We were guests at Lawlor's of Naas & The Irish National Stud
We had a great family mini-break to County Kildare. I wanted to share with you some of the things we got up to as a family, and some things we didn't have time to do but have on our list for our next trip!
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Kildare is located one hour from Dublin and is known worldwide for its horseracing. Kildare has beautiful countryside and fun towns making it a diverse and exciting county to visit. Here are some things to do with kids in Kildare!
Lawlor's of Naas
Lawlor's of Naas is a four-star hotel located in the heart of Naas town, County Kildare. You are right in the town, walkable to lots of restaurants, bars and shops yet you are in the countryside with canal walks and stunning countryside minutes away.
Lawlor's has been open since 1913 and it shows in the hotel's incredible sense of style and hospitality. They have a variety of rooms to accommodate families. They have restaurants and pubs on site, their own parking garage and beautiful gardens.
It is the ideal base for exploring Kildare. Read my Lawlor's of Naas review for more info.
Irish National Stud & Gardens
As a family of five, we thoroughly enjoyed every part of our visit to the Irish National Stud from the guided tour, visiting the stunning gardens and taking part in the Irish Racehorse Experience.
The guided tour lasts 45 minutes. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour as well. We learned so much about the history of the stud, how racehorses are bred and raised and even the prices for stud fees.
Both gardens honestly blew me away! I wasn't expecting them to be so exquisite with such attention to detail. Around every twist and turn in the gardens was a new and exciting sight to experience.
The Irish Racehorse Experience is really fun! It is held in a dedicated building and you need to be sure to book this experience with your ticket.
Read more on my Irish National Stud & Gardens Review.
Japanese Garden Cafe
The Japanese Garden Cafe is located at the Irish National Stud. The food is exquisite. It is wholesome, homemade and beautifully presented. There were also homemade desserts which were equally as lovely and beautifully presented. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options.
We sat outside so we got to enjoy the views of the garden while we dined. There are both outdoor and indoor seating available. It is a lovely place to eat during your trip to the National Stud.
Kildare Village
Kildare Village is a designer outlet mall is like no other. It is set up in the most fashionable way you can imagine, with each of the 120 boutiques' in its own building. They have complimentary parking and several restaurant and coffee options onsite.
We shopped 'til we dropped, taking advantage of the massive savings and beautiful items on offer. Most things we bought were better than half price. We had lunch at Saba which was really delicious Asian cuisine.
Visit Newbridge
Kildare has a lot of really lovely towns you can visit. Naas and Newbridge are both lovely, to name a few. We enjoyed walking around Naas with lovely shops and beautifully kept streets. There is lots to see there.
In Newbridge, you have more fun streets to walk and shops to browse as well as the Newbridge Silverware tour to enjoy. There is a visitor centre and a factory tour where you can see how the iconic silverware is made.
St Brigid's Cathedral & Round Tower
There's nothing like seeing some history when you visit a county in Ireland. Each county has its own unique history for us to enjoy. St Brigid's Cathedral & Round Tower. There is a lot of history and artefacts to enjoy at the cathedral.
Also in the Cathedral grounds and at 108 feet in height, Kildare’s Round Tower is open to the public during the season or on request. The tower is built atop Kildare Hill, the highest point in town. Its parapet affords panoramic views for miles, including the Curragh races!
photo from ireland.com
Kildare Farm Foods
If you stay at Lawlor's, you can have a free round of mini-golf at Kildare Farm Foods. There is loads here for families to enjoy including mini golf, a train ride, meeting the farm animals, the farm shop, a cafe, and a teddy bear factory! What's not to love here?! Not to mention this is a third-generation family farm. So you are getting to visit a genuine farm that is loved. It is wheelchair and buggy accessible.
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
The beautiful Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park has a pet farm as well as both indoor and outdoor play areas for kids and families to enjoy. There is a lot of heritage to enjoy here such as early settlement sites as well as peatland trails and a train! They have a cafe on site which offers a range of hot and cold foods as well as ice creams, sweets and coffees. It is wheelchair and buggy accessible.
Image from Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park website
Russborough House
Russborough is famous for being a most beautiful Georgian house. It is filled with treasures from the Renaissance to the 20th century including a world-class private art collection. For your visit you can have a tour of the house, visit the park, cafe and shop as well as their walled garden and birds of prey show. There is so much history to enjoy and beauty to explore here.
Image from the Russborough House website
More Ideas
You can grab more ideas for family fun on Into Kildare. There are tons of things to do. We hope to explore even more of Kildare on our next trip! Let me know in the comments if you have visited any of these places.
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park is our favorite! seeing my birthday on clocks
It is brimming with priceless phrazle items from the Renaissance to the 20th century, among them an exclusive private collection of artwork.