Translating from Irish as “Landing Place of the Little Fort”, Portadown is a riverfront town in the north of County Armagh that is renowned for linen manufacturing. It was originally settled in the early 17th century as part of the Plantation of Ulster and flourished as a railway junction along the Great Northern Railway.
Things to do in Portadown
On the edge of the town centre is Portadown People's Park, which is home to a state-of-the-art playground inspired by a pirate ship. Kids can dig in the sandpit, race one another down the slides or fly along the zip line. The park also features seasonal flower beds, a tranquil pond and sporting facilities for soccer, rugby and Gaelic football.
On a rainy day, families can head indoors to enjoy the facilities of Peter Pan's Neverland, an award-winning play centre equipped with soft play frames, trampolines and ball pools. While kids are busy on the foam-balled basketball and soccer courts or dancing in the automated disco room, parents can relax in Hook’s Cafe, which serves hot drinks plus warming soups and stews.
Keen golfers can test their skills at the Portadown Golf Club, which centres around an 18-hole mature parkland course. Originally established in 1900, it is renowned for its natural beauty, with a highlight being the 9th hole that requires you to drive over the River Bann. At the end of your round, you can mingle with the locals in the club’s Riverside Restaurant.
Getting around Portadown
Portadown is around 30 minutes’ drive from Belfast and 40 minutes from Belfast International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Portadown railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Portadown is compact enough to explore on foot.