Navan Centre & Fort

Navan Centre & Fort, 81 Killylea Rd, Armagh BT60 4LD, United Kingdom
1-90 Years
Paid

Description

Planning a trip to this legendary archaeological complex is one of the best things to do with kids in County Armagh. This interactive history museum and outdoor heritage category site brings the ancient capital of Ulster vividly to life. It provides a hands-on space where families can step directly into the world of Celtic warriors, myths, and real archaeology.

Admission prices and standard entry tickets start from £8.50 for children and £12.50 for adults, while toddlers under four enter completely free. Comprehensive family passes are also available for £37.00 to keep your day out highly cost-effective. This guarantees an action-packed, budget-friendly afternoon of exploration just on the outskirts of the city.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines immersive living history, a massive outdoor fort, and an adventure play area, this site is an exceptional pick. Children can dress up in Celtic costumes, dig in a real archeo-pit, and walk the pathways of ancient kings. It serves as a brilliant educational adventure located right in the heart of Northern Ireland's spiritual past.

Features

  • Paid
  • Host birthday parties: No

Features

Key Features

  • Educational Day Out: Bridges the gap between the school curriculum and history by demonstrating Iron Age survival skills and traditional Celtic cooking.
  • Sensory Play: Features an indoor and outdoor hands-on experience, complete with an ecology trail and specialized archaeological digging areas.
  • Interactive Exhibits: Utilizes a dedicated archaeology discovery room alongside living history settlements staffed by a resident Celtic clan.

Detailed Highlights

  • The Living History Celtic Clan Settlement: An authentic reconstructed Iron Age dwelling where costumed characters interact with families. Kids will love helping to prepare a Celtic meal over an open fire or listening to warriors tell epic tales of battle triumphs.
  • The Hands-On Archeo-Pit: A brilliantly designed interactive digging zone located within the Archaeology Discovery Room. Children can grab real tools to unearth hidden replica bones, ancient coins, and mysterious historic teeth.
  • The Ancient Navan Fort Earthwork: A scenic outdoor guided walk up to the great circular ceremonial temple site constructed around 95 BC. School-aged kids will enjoy marching up the massive mounds and ditches while learning about the ancient home of the Red Branch Knights.
  • The Navan Ecology Trail: A family-focused nature path that winds around the historic grounds. Toddlers and young children can hunt for the hidden bug hotel, watch local birds nesting, and claim a special prize at the visitor desk upon completion.
  • The Massive Wolfhound Play Piece: A unique, large-scale outdoor activity play frame shaped like a traditional Irish wolfhound. It gives high-energy children the perfect space to run, climb, and burn off steam after completing the indoor exhibits.

Detailed Inventory Rule

  • The 95 BC Massive Circular Ritual Temple: The ancient, earthwork-enclosed ceremonial structure on the summit of the hill.
  • The Traditional Heddle Loom: A functional historic weaving apparatus inside the settlement where kids can try textile crafting.
  • The Celtic Survival Skills Training Kit: Replica swords and shields used to instruct young visitors in ancient shield-wall battle drills.
  • The Living Willow Habitat Structure: A unique natural architectural dome located along the ecology trail.
  • The Armagh Local History Book Collection: A specialist library of regional myths, Ulster Cycle tales, and archaeological records housed in the gift shop.

Facilities

  • Toilets: Fully accessible public toilets and modern baby changing spaces are available inside the main visitor building.
  • Buggy Parking: Designated pram parking zones are situated near the main entrance desk and inside the discovery galleries.
  • Food Options: The on-site Ancient Grounds Coffee Shop serves freshly baked homemade scones, hot lunches, paninis, and a dedicated children's menu.

What to see

What Visitors Love

  • The costumed Celtic warriors are incredibly energetic, funny, and brilliant at keeping children fully entertained.
  • Excellent combination of indoor hands-on play and open-air historic walking paths.
  • The on-site parking is completely free, spacious, and very easy to access for large family vehicles.
  • High-quality food choices in the café, with plenty of healthy options suitable for toddlers.

What Visitors Don't Like

  • The walk from the main visitor center building up to the actual hilltop fort mound can be a bit steep for small pushchairs.
  • High-energy outdoor activities like the living history clan setups drop in scale during the winter months.

Targeted FAQ 

  • Is the Navan Centre & Fort suitable for toddlers? Yes, the Navan Centre & Fort is highly suitable for toddlers due to the dedicated indoor archaeology rooms, the outdoor Wolfhound play frame, and the free face painting sessions. While the historical talks are aimed at older kids, the sensory trails and costume dress-up keep toddlers fully engaged.
  • How long does a visit to the Navan Centre take? A comprehensive family visit including the indoor archaeology rooms, the live Celtic settlement, and the guided walk to the fort earthworks takes between 2 to 3 hours. This allows plenty of time for a hot lunch break at the coffee shop.
  • Where is the best place to park for Navan Fort? The best place to park is in the official on-site visitor car park located directly at the Navan Centre building. This facility is completely free and acts as the perfect gateway for cheap indoor activities in Armagh before your outdoor walk.

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

  • Family (Family Admission: 2 Adults & up to 3 children): £34.60
  • Adult (Adult Admission): £11.80
  • Senior (Senior Admission: 65+, with valid ID): £10.95
  • Student (Student Admission): £10.95
  • Child (Child Admission: aged 4-16 years): £8.30
  • Extra Child (in addition to family ticket, if more than 3 children in family): £5.65
  • Child Under 4 (Child Aged under 4 years): £0.00

Pricing URL: https://armagh-navancentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873662395

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

  • Summer Season (1st April - 30th September): Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:00am to 5:00pm.
  • Winter Season (1st October - 31st March): Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:00am to 4:00pm.
  • Mondays: Closed (except for specific statutory bank holiday events).

Address: Navan Centre & Fort, 81 Killylea Rd, Armagh BT60 4LD, United Kingdom

Post Code: BT60 4LD

Council: Armagh City, Banbrid

County: County Armagh

  • By Car: The Navan Centre is located exactly two miles directly west of Armagh City on the main A28 Killylea Road. Free parking is located right on site with plenty of bays for coaches and blue-badge holders.
  • By Bus: Regular local bus services run out from the main Armagh City Bus Station toward Killylea and Caledon, dropping passengers a short walk away from the main gates.

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