OPINION: If you’re looking for a fun-filled yet exhilarating day out, Prison Island proves that doing ‘time’ has never been this fun, even when you’re trapped insidewith your parents.
I got ‘locked up’ with my mum and dad and it made for an unforgettable day out.
It wasn’t exactly how we expected to spend the afternoon in Belfast, but within minutes of arriving at Prison Island, we were thrown into a series of themed cells, locked in, and told to solve our way out using nothing but brains, teamwork and a bit of frantic shouting.
From the moment we walked in, the staff were incredibly warm, welcoming and helpful, instantly putting my parents at ease as they’d never done anything like it before. They explained everything clearly, gave us a thorough run-through of what to expect, and were always on hand with hints whenever we got stuck.
A special shout-out has to go to Stephen and Heather, who were brilliant throughout, friendly, encouraging and great at nudging us in the right direction just when we needed it.
Prison Island is less about escape rooms and more about rapid-fire challenges. Each ‘cell’ throws something different at you, one minute you’re trying to crack a logic puzzle under pressure, the next you’re scrambling around a physical challenge that tests your balance and coordination. It’s fast, slightly chaotic and very easy to get competitive in.
Before we knew it, we were fully in game mode. The three of us quickly fell into roles without even planning it. One of us would spot clues, another would take charge of solving, and the third would confidently insist they had the answer before immediately being proven wrong. It became organised chaos very quickly, but in the best possible way.
The best bit was how varied everything felt. Some rooms had us completely stumped, staring at clues like they were written in another language. Others had us moving around so much we were laughing more than thinking straight. And because each challenge was timed and scored, there was always that extra bit of pressure pushing us on.
There were plenty of moments where we thought we’d cracked it, only to realise we were completely off track and had to start again from scratch. But that’s half the fun of it, nothing ever feels too serious and every mistake just adds to the experience.
We visited Prison Island as a family day out, and it genuinely surprised us with how exhilarating it was. It’s the kind of activity where you forget about everything else and just get stuck in, working together, laughing at your own mistakes and trying to beat your own score as you go.
By the end, we were all slightly exhausted but buzzing from it. It’s fun, fast-paced and just the right mix of brain-teasing and physical challenges, made even better by the brilliant staff who helped bring the whole experience to life.
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