Phoenix Park Visitor Centre and Ashtown Castle

About the museum

The visitor centre stands in Ashtown Demesne in the middle of Phoenix Park, next to Ashtown Castle. The castle is a tower house that dates from between the 15th and 17th centuries. For a long time it was hidden inside a Georgian mansion, Ashtown Lodge, which was home to the Under Secretary for Ireland. When that house was pulled down in the 1970s the tower house was discovered, then restored and opened to the public.

The visitor centre next door is run by the Office of Public Works. Its self-guided exhibition follows the history of the park from about 3500 BC to the present day. A twenty-minute audio-visual show covers the park through the ages or the history of the presidential residence Áras an Uachtaráin. A lift and stairs lead to the first floor, which has more displays and a section on wildlife, and a separate room hosts visiting art exhibitions.

The demesne also has a restored Victorian walled kitchen garden of about two and a half acres, a café, woodland walks, picnic areas and a universal-access playground. The park’s Biodiversity Centre at Knockmaroon is a separate site on the western side of the park.

Highlights

• Self-guided exhibition on the park from 3500 BC to today
• Free guided tours of the medieval Ashtown Castle
• Audio-visual show of about twenty minutes
• Restored Victorian walled kitchen garden next door
• Universal-access playground and café in the demesne

Permanent exhibitions

• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre exhibition – A self-guided display on the history and wildlife of Phoenix Park from 3500 BC to today, with an audio-visual show and more exhibits on the first floor.
• Ashtown Castle – A restored medieval tower house, hidden for centuries inside a later mansion, visited on a free guided tour from the visitor centre.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the visitor centre, the exhibition and the castle tours is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The visitor centre has designated parking spaces, wheelchair access, universal-access toilets and a lift to the first floor. A social guide PDF is available for first-time visitors and people with developmental or learning disabilities. Dogs must be kept on leads, and suitable footwear is advised.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Free children’s workshops for ages 6 to 12 take place on Sunday mornings from 11:00 to 12:00, with materials provided and adult supervision required. A universal-access playground is next to the visitor centre. Baby changing and a family toilet are available, and prams can be stored at reception.

Getting there & parking

Ashtown Demesne is entered off the Phoenix roundabout on Chesterfield Avenue and is signposted from the Phoenix Monument.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Phoenix Park Café is in the grounds beside the walled garden and Ashtown Castle and opens at 09:30 daily; it closes between 16:00 and 17:30 depending on the season and the day. A free water-refill station is in the courtyard, and there are picnic areas. A bookshop is listed among the facilities.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit