Family Friendly
The International North West 200 puts a priority on the ‘family friendliness’ of the event. Race Week and Race Day offer a wonderful variety of activities for children, so here is a bit of information to help you plan your exciting NW200 holiday!
What child-friendly activities are there during the Race Week Festival?Coleraine Borough Council has planned a great variety of events and fun activities for Race Week with a grand firework finale on the Friday night before race day, which will be held in Portstewart. For full details on the programmes on activity please click here.
On Race Day where is the safest and most accessible place to view the races?The best place to watch the races with young children would be within the grandstands which are located close to toilet facilities and food vendors. If you the Circuit Map you will see areas vantage points marked. These areas are free of charge and recommended by the Clerk of Course as good viewing areas.
Where is the best peaceful family friendly campsite?This year the organisers of the NW200 have allocated a full camp site for families, which is easily accessible and with great facilities. This campsite is being operated by Blair's Caravans and you can find out how to make a reservation here.
Where is the best place to park for families with small children and lots to carry?The first rule is to leave early and make sure you give yourself at least 2 hours to park and get safely to you viewing location. On the day of the race the roads are close from 10am to 7pm; to view the roads affected please click on the map. There are car parks for which you can buy passes for by calling...
On Race Day are there any other activities or entertainment nearby for children?There are many activities in the surrounding areas such as the excellent play park in Portstewart. There is also the famous Barry's amusement arcade in Portrush which is open all over the Race Week Festival. For access to the paddock which kids will love, you may purchase paddock passes. Within the paddock there is lots to see such as teams preparing for the races, fun stalls, ice cream vans and merchandise vendors.
What type of food/drink facilities are available?There is a course map which shows location of Paddock Trade Village were you will find lots of choice. Other food outlets will be located throughout the course. However, it is a long day so remember to bring plenty of refreshments/water to keep you all hydrated (especially if we get a sunny day!). If you wish to have a nice lunch in one of the local restaurants there is plenty to choose from especially on the Portstewart Promenade or in Portrush town.
What safety measures are suggested when bringing young children to Race Day? The main thing is to be prepared... Bring plenty of water, snacks, protective clothing to suit weather conditions, and if needed, don't forget the sun cream. Please contact a marshal as we have a Child Safety procedure in place to look after lost children so please make use of this free facility. For young babies it is suggested that protective ear wear can be used however the noise is only temporary and the only reason we would suggest this measure is because the loud unfamiliar noise can be sometimes alarming to young infants.
