Ballymena (Irish: an Baile Meánach, "the middle townland") is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Get in

Ballymena means "Middle Town" in Irish, and rightly so, with a location right in between the Glens of Antrim and the fertile Bann valley, the North Coast and the Capital. It makes a good base to explore these places whilst sampling local life.

M2 runs by the town. The town is only about 30 mins drive from Belfast and Belfast International Airport and Larne harbour.

• 1 Ballymena railway station. on the Belfast–Derry railway line  

Get around

Driving in Ballymena can be confusing as there are many one-way streets and frequent lane changes. However, the town is well signposted. Congestion is moderate but parking is abundant and quite cheap. Like most places, taxis are expensive. There are frequent buses throughout the area and the town itself is quite big, but it is not hard to navigate on foot.

See

• 1 Slemish (Sliabh Mis). Mountain the remains of the plug of an extinct volcano. (updated Dec 2016)

Do

• 1 Ecos centre (Millennium Environmental Centre), ☏ +44 28 2566 4400. a park and factual centre 
• 2 the Braid arts centre, 1-29 Bridge St, ☏ +44 28 2563 5077. Mid Antrim Museum & Arts Centre 
• 3 Peoples Park, Doury Rd, ☏ +44 28 2564 3081. very popular, a play park and garden. 

Buy

Ballymena is seen by many as the best place to shop in Northern Ireland after Belfast (and with cheaper parking!) and so makes it a good place to spend a sunny or rainy day. There are two large shopping centres, the Tower Centre and the Fairhill, and many other great shops. As well as a cinema, leisure centre and bowling alley.

The Tourist Information is in the Town Hall, Linenhall Street.

Eat

There are many restaurants, take-aways, as any Western city, there are plenty of major food chains such as McDonalds, Subway etc. as well as quaint cafés and coffee shops.

• 1 Nobel's cafe, 102-104Church street, ☏ +44 28 2565 4302. Great for a traditional Ulster Fry at cheap prices. 

Drink

Nightlife in terms of clubs is poor, but Belfast and the North Coast aren't far away.

Hotel bars are the best bet or The Thatch in nearby Broughshane

Sleep

Main hotels in the town are

• 1 Galgorm Manor (Resort & Spa), Fenaghy Rd (outside of the town), ☏ +44 28 2588 1001. 
• 2 Tullyglass, Galgorm Rd, ☏ +44 28 2565 2639. 
• 3 Leighinmohr House Hotel, Leighinmohr Ave, ☏ +44 28 2565 2313. 
• 4 The Adair Arms, 1 Ballymoney Rd, ☏ +44 28 2565 3674. 

There are no hostels but plenty of medium priced guest houses.

• 5 Loughconnolly B+B, 103 Carnlough Rd, Broughshane (6 miles east of Ballymena, road heading in direction of Carnlough), ☏ +44 28 2568 4380. High quality B+B at low rates in a beautiful area. 

Go next

• The M2 runs by the town so the North Coast and Belfast are easily accessible
• Only a few miles away is the village of Broughshane, well known in the summer months for its flowers.
• Portglenone Forest is famous for the bluebells that carpet it in the spring.
• For panoramic views of the whole county and if clear enough, Scotland, Donegal and the Mournes, head out to Slemish Mountain, and from there, on into the Glens of Antrim.
• Antrim (town)
• Ballymoney