Hoops Courtyard Antiques & Interiors Village

You'll find Hoops Courtyard tucked away near Newtownards, a sprawling collection of antique dealers and interior shops housed in converted farm buildings. It's the kind of place where you can easily lose two hours wandering between rooms stuffed with everything from Victorian furniture to mid-century ceramics, vintage prints, and the occasional genuinely decent piece buried among the dross.

The courtyard layout means you're constantly discovering new pockets - a room devoted to books here, jewellery and collectables there, then suddenly you're in what feels like someone's front room packed with sofas and mirrors. It works better than a traditional high street antique shop because the variety is genuinely unpredictable. You might find nothing, or you might spot exactly what you've been after for months.

This appeals most to people who actually enjoy rummaging rather than those after a specific purchase. Families with younger kids might find it less engaging - there's not much interactive about it - but keen collectors and anyone who likes the thrill of the hunt will be in their element.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Springvale, Sandycove, or Dunroamin near Millisle - Hoops works as a decent rainy-day option or a casual afternoon detour between beach time and dinner. It's close enough to pop into without making a special trip, which is really when places like this work best.