The rolling green fields, mist-draped mountains, castles and cliffs of Ireland have been the backdrop to countless romantic vacations.
But this stunning country is also a wonderful option for kid-friendly getaways due to its rich mix of cultural sights, hospitality, natural playgrounds, ancient tales and, of course, the craic.
Between all the wildlife, legends, impromptu music sessions and playtime on windswept beaches, you'll have very happy kids by the end of your stay. Tiny travelers always get a warm welcome in Ireland – everyone from the postman to the village bartender will have a smile and a hair tousle for your little ones.
Here’s our guide to the best ways to experience Ireland with kids.
Ireland’s tagline “céad míle fáilte” (“a hundred thousand welcomes” in Gaeilge, the Irish language) applies to visitors of all ages. A famously fun and relaxed people, the Irish go out of their way to make families feel comfortable and welcome in almost every environment.
The country abounds with playgrounds and parks, fairies and folklore. Here, you can spend the night in an ancient castle or banter with a familiar local in a friendly B&B, then listen to music in a pub – with the kids – while sipping stout and eating oysters or fish and chips. All in all, Ireland is delightfully unpretentious: exactly what’s required for a fun family vacation.
Many hotels cater to families with interconnecting rooms, children’s menus, age-appropriate activities, kids’ clubs and babysitting services. Plenty of museums and cultural spaces have child-focused programs, too.
Most (but not all) pubs in Ireland are child-friendly. By law, kids can't stay past 9pm (10pm from May to September), though this is usually more than enough time to enjoy the fun ambiance and live music. Any children under 15 must be supervised at all times. Many pubs have kids’ menus and outdoor areas where little ones can play freely while you watch on, sipping a pint.
If you plan on hitting a glut of tourist attractions, it’s worth investing in a Heritage Card (€90), which provides entry to some 45 heritage sites and attractions for two adults and up to five children. If you're spending a lot of time in the capital, download the Go City App and choose between an explorer or an all-inclusive pass, depending on your needs – they cover more than 30 top city attractions and come with a free guidebook.
Around every bend in Ireland, you’ll encounter achingly beautiful scenery that will amaze you and elicit appreciative gasps from little ones in the back seat. The country is one big natural playground with no shortage of places to let the kids go wild.
When the rain stops play, this land of castles and sprawling estates has plenty of cultural sites that are great fun
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British skies dazzle when the sun sinks, and there are a handful of dark sky reserves and discovery sites where the lack of light pollution can help stargazing enthusiasts feel that bit closer to the universe. Take a winter stomp across freezing moors or a late-night summer drive up to a remote hilltop to find a sky full of stars with distant planets glittering overhead on clear nights. Often, there’s no need for a telescope either — star clusters such as Pleiades and Hyades, the Milky Way, nebulae and shooting stars can often be seen with the naked eye or with the help of a pair of cheap binoculars and stargazing apps such as Stellarium Mobile.
If we adopted a child’s-eye view of the world, how would we choose to have fun? It’s likely to be about more than the usual incentives, such as an ice cream, suggests research from Nature Communications. According to the journal, children as young as four seek experiences that deliver positive results, guide action, answer questions about the world — and are just plain fun. Whether it’s getting up-close with crustaceans on a rockpooling adventure, diving into a good book at a literature festival, learning to surf, taking to the stage or gazing at the stars, these 12 UK-based experiences deliver hands-on learning and creativity.
Simply saying the word “spa” can conjure memories of pleasurable massages, relaxing music, candlelit soaks, rejuvenating smells, and renewing saunas. They’re places of sanctuary that delight the senses. Giving the spa enthusiast in your life a gift from one of their favorite spas can bring them joy and excitement during the holidays and throughout the coming year. There’s something for every spa lover on this list, so read on to find a last-minute gift for most gift-giving budgets.
Hiking in Ireland means magnificent coastal cliffs, rewarding family-friendly walks and a variety of terrain and scenery that'll leave you in awe of the beautiful Emerald Isle.
As the most visited destination outside of Dublin, Galway benefits considerably from tourism – with 984,000 domestic trips and 1.7 million overseas visitors contributing €754 million in tourism expenditure.
Airline will open its newest UK base at Birmingham International Airport early offering more flights across 29 routes. Flights on 16 new routes from the base will go on sale on Thursday 30 November at easyJet.com.
A fresh Atlantic breeze blows up the estuary and rustles through a thicket of young lime trees by the Treaty Stone, the rock that witnessed the end of the Williamite war in the autumn of 1691. Just ahead, a seven-arch limestone bridge spans the Shannon River as far as the thick barrel towers of King John’s Castle. To the right, Limerick City’s quays and avenues bustle with new bars, hotels and restaurants. It’s a scene that contrasts starkly with the damp, smoky cityscape depicted in Frank McCourt’s book Angela’s Ashes.