17 year olds must be with an adult. It's a grown-up bathing experience, not a family swimming day — see our separate Thermal Spa Village and Galgorm Falconry pages for the day-visit detail.
  • Book online, well ahead. The spa, dining, activities and stays all need reserving and Galgorm is popular — spa days and weekends sell out. Don't just turn up; book on the official site.
Plan your visit

Can I visit without staying? Yes — book a spa, dining or activity day.

You don't need to be an overnight guest. Non-residents can book a day in the Thermal Spa Village, a treatment or spa package, a table for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, or an activity like falconry, archery or clay pigeon shooting — and enjoy the riverside grounds while you're there. It's a five-star resort, so expect premium prices, and book everything online ahead of time. Just remember the Thermal Spa Village is strictly 16+, so it isn't a family swimming day. Check the resort site for current prices and availability.

Free parking Thermal Spa Village (16+) Restaurants & bars Log cabins & suites Toilets on site Riverside walks & grounds
Worth knowing right now:

This is a working five-star resort, so parts of the grounds, spa or restaurants can be given over to weddings and private events, and spa sessions run to timed slots. Book online ahead and check what's open before you travel — don't rely on turning up.

Before you set off

What to wear & bring

  • 🩱Swimwear for the spaFor the Thermal Spa Village, pack a swimsuit; robes and slippers are usually provided, but check what's included when you book.
  • 👔Smart-casual clothesThe restaurants and bars have a smart-casual feel — worth a change of clothes if you're dining after the spa.
  • 🧥A warm layer & waterMuch of the spa is outdoors by the river, and activities are outside too — bring a warm layer and a water bottle to stay comfortable.
  • 📅Your booking confirmationSpa slots, tables and activities are all reserved ahead — have your confirmation handy on arrival.
What's on

Ways to spend the day

  • SpaDayA day in the outdoor Thermal Spa Village (16+)
  • Din-nerA table at the River Room or the Conservatory
  • FlyBirdA falconry, archery or clay pigeon sessionActivity

Galgorm also runs big event nights through the year — check what's on and book on the official site.

Good to know

Everything before you go

What it is
A five-star luxury spa resort on around 550 acres by the River Maine, near Ballymena and Cullybackey. It ties together the outdoor Thermal Spa Village, a range of stays, several restaurants and bars, and outdoor activities — open to day visitors, not only overnight guests.
Thermal Spa Village
The signature: an outdoor riverside thermal bathing complex with wood-fired bathing tubs, saunas, a Snow Cabin, a Salt Cave and indoor and outdoor pools, set across gardens by the water. Strictly adults-only, 16+. See our separate Thermal Spa Village page for the full detail.
Stays
A wide range — riverside log cabins, cottage suites, shepherd's huts, forest dens and hotel suites. Book on the official site; the riverside cabins in particular go quickly.
Dining
Several restaurants and bars on site — from the River Room fine dining and the glass-domed Conservatory to Gillies, McKendry's whiskey bar and the spa eateries. Reserve a table, especially for dinner and weekends.
Activities
Falconry, clay pigeon shooting, archery, tennis and padel, fishing and riverside walks — most need booking ahead. See our Galgorm Falconry page for that experience.
Cost
A premium five-star resort — spa, dining, activities and stays are all paid and priced accordingly, and vary by what you choose. Confirm and book on the official site.
Parking
Free parking on site, close to the entrance.
Booking
Book everything online ahead — spa slots, tables, activities and stays all need reserving, and the resort can be given over to weddings or private events.
How long
A full day for a spa or activity day; a couple of hours for a meal; a night or two if you stay.
Questions

Before you go

Can I visit if I'm not staying overnight?
Yes. Non-residents can book a day in the Thermal Spa Village, a spa treatment, a table for a meal, or an activity like falconry — you don't have to be a resident. Just book online ahead.
Is the Thermal Spa Village suitable for children?
No — the Thermal Spa Village is strictly adults-only, 16+, and 16 and 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. It's a grown-up bathing experience, not a family swimming day. Plan a spa day around adults.
How much does it cost?
This is a five-star resort, so the spa, dining, activities and stays are all paid and priced at the premium end, and vary by what you book. Prices change, so check and book on the official site before you set off.
Do I need to book?
Yes — book everything online ahead. Spa slots, tables, activities and stays all need reserving, especially at weekends and in summer, and the resort can be busy with weddings and events.
What's there to eat?
Several restaurants and bars on site — the River Room fine dining, the glass-domed Conservatory, Gillies, McKendry's whiskey bar and the spa eateries. Reserve a table, especially for dinner. (Note: Galgorm's Fratelli is a sister restaurant in Belfast, not on the resort itself.)
What activities can I do?
Falconry, clay pigeon shooting, archery, tennis and padel, fishing and riverside walks — most run as booked sessions. See our Galgorm Falconry page for that one, and book activities on the official site.
Getting there

Galgorm Resort & Spa, Fenaghy Road, Cullybackey, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT42 1EA — just outside Ballymena on the River Maine, about 30 minutes from Belfast.

Nearby

Make a day of it

The story

A whole luxury resort by the River Maine

Galgorm sits on a big stretch of Antrim countryside by the River Maine, a short hop from Ballymena and Cullybackey. What started as a country hotel has grown into a full destination resort — some 550 acres of grounds, gardens and riverbank, with the water threading through the middle of the whole thing.

The turning point was the outdoor Thermal Spa Village. Instead of a spa tucked away indoors, Galgorm built a riverside bathing complex out across the gardens — wood-fired bathing tubs on the bank of the Maine, saunas, a Snow Cabin, a Salt Cave and pools, all in the open air. It's said to be the first of its kind in Ireland, and it's the thing most people come for. It's an adults-only, 16-and-over space, so it's a grown-up soak rather than a family swim.

Around the spa, the resort keeps growing. You can stay in a riverside log cabin, a cottage suite, a shepherd's hut, a forest den or a hotel suite. You can eat your way from the River Room's fine dining through the glass-domed Conservatory to McKendry's whiskey bar. And out in the grounds there's falconry, clay pigeon, archery, tennis and padel, fishing and riverside walks — a full day's worth of things to do without leaving the gates.

That's the point of coming to Galgorm as a whole: it isn't one attraction, it's a destination you can build a day — or a weekend — around, whether that's the spa, a long lunch, an activity or a stay. Pick your day, book it online, and get out and enjoy it.