Dublin

Dublin may be known as a party city but it's also fabulously fun with children, whether it's a visit to an interactive museum or a family-friendly festival.

• Dublin Zoo Phoenix Park, Dublin 8. Tel: 00 353 1 474 8900; www.dublinzoo.ie. Set in the vast surrounds of Phoenix Park, home to the Irish President, there’s also ample space to let off energy after your visit. Take the open-top Dublin City Tour Bus (tel: 00 353 1 605 7704 or visit www.dublinsightseeing.ie) which stops and picks up at the zoo.   

• Dublinia And The Viking World St Michael’s Hill, Christ Church, Dublin 8. Tel: 00 353 1 679 4611; www.dublinia.ie. Fascinating glimpses into the city’s Viking past, using reconstructions and displays.

• Imaginosity The Plaza, Sandyford, Dublin 18. Tel: 00 353 1 217 6130; www.imaginosity.ie. An interactive museum with adventures to be had everywhere from the Roof Garden to the Wizard's Lair, plus arts and crafts and music workshops. Prices start at €2 for babies aged over 6 months, €6 for children aged from 1–3 years and €8 for older children and adults. Demand is very high and sessions fill quickly, so booking is highly recommended.

• Viking Splash Tour 18 Mill Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 00 353 1 707 6000; www.vikingsplash.ie. An award-winning tour, where you get the chance to see Dublin by land and water in a vintage amphibious military vehicle.
• Summer events Dublin also hosts several family-friendly festivals and events over the summer months, including the Summer in Dublin: Rose Festival (July 17–18). Similarly, Temple Bar Cultural Trust organises outdoor events for families, including The Summer Sensational (July 8–11), which will feature loads of events for children, such as storytelling, street performances, musical events and much more.  For details of year-round events, check out www.visitdublin.com

SHOPPING

• Avoca 11–13 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 is a ‘yummy mummy’ haven and has beautiful clothes for all ages but especially lovely things for children. Tel: 00 353 1 677 4215; www.avoca.ie
• Brown Thomas  88–95 Grafton Street. Tel: 00 353 1 605 6666; www.brownthomas.com. This is the Dublin equivalent of Harvey Nicks, filled with designer labels in fashion, cosmetics and accessories. Over the road at 28–29 Grafton Street is BT2, the fashion store with designer childrenswear. For more children’s shopping, there are a number of shops in the Dublin outskirts.
• P Is For Pearl South William St. Tel: 00 353 086 389 3657; www.pearl.ie. A new city centre store that caters well for children clothes and accessories.
• For toys, visit the city’s largest toy store, Smyths, Jervis Street, Dublin 1.  Tel: 00 353 01878 2878; www.toys.ie