A STONE’S THROW

Take a short walk from The Westbury and this is what you’ll find…

The Little Museum Of Dublin

One of the city’s best loved, this is the place to learn about the history of Dublin, or, as the Sunday Telegraph put it, “One of my favourite attractions is the Little Museum of Dublin, a gem of a place housed in a beautiful Georgian townhouse on the north side of St Stephen’s Green, and filled with material and items, which tell a vivid story of twentieth-century Dublin. This is history at its most captivating and human”. With wonderful expert story tellers (AKA guides) to bring times past to life, via museum tours and walking tours of the immediate area, as well as exhibits, it’s a unique celebration of what being a Dubliner is all about. littlemuseum.ie

The Abbey Theatre

Further north, on the other side of the Liffey you’ll find The Abbey – the national theatre of Ireland, one of its leading cultural institutions, and a hot ticket almost every week of the year. A vibrant showcase for Irish writers, directors and producers, The Abbey Theatre was founded by WB Yates and one Lady Gregory and, since it opened in 1904 has consistently lived up to its founding manifesto, “to bring upon the stage the deeper emotions of Ireland”. abbeytheatre.ie

Trinity College

Dublin builds on ancient origins to offer one of the best modern educations in the world. It’s Ireland’s oldest and best-known university, with stunning architecture, beautiful grounds and one of the world’s most extraordinary libraries (its lofty shelves laden with ancient texts only reachable by storeys of sliding stepladders and immortalised in many a film). Home to The Book Of Kells, a priceless 9th Century copy of the New Testament, handwritten and illuminated by monks, guided walking tours of university grounds and the library (go see said Book Of Kells) are bookable daily, and the college is just five minutes’ walk from The Westbury. tcd.ie

ST STEPHEN’S GREEN

If you can tear yourself away from the rather excellent shopping nearby and head south instead, you’ll be rewarded with an oasis of quintessential city park, with ornamental planting, trees, benches and water features – perfect for getting away from it all in the heart of the city. Named after a 13th century church, St Stephen’s Green’s 21st century tranquillity belies its sometimes tumultuous history – we recommend a guided walk to tell the full story. Or you can find a potted history here ststephensgreenpark.ie