Brighten up your weekend with a luxury family city break at The Shelbourne in Dublin
If you are looking to brighten up your weekend with a brief, but exciting city break, Dublin is only a short flight away and this fun destination is a vibrant place to visit with a young family. The Irish charm is evident throughout the city and there are many wonderful places to visit during a trip.
Talented buskers serenade shoppers on Grafton Street by singing traditional Irish songs and Dublin proudly celebrates and showcases its culture at many of the fantastic tourist attractions.
For the luxury traveller, The Shelbourne hotel is an ideal base and the hotel accommodates families particularly well. The Shelbourne is an iconic hotel that has been frequented by society figures and international stars for nearly 200 years. The impressive property is situated in an excellent location and it has an outstanding reputation in terms of its hospitality offering.
The Shelbourne overlooks St. Stephen’s Green, which means that it is located only a stone’s throw away from some wonderful outdoor city space, which is ideal when you are travelling with young children. The hotel is also very conveniently positioned for those who wish to browse the shops on Grafton Street or visit the plethora of nearby restaurants and bars. Brown Thomas is certainly worth exploring and the famous store offers several floors of designer fashion; however, Dublin has also retained many independent boutiques, which helps to make it a retail-therapy paradise.
When you are travelling with a young family, having a good amount of space as part of your living accommodation is very helpful. Space in city hotels can be hard to come by, but The Shelbourne is particularly excellent in this area. There are a number of impressive suites within the hotel, including the top offering, which is The Princess Grace Suite. This is a two-bedroom presidential suite, which has been decorated exquisitely and is perfectly appointed for the VIP traveller.
There are several other suites for those who require additional room; however, the Double Double Guestrooms have two beds and this option offers brilliant accommodation for a young family. These spacious rooms can also include extra beds and/or cots, if required.
As already cited, the lovely St. Stephen’s Green is right on the doorstep of The Shelbourne, which provides some very good outdoor space for young children to appreciate and there is a playground located within this spacious city park area. For those wanting to explore some of the tourist attractions in the city, we recommend a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. The Guinness Storehouse allows you to discover the building where Guinness has been brewed for over 250 years. There are seven floors, which tell the story of the famous drink, and one of the highlights is the panoramic view of Dublin from the top floor.
Meanwhile, one attraction that will certainly prove enticing for little children is Dublin Zoo. Dublin Zoo was first established by the Zoological Society of Ireland in 1831. The zoo occupies four acres of land in Phoenix Park. It is one of the most impressive zoos in the world and offers habitats such as the African Savanna, Family Farm, Gorilla Rainforest, Sea Lion Cove and Flamingo Lagoon, the Orangutan Forest, Zoorassic World and Wolves in the Woods. This is well worth a visit and it has been pleasingly designed for those navigating the premise with young children.
There are many, many parts of Dublin that can be enjoyed and it is impossible to fit everything in during a weekend visit. If you are planning to stay a little bit longer or decide to return, it is worth popping out to Sandymount Strand. This area offers a great seaside walk that has fantastic views of Howth and Dun Laoghaire. You can also venture towards the Dublin Mountains for beautiful scenery and Johnnie Fox’s is another highlight. This is Ireland’s highest pub and the fantastic traditional décor will transport you back in time. The food here is delicious and the menu includes many seafood dishes. The Hooley Show provides brilliant entertainment and it can be attended by children of certain ages (over 5 years old).
Back in the city, the food and beverage offerings at The Shelbourne are renowned within Dublin and further afield. The Horseshoe Bar regularly welcomes celebrities and high-society guests, with its plush décor and extensive wine list.
For those looking for casual dining offsite, there are many brasseries and pubs that welcome families nearby. Highlights include The Hairy Lemon, which is a great city pub, Café en Seine on Dawson Street, which offers more of a brasserie feel and then there is Hugo’s for those wanting a bistro setting.
If you wish to enjoy Thai food, Saba Dublin is an outstanding Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant, which is well-worth visiting during your stay. Meanwhile, for those who wish to sample one of the best pints of Guinness in the city, you simply cannot leave without popping into O’Donoghues Bar on Merrion Row.
The Shelbourne is perfectly located for visiting all of these places, but it also offers a luxurious and peaceful escape from city life. Back in the hotel, you can make the most of the swimming pool with the children or have some adult time by booking a spa treatment.
The Shelbourne ticks every box for the luxury traveller and a stay here will make your trip to the Irish capital that much more special.
The Little Sloaney Verdict
Following the launch of our Little Sloaney editorial section, we now cover many luxury experiences with children in mind to help feedback to our readers who have young family members.
Our Little Sloaney team share their highlights in their own words….
“I liked that the hotel room was nice and big so that we could all sleep in the same room together, but on our own beds. I had a really comfy bed added to the room and my brother had a cot. I really, really liked the zoo because I got to see loads of animals. I also lost my tooth in The Hairy Lemon while eating some tasty chips and the tooth fairy made it to my hotel room!” – Rose, aged 6
“My favourite part was visiting the zoo but I also liked being able to go swimming at the hotel.” – Michael, aged 3
Booking Information
The Shelbourne is located at 27 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland D02 K224. You can make a reservation by calling +353-1-663-4500 (Central Reservations Toll Free Number: +353-1800-409-929). You can also discover more online: Luxury 5 Star Dublin Hotel – The Shelbourne Dublin
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Credits: Words LT
Editorial support: SB and the Little Sloaney team
Images and image sourcing: Gilles
