A free, covered play zone at the Bushmills garden centre — wooden playhouses, slides and a Creative Gardens truck on soft astroturf, right beside the café.
A brilliant free rainy-day find on the North Coast — a big covered play zone of wooden playhouses, slides and a Creative Gardens truck on soft astroturf, right beside the garden-centre café. Loads of seating to eat, heaters for winter, warm food, and it costs nothing to play.
What you'll do — a covered play zone with "The Barn" playhouse and a red slide, a big Creative Gardens truck to clamber on, climbing frames and a farm-shop role-play corner, all on soft astroturf.
It's completely FREE — no entry charge and no booking; you just pay for food and drinks if you want them.
Café right beside it — lots of space to sit and eat while the kids play, with heaters in winter so it's cosy even on a cold day.
Proper warm food — the garden-centre café does hot food with plenty of options, so it's an easy lunch stop too.
Rain-proof & sociable — it's covered, so it works whatever the weather, and there are usually lots of other children about.
Handy on the Causeway Coast — inside the Creative Gardens garden centre in Bushmills, with lots of free parking and toilets on site — minutes from the Giant's Causeway.
Covered, but open-sided. The heaters take the edge off in winter, but it's not a sealed heated room — so wrap the kids up on a cold day.
Busy at peak times. Being free and handy, it fills up after school, at weekends and in the school holidays — but there's plenty of seating.
Plan your visit
Free and walk-in — just turn up
This is the beauty of it: it's free and walk-in, no booking and no entry charge — you only pay for anything you eat or drink. It's open during the garden-centre's hours (check current times on creativegardens.com). The play zone is covered with heaters for winter, right beside the café, and there's lots of free parking at the garden centre with toilets on site. It's covered but open-sided, so wrap up on a cold day — the heaters help.
Café — hot foodCovered & heatedFree entryFree parkingFor little ones
Two to remember:
It's completely free with no booking — just turn up. The play zone is covered with heaters in winter, but it's open-sided, so wrap the kids up on a cold day. Toilets and lots of free parking are on site.
Before you set off
What to bring
🧥A coat or layersCovered but open-sided — the heaters help, but wrap up in winter.
👕Comfy play clothesIt’s astroturf, slides and climbing — dress for a good run-around.
💳Card or cashFree to play; pay only for the café — hot food and treats.
🧻The usual wipesFor sticky hands after lunch and a busy play.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to play — no entry charge and no booking. You only pay for food and drinks.
Booking
None needed — just walk in during garden-centre hours.
Hours
Open during the Creative Gardens garden-centre hours. Check current times on creativegardens.com.
What’s here
A covered play zone on soft astroturf — "The Barn" playhouse with a red slide, a Creative Gardens truck, climbing frames and a farm-shop role-play corner, right beside the café.
Best for
Toddlers through primary-age children.
Food
The garden-centre café does hot food with plenty of options, plus coffee and treats, with lots of seating beside the play.
Parking
Lots of free parking at the garden centre.
Toilets
Toilets on site, right by the play area.
Weather
Covered under a canopy with heaters in winter, so it works rain or shine — though it's open-sided, so dress for the day.
Yes — it's free to play, with no entry charge and no booking. You only pay for anything you eat or drink at the café.
Is it good for a rainy day?
It's a great wet-day find — the play zone is covered, with heaters in winter, and the café is right beside it for a warm lunch.
Do we need to book?
No — just turn up during the garden-centre's opening hours.
What ages is it for?
Toddlers through primary-age children, with playhouses, slides, a truck to clamber on and a farm-shop role-play corner.
Is there food?
Yes — the garden-centre café does hot food with plenty of options, with lots of seating right beside the play.
Is there parking?
Yes — lots of free parking at the garden centre.
Getting there
Play at Creative Gardens, 85 Priestland Road, Bushmills, BT57 8UY — inside the Creative Gardens garden centre with lots of free parking, minutes from the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills village.
Play at Creative Gardens is the covered children's play area at the Creative Gardens garden centre in Bushmills — a free, all-weather play zone of wooden playhouses, slides and a Creative Gardens delivery truck on soft astroturf, set right beside the café so you can sit, eat and watch.
With heaters for the winter, hot food a few steps away, toilets on site and loads of free parking, it's a genuine free find on the Causeway Coast — a favourite with local families and an easy, warm stop when you're touring the North Coast and the weather turns.