Russborough House and Parklands: Ireland’s Most Beautiful Georgian House

Discover the hidden treasures of Russborough House and Parklands, Ireland’s most beautiful Georgian house. Take a guided tour of the richly decorated interiors and explore the 200-acre park with stunning views. Enjoy a delicious meal at the café and find unique gifts at the gallery shop.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Russborough House & Park - The Parklands open at 10am and close at 6pm daily. Local people walk the Demesne each day and then drop into the Tea Rooms

for morning/afternoon tea and coffee or lunch. Pre-booked coaches may be seen at Russborough each day bringing visitors from

around the world to take a guided tour of the house, do some shopping in the well stocked gift shop and have refreshments in the Tea Rooms. Some may travel by car, bus or even bicycle as Russborough is very well located within only 20 km from Dublin off the road N81 and 4.5 km from Blessington, Co. Wicklow.  

Families are regular visitors to the Parklands as young children love the Maze, fairy trail, playground and tree trail. Recently introduced is the 2 km audio walking tour which is suitable for adults and children alike. The East & West Courtyards house many artisans which gives opportunity for additional shopping if so desired. Near the West Wing you will find the Birds of Prey Centre; please note that there is an additional charge for the Birds of Prey.    

From art lovers to historians to the curious passers by this tour will leave you feeling inspired. Lafranchini ceilings, furniture and tapestries from Louis XV’s time all are on view during the guided house tour. The historic interactive exhibition located downstairs tells the story of the three families who lived at Russborough for over a period of 275 years; the Earls of Miltown, the Dalys and Sir Alfred and Lady Beit. The exhibition is free to fee paying visitors to the house.

What's Included
  • Guided tour of the house
  • Exploration of the Parklands
What's Not Included
  • The listed price does not include a €4 parking fee
Additional Information

Russborough, known as Ireland’s finest Georgian building, houses an incredible array of hidden gems, dating from the Renaissance up until the 20th century. Drink in the magnificently embellished interiors. Take a guided tour to fully appreciate your experience.

Moreover, a vast 200 acre park awaits exploration, offering stunning views of the Blessington lakes and the sweeping Wicklow Mountains in the distance. Meander along tree-fringed paths to find the ancient Walled Garden, the ice-house, the lime kiln, and the winding lakes. Lose yourself in the assorted trails and walking paths. See the map here.

Certainly, don’t miss out on a visit to Russborough’s delightful new café, complete with a courtyard, offering heavenly seasonal menus. Browse through our two-tier gallery shop, packed with enticing gifts.

Ensure to try every engaging activity suitable for the whole family, including a 2km maze, a children’s recreation area and outdoor adventure zone, and many others like the National Bird of Prey Centre, Artisan Craft Courtyard.

  • A maximum of 15 people for pre-booked groups
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved in the Parklands
  • A small amount of walking is involved in the house
Location
Russborough House & Park
Blessington,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(42 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Shelly-ann
Aug 6, 2024
Absolutely fantastic place to visit! - We stayed in Tulfarris Hotel and asked the receptionist if there was anywhere she would recommend for us to visit, and she suggested Russborough House. We had never heard of it. When we arrived, it was 4 euros to park, which could be paid by bank card or coins. Jack was most welcoming on reception, and we paid 29.50 euros for my husband and I to do the tour. The tour was starting at 1 pm and lasted 45 mins. The tour starts on the hour. We went into the cafe, which had a great selection for a coffee before the tour. The ladies' toilets were clean. Tara did our tour, and we were blown away by her knowledge and the beauty and history of each room in the house. I enjoyed every minute of the tour. Even though we had been to Powerscourt Gardens and the waterfall this week and even though they were beautiful, there is something special about Russborough House. It was a most enjoyable day and worth every penny. We didn't leave enough time to walk around the lake but the scenery was lovely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ginaro1948vl
Jul 31, 2024
Very Full and Memorable Day! - Lovely estate with so much art! Wow! A big thank you to Colin who was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. Ollie was also a terrific guide -- a personable and passionate "birdman" who made our owl experience both fun and educational (we miss our fave bird Brian terribly!) Lunch was delicious and the maze was a-mazing. Very full and memorable day. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bernie_c
Jul 25, 2024
Fantastic! - Tour was great! So informative and so nice to hear and see the wonderful treasures. Cafe was fab! Gift shop amazing and really enjoyed the walks.
Review provided by Viator
Sally_s
Jun 30, 2024
Really special artistic house - the tour of the house - very informative and entertaining. Learnt lots about the artistic side of the house but told in a very entertaining and easy way.
Review provided by Viator
Terence
Jun 14, 2024
What a wonderful experience - This is really worthwhile. The guided tour of the house is really excellent. Each room is furnished as it was in its original splendour. The paintings and tapestry are nearly priceless and the tour guide provides all the information on might seek about each piece.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carbreen
May 23, 2024
Not to be missed tour! - We arrived and didn't have enough time to wait for the next tour- so the lady gave us a quick private tour around the house rapid- style! We got so much information about the house and the owners it was amazing! The tour guide was a fountain of knowledge and so interesting. The house is wonderful, and the shop in the basement is beautifully curated. We had just enough time for coffee and homemade cake in the cafe, which was delicious and such good value. We would definately come back and spend more time here, such a wonderful place to visit!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_h
May 4, 2024
Very worthwhile visit would certainly bring others. - The Guide was very good and explained things well and was very good with the 2grandchildren making things simple for them to understand.
Review provided by Viator
Ainej20
Apr 14, 2024
Fabulous visit - I did a tour of the fabulous house with a wonderful guide George followed by a lovely lunch in the cafe and a sunny walk in the beautiful gardens.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahlc2993pi
Sep 5, 2023
Real life Jane Austen/Bridgerton experience - We very much enjoyed our visit to Russborough House. It is like stepping into a Jane Austen novel or being on the set of Bridgerton! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable — she knew the history of every piece of art and furniture in the rooms she took us through, and shared many interesting stories about the families who lived in the house. The grounds are beautiful and there is a nice cafe and shop. Definitely worth the drive to Wicklow.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gaminou62
Aug 3, 2024
Nice place but guide reserved for English speakers - The place is nice including for families (air play and maze) and the house is very nice. The tour is very focused on the last tenants and their trips and parties. On the negative side, the guide did not worry about the presence of non-English speakers and spoke very quickly. Even speaking fluent English, we did not understand everything. We felt “shipped”. Too bad.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today