Larne Town Park & Chaine Park (Larne)

A bandstand, a space-themed play park and a path to the sea

Larne Town Park is the real thing: 8.3 hectares of proper municipal parkland with mature trees, tree-lined walks, woodland, ornamental shrubs, flower bedding and large flat sweeps of open grass for anyone who wants to kick a ball. At the centre of it is the bandstand, which is still the point the park is arranged around.

For families it is unusually well stocked. Three tennis courts, a basketball court, a 5-a-side soccer pitch, a skate park, a 4G football pitch completed in May 2025, shelters, picnic areas and public toilets. The children's playground has a planetary, out-of-this-world theme and is aimed at slightly older children, which makes a change from parks that assume everyone is three.

The best thing about it, though, is that it does not end. A pedestrian link called the Snake Path runs from the Town Park through to the Promenade, and from there the coastal walkway carries on past the leisure centre to Chaine Memorial Tower and on to the harbour. Beside the Town Park is Chaine Park itself — 1.28 hectares of ornamental planting, shelters, a stream, a boating pond and a basketball court, looking straight out over the North Channel towards Scotland.

That combination is what makes it worth the drive rather than just the walk: a Victorian park, a play park, a bandstand and a sea view, all joined together on foot. Over seven hundred homes sit within three hundred metres of the park, and on a bright evening you can tell.

Free, 8.3 hectares Bandstand and tree-lined walks Space-themed play park Tennis, 5-a-side and skate park Snake Path down to the promenade Chaine Park and the North Channel

Two parks, one walk:

Larne Town Park and Chaine Park are linked, and the Snake Path carries on from the Town Park to the Promenade, the leisure centre, Chaine Memorial Tower and the harbour. Parking is on site but charges may apply. The parks are open access, dawn to dusk, all year.

What to wear & bring

👟Comfy shoesTree-lined walks in the park, and a proper walk again if you take the Snake Path down to the sea.

🧥A coatThe North Channel is right there and it sends the weather straight up over the town. Good coat, better day.

🎾A racket or a ballThree tennis courts, a basketball court and large flat grass. Bring your own gear.

🧺A picnicPicnic areas, shelters and benches, with the town centre a short walk for the rest.

Events at the park

The bandstand is the park's stage and Larne uses it — community events, music and seasonal programming through the year. The council's Nature Recovery Action Plan for the park has also brought biodiversity work onto the site, so expect to see new planting and habitat management alongside the mown grass.

The wider parkland gets used for town events too, and the promenade and harbour end of the walk have their own calendar. Check the Mid and East Antrim listings before travelling if you want to land on something.

Everything before you go

Cost

Free

Opening

Open access all year, dawn to dusk

Best for ages

All ages — the play park is pitched at slightly older children, and the open grass suits everyone

Size

Town Park 8.3 hectares; Chaine Park a further 1.28 hectares

What's there

Bandstand, children's playground with a planetary theme, three tennis courts, a basketball court, a 5-a-side soccer pitch, a skate park, a 4G football pitch (completed May 2025), shelters, picnic areas, public toilets, woodland walks, ornamental shrubs and flower bedding

Chaine Park

Named after James Chaine, who developed the sea route to Scotland. Ornamental planting, shelters, a stream, a boating pond, a basketball court and the Chaine family burial site, overlooking the North Channel

Toilets

Public toilets in the Town Park

Parking

On site; charges may apply

Dogs

Under control on the paths — keep them out of the play area and off marked pitches

Accessibility

Tree-lined walks and large flat areas of open grass; the Snake Path down to the promenade is a pedestrian link rather than a level route

How long to allow

One to two hours in the park; a half day with the promenade walk

Food

No café in the park; Larne town centre is close

Nearby on foot

The Snake Path leads to the Promenade, the leisure centre, Chaine Memorial Tower and the harbour, passing the Princess Victoria Memorial and the William Bald Memorial

Address

Larne Town Park, Glenarm Road, Larne, Co Antrim BT40 1DY

Phone

028 9335 8232

Questions

Before you go

Is it free?

Yes — the park is free. Parking is on site, though charges may apply.

What are the opening hours?

Open access all year, dawn to dusk.

What ages is the play park for?

It is aimed at slightly older children and has a planetary, out-of-this-world theme. Younger toddlers may find it a stretch.

Are there toilets?

Yes — public toilets in the Town Park.

Can we walk to the sea from the park?

Yes. A pedestrian link called the Snake Path runs from the Town Park to the Promenade, and the coastal walkway carries on past the leisure centre to Chaine Memorial Tower and the harbour.

What is Chaine Park?

The 1.28-hectare park beside the Town Park, named after James Chaine, who developed the sea route from Larne to Scotland. It has ornamental planting, shelters, a stream, a boating pond and a basketball court, and looks out over the North Channel.

Is there anything for teenagers?

Yes — a skate park, three tennis courts, a basketball court, a 5-a-side pitch and a 4G football pitch completed in May 2025.

Can we bring the dog?

Yes, under control on the paths. Keep them out of the play area and off the marked pitches.

Getting there

Larne Town Park is on the Glenarm Road, Larne BT40 1DY, on the north side of the town. Parking is on site, though charges may apply. On foot, the Snake Path links the park through to the Promenade and the coastal walkway that runs to Chaine Memorial Tower and Larne Harbour.

Official website Directions on Google Maps See it on our map

Phone: 028 9335 8232

Nearby

Make more of the day

Carnfunnock Country ParkMaze, gardens and a big play park up the coast road The GobbinsThe cliff path on Islandmagee, a short drive south Glenarm CastleWalled garden and estate at the start of the Glens Carrickfergus CastleThe Norman castle down the lough

The story

About the park

Larne is a port town, and its parks were built by port money. The clue is next door: Chaine Park is named for James Chaine, the local landowner and MP who did more than anyone to develop the sea route between Larne and Scotland, turning a small harbour into a crossing point that mattered. His family burial site is in the park that carries his name.

The Town Park itself is the town's Victorian civic gesture — mature trees, tree-lined avenues, ornamental shrubs, bedding, and a bandstand at the middle of it. It was laid out in an era when a self-respecting town built somewhere for people to promenade, listen to a band and be seen doing both.

What has kept it useful is that it never stopped being added to. The tennis courts, the 5-a-side pitch, the basketball court and the skate park all came later; the play park was given its planetary theme for older children; a 4G football pitch was completed in May 2025; and the council has since brought a Nature Recovery Action Plan onto the site, which means the woodland and margins are now being managed for wildlife as well as for looks.

And it still connects. The Snake Path down to the Promenade is the piece that lifts this above an ordinary town park — you can start under the trees at the bandstand and finish at Chaine Memorial Tower looking across the North Channel at Scotland, without ever getting back in the car.