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Hillsborough Castle Hijinks

Kids go free to discover 100 acres of time travel trouble

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When

Until 31 August 2026

In line with gardens opening hours

Ticketing information

Special summer offer until 31 August: Kids go free to the gardens (normal price £5.50). Child castle tickets just £5.50 (normal price £11). Book your castle ticket online to guarantee entry. T&Cs apply.

Additional ticket required for kitemaking

Included in all admission tickets (Members go free, no pre-booking required)

Buy Hillsborough Castle and Gardens tickets Buy Gardens-only tickets
Start of the events summary

This summer, Dennis, Minnie, Harsha, Rubi and Gnasher are in trouble... again! Their bonkers go-kart time machine has gone haywire and scattered its pieces over Hillsborough Castle's 100-acre gardens. Unless they find them, the Beano crew could be stuck in history forever! Gulp!

It's up to YOU to help. Armed with a special Beano comic strip story, you'll track down six missing parts of the time machine and stumble across larger-than-life characters from Hillsborough's history – from daring pranksters to music makers and world-famous inventors. Solve the clues and find the time machine in time for a blamtastic photo finish!

With kids going free this summer and discounted entry to Hillsborough Castle, there's never been a better time to enjoy this Beano-inspired family adventure.

Get ready for jokes, japes and joyful chaos in Northern Ireland's famous gardens.

Mischief, mayhem... and a mega day out

And that's not all - the fun keeps rolling at Hillsborough! Scroll for ideas to create your perfect day out.

Children playing at the Beano Hijinks installations at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens.

Make a blamtastic kite

Take part in a soaring summer adventure and join us every weekend in August (including the Monday Bank Holiday) for our popular kitemaking workshop. Choose a traditional pre-made kite and decorate it with your own colourful design. Then head to the West Lawn to watch it fly before taking it home for more fun.

Drop in to the Stretch Tent on the West Lawn between 12:00 and 16:00 and show your kitemaking ticket to take part.

Suitable for children aged 3+ with parental supervision.

Dates: 01-02, 08-09, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-31 August.

Additional ticket required (£6.00)

Buy workshop tickets

What kind of tree smells bad? Yew do! 

Beano Colouring Sheet

Download sheet

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Download Beano trail map

Download a map of the trail

Beano quiz

Step into more escapades with membership

Did you know that members get a whole year of adventures at Hillsborough Castle and other blamtastic palaces, with prices starting from just £65? London-bound Beano superfans can discover more mischief at Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace this summer (25 July - Sunday 23 August).

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