Kells and Connor Library

A proper library rather than a tourist attraction, but if you're spending a week at Blair's Castlewood Holiday Park or Castlewood Cove near Antrim, it's worth knowing this place exists. Kells and Connor Library sits in the town itself and serves as the local hub - decent-sized branch with a solid stock of books, local history materials, and the kind of quiet space you might actually want if the weather turns grim mid-holiday.

The draw here isn't dramatic. You'll find the usual library fare: fiction, non-fiction, kids' sections, computers if you need to sort something online. What makes it useful rather than just functional is the local history collection - worth an hour if you're interested in the area's past, particularly anything related to County Antrim. Staff are generally helpful without being pushy.

Truth is, this appeals mainly to families needing a rainy-day option, or anyone with a genuine interest in Irish local history. It's not going to thrill the sightseeing crowd, and you won't find yourself describing it back home. But staying near Antrim for a week with young kids? It's a genuine alternative to another arcade or shopping centre.

Free admission - that's the whole point of a library. Check opening hours before you go, as they vary by day. Allows a good hour if you're poking about, half that if you're just looking for a specific book or settling the kids with a comic.