Armed Forces Day Plan Your Trip

Click here for information on Armed Forces Day Landing Page | Armed Forces Day Activities | Armed Forces Frequently Asked Questions | Armed Forces Day Site Description

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Getting here

Pre-bookable parking - NOW CLOSED 

A limited number of spaces are still available and can be purchased at the Comber Road entrance to the event site. Both cash and card payments are accepted.

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Where is the Armed Forces Day event located?
Armed Forces Day is taking place at  Ulster Flying Club Ards Airfield, nearby to the town centre of Newtownards, Co. Down at 61 Portaferry Road, BT23 8SG

Latitude: 54.58490
Longitude: -5.68412

The site is approximately a 30-minute drive from Belfast and 2 hours from Dublin. 
Ards and North Down is very well connected by land, sea and air with major airports and seaports close by.

What3Words

What3words is the easiest way to describe any precise location. It has divided the world into 3 metre squares and given each one a unique identifier made from three words.

Event Site Entrances:

Ards Airfield Entrance, Portaferry Road - https://w3w.co/longer.slippery.buying 

Public Car Park Entrance, Comber Road – https://w3w.co/parade.regress.verdict 

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Getting to the event

Entrance for members of the public

• Pedestrian access | Pedestrian access is via the Portaferry Road entrance to Newtownards Airfield 61 Portaferry Rd, Newtownards BT23 8SG and the Comber Road entrance.

Travelling by car

Car parking onsite 

If you plan to drive to the event, please ensure you pre-book an on-site car parking ticket.

This is an event for visitors and local people to all enjoy. Please be respectful of local residents and businesses - do not park across driveways, on private property, or in the customer car parks of surrounding businesses. 

Pre-bookable parking information - NOW CLOSED 

A limited number of spaces are still available and can be purchased at the Comber Road entrance to the event site. Both cash and card payments are accepted.

Pre-bookable Car Park Entrance 

• Pre-bookable car park | Arrive via the Comber Road entrance only, Newtownards BT23 8SG
• Note - This will be clearly signposted on the Comber Road, Newtownards. Please watch out for pedestrians in the area.

Please click the below links to pre-book your space and for further details on:

Book Standard Parking 

Book Accessible Parking 

Book Motorhomes and Large Vehicles

Please note: Motorhomes and large vehicles are permitted to park onsite, during event opening hours. However, outdoor seating beside vehicles is not allowed. Once parked, all attendees must leave their vehicles and enter the event site.

No overnight motorhome parking is available however please go to our website for motorhome parking within the Borough. Caravan and Camping - Ards & North Down

Customers who have a motorhome may bring their chairs into the events site.

Disclaimer

The car parking entrance will be clearly signposted on the Comber Road, Newtownards. Please watch out for pedestrians in the area

Entry to and use of this car park is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions set by the Council. Ts and Cs apply.

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Private buses or coaches

If you plan to travel to the event site by private hire bus / coach, you must contact the event organisers in advance to confirm arrangements via the Visitor Information Centres. Ards Visitor Information Centre: Tel +44 (0) 28 9182 6846, Email ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or Bangor Visitor Information Centre: Tel +44 (0) 28 9127 0069, Email bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.

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Public Transport and Special Event Transport Arrangements

Special transport arrangements are in place to help visitors get to and from the event site at Newtownards Airfield.

We anticipate large numbers at Armed Forces Day and inevitable travel disruption around Newtownards and particularly the event site, please allow additional time and consider this when planning onward travel. 

Public Transport 

Normal scheduled public transport services will be in operation on the event day.

The nearest bus station is in the centre of Newtownards, 33 Regent Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AD, beside Ards Visitor Information Centre, and it is located approx. a 30-40 minute walk from Ulster Flying Club Ards Airfield where the event is located. 

For bus stop detail, information on timetables and fares, visit Translink.co.uk or call the Contact Centre on +44 (0) 28 9066 6630.

We advise you pre-book train tickets Translink.co.uk 

For Translink accessibility information go to (Translink.co.uk)

Scheduled Bus Services

Take any scheduled bus service(s) to and from Bangor or Newtownards Bus Station.

NI Railways Services

Take any scheduled train service to and from Bangor Translink Bus and Train Station.

Plan your journey at Translink.co.uk 

FREE Event Shuttle Service and Park and Ride Facilities

Park and Ride former NIE Site, 31 Balloo Road Bangor BT19 7TN 

Free Event Shuttle Bus service will operate from Bangor Translink Bus and Train station and Dundonald Park and Ride, Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald.

We encourage use of the Translink services – Glider, bus or train to get to these Event Shuttle Bus Stops. 

Ts and Cs apply.

Bus drop off point

Buses will drop off at the Event Site at Newtownards Airfield, via the Portaferry Road entrance - 61 Portaferry Rd, Newtownards BT23 8SG

FREE Event Shuttle Service

Outward journeys (9am – 2pm)

Event Shuttle Buses will operate on a continuous loop servicing pick-up at:

Bangor Translink Bus and Train Station to the drop off point at the Event site on the Portaferry Road (pedestrian entrance) from 9am until 2pm. 

Take the Glider to Dundonald Park and Ride, Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald where a free Event Shuttle Bus service will take you to the drop off point at the Event site on the Portaferry Road (pedestrian entrance) from 9am until 2pm. 

Return journeys (2.30pm – 6pm)

From 2.30pm onwards there will only be return journeys from the Event Site (Portaferry Road) back to:

Bangor Translink Bus and Train Station

Dundonald Park and Ride, Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald

Park and Ride Facilities

Park and Ride, former Northern Ireland Electric (NIE) site at 31 Balloo Road, Bangor BT197TN 

Outward journeys (9am – 2pm)

Park and Ride Buses will operate on a continuous loop servicing pick-up at:

Former NIE Site, Balloo Road Bangor to drop off point on the Portaferry Road (pedestrian entrance) from 9am until 2pm

Return journeys (2.30pm – 6pm)

From 2.30pm onwards there will only be return journeys from the Event Site (Portaferry Road) back to:

Park and Ride, former Northern Ireland Electric (NIE) site at 31 Balloo Road, Bangor BT197TN 

Park and Ride/ Event Shuttle Buses Bus Stop Signage

If you are planning to use Park and Ride or Event Shuttle Bus services today, look out for bus signage to easily identify the right bus for you.

Yellow - Bangor Translink Station 

Pink - Dundonald Park and Ride Event Shuttle Bus

Blue – Balloo Road Bangor- Temporary Park and Ride (Former NIE Site)

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Road Restrictions

Full Road Closure: Portaferry Road (from the Portaferry Road roundabout to the Old Shore Road) will be closed from 8am to 8pm to ensure the safety and integrity of the site.

Extension to above Portaferry Road Closure: extending from Old Shore Road to Finlays Road between 2pm – 3pm. There will be ‘no through road’ at Old Shore Road. During this period pedestrian access on Portaferry Road from Old Shore Road in the direction of Finlays Road is also prohibited.

Single Lane Closure: For shuttle bus access on the Portaferry Road between George’s Street and the Portaferry Road roundabout throughout the day.

Disruption to traffic flows: Potential rolling road closures, during the parade (10.30am for approximately 40 minutes) from Court Street - South Street - High Street - Castle Street - Portaferry Road.

Diversions and coning: Temporary no-parking zones will be in place in the area throughout the day.

 Please note: To ensure public safety, extensions to road closures may be required at certain periods throughout the day. 

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No Public Access Areas

The Floodgates Car Park and path along the Floodgates to facilitate the event: both closed between 8am – 8pm to ensure public safety.

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This event is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council in partnership with the UK Armed Forces - The Royal Navy, The British Army and Royal Air Force. 

Please note, event details, transport services and programming elements are indicative only and are subject to change without prior notice.
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• No tickets are required for the Shuttle Service and Park and Ride Facilities.
• Spaces on shuttle buses and at Park and Ride facilities are on a first come, first served basis
• Last bus service is at 18:00 from the Airfield.
• We anticipate large numbers at Armed Forces Day and inevitable travel disruption around Newtownards and particularly the event site, please allow additional time and consider this when planning onward travel.