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Art & History Abroad Tours

Dublin’s Historic Houses & Estates

This new tour through Dublin and its surrounding estates offers an exploration of Ireland’s artistic, architectural and historic domestic heritage.

From grand Palladian country houses and Georgian townhouses to scholarly libraries and ceremonial state buildings, the itinerary focuses on how architecture, collections and interiors reflect the ambitions and ideas of their time.

With expert talks, private access and guided visits, the tour brings to life the stories of the families, patrons and thinkers who lived within these remarkable buildings, all in the company of tour lecturer Nicholas Merchant.

From

£2,999

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts, one light lunch and two dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Five nights’ accommodation at the four-star Riu Plaza The Gresham, Dublin, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
  • Discover the Authentic Dublin
    From Trinity College and Oscar Wilde’s childhood home to the Palladian splendour of Castletown House and the art-filled rooms of Russborough, enjoy privileged access to some of Ireland’s most treasured interiors.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Accompanied by an expert tour lecturer throughout, with dedicated tour manager, including all tours and entrance fees as detailed.
  • Transport & Travel
    Airport transfers and full coach touring itinerary.
  • Flights from the UK
    Return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Dublin.
MEET YOUR EXPERT GUIDE

Nicholas Merchant

Nicholas is a highly respected lecturer in the decorative and fine arts and an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society. His wide knowledge was developed through work with leading auction houses, including Sotheby’s, before he established a specialist book business devoted to the decorative arts.

Nicholas has led Travel Editions tours in the UK and Europe for close to fifteen years. His convivial style, wit and erudition illuminate every visit, whether he is discussing a country house, a collection or a single remarkable object, and his tours are informative, interesting and above all entertaining.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Arrival in Dublin

Fly from London Heathrow or Manchester to Dublin and transfer to our hotel. This evening, gather for a welcome drink before a talk from Nicholas: ‘The Big House in Ireland’. Dinner follows, with wine included.

Day 2: Trinity College & St Patrick’s Cathedral

Enjoy a fascinating morning at Trinity College with a private guided tour of its historic campus, bringing to life centuries of academic tradition. Continue with an exclusive visit to the Old Library, where a guided visit explores the architecture and symbolism of the Long Room. Completed in 1732 and later remodelled in the 19th century when its soaring barrel‑vaulted ceiling was added, the Long Room is lined with oak bookcases holding around 200,000 early printed volumes, classical busts and ancient manuscripts including the world‑famous Book of Kells.

After free time for lunch at leisure, visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s largest cathedral, where a guided tour reveals its 13th‑century origins, Gothic architecture, and connections to Jonathan Swift, who served as Dean; the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore Dublin at your own pace.

Day 3: Castletown House & St Patrick’s College Maynooth

Travel west to Castletown House, Ireland’s first and possibly finest Palladian mansion. Begun in the 1720s for William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, the house set the model for classical architecture in Ireland. A guided tour reveals the grand sequence of reception rooms, the cantilevered Portland‑stone staircase, rich plasterwork and the celebrated Print Room, the only surviving example of its kind in Ireland.

We continue to Maynooth University for a light lunch in the Pugin Hall at St Patrick’s College, then a guided walk through the historic south campus, once the Royal College of St Patrick. The visit culminates in a private guided tour to the Russell Library, designed by A.W.N. Pugin and completed in 1861. Its Gothic Revival reading room houses one of Ireland’s most important rare‑book collections, including early printed works, medieval manuscripts and the Salamanca Archive. Return to Dublin for an evening talk from Nicholas ‘Treasures of Ancient Ireland’, followed by dinner with wine.

Please note that on Day 3, the Reading Room at Russell Library has four flights of stairs, with no lift available.

Day 4: Dublin Castle & Oscar Wilde’s House

This morning, enjoy a guided visit to Dublin Castle, built on a Viking site and transformed into a Georgian palace in the 18th century. The State Apartments, used today for presidential inauguration, contain some of the finest ceremonial rooms in Ireland, including St Patrick’s Hall with its painted ceiling and rich plaster decoration.

The afternoon is free to explore Dublin independently. In the evening, enjoy a private opening of Oscar Wilde House, a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse which was his childhood home. A guided visit with the museum director offers access to all floors, including period rooms that evoke mid‑19th‑century Dublin intellectual life.

Day 5: Russborough House & National Museum of Ireland

This morning we travel to Russborough House, a Palladian house designed by Richard Castle in the 1740s, whose famously long façade commands views over the Wicklow countryside. A guided tour highlights the Lafranchini brothers’ plasterwork, the ceremonial interiors and the story of art collecting at Russborough, shaped by generations of owners and later by Sir Alfred and Lady Beit.

Free time for lunch and to explore the gardens. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Ireland. Housed in a grand Victorian museum building, the collection spans Irish history from prehistory to the Middle Ages. Special focus is given to early goldwork, Bronze Age objects and the masterpieces of medieval metalwork displayed in the Treasury. Tonight we meet for a farewell dinner.

Day 6: Farmleigh House & Departure

Enjoy a morning visit to Farmleigh House, where a private guided tour reveals its fascinating evolution from an 18th‑century Georgian retreat to a magnificent Edwardian mansion shaped by the Guinness family. Discover highlights including the grand ballroom, rare-book library, fine art and tapestries, and interiors reflecting a rich blend of architectural styles. Afterwards, take time to explore the beautifully landscaped gardens. Continue to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow or Manchester.

Availability

Choose Your Departure

Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
01/07/2027
London Heathrow
£2,999
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01/07/2027
Manchester
£2,999
Enquire Now
23/09/2027
London Heathrow
£3,075
Book Now
23/09/2027
Manchester
£3,075
Enquire Now
Solo Traveller Supplement From: £720
Destination
Departure Date
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Riu Plaza The Gresham, Dublin
Situated in the heart of Dublin, this four-star hotel blends historic elegance with modern comfort, making it an ideal base for exploring Ireland’s capital. This beautifully restored hotel features stylish, well-appointed rooms, while its grand architecture reflects over a century of rich heritage. Guests can enjoy a warm Irish welcome alongside contemporary amenities, including a fitness centre, bar, and restaurant. The comfortable bedrooms offer TV, Wi-Fi, telephone, safe, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing.
 
If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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