Real-life Winterfell: Castle Ward

In the popular TV show Game of Thrones, Winterfell is the ancestral home of the ruler of the North, which has long been a held by a family member of House Stark. It is where all of the Stark children grew up, and is now finally back under Stark rule after Jon Snow took back the North. Jon is currently King in the North, but while he is away forging an alliance with Dany, Sansa has control of Winterfell and the rest of the North.

In reality, Winterfell is filmed on the 1,000 acre grounds surrounding Castle Ward in Northern Ireland. The property dates back from the 18th century featuring both classical and gothic styles. Castle Ward is one of the many locations in Ireland that host Game of Thrones sets. Belfast is home to Titanic Studios where some of the indoor shots are filmed. Other filming locations in Ireland include Tollymore Forest Park, The Dark Hedges and Mussenden Temple.

 

Author: K.Casselton

4 Areas to Explore in Dublin

1. Phoenix Park

Larger than Central Park, Phoenix Park is one of the largest parks in any European capital city. It is known for its large deer population as well the home of the Dublin Zoo. I love spending an afternoon in the park picnicking on the grass in front of the Wellington Monument, or renting bicycles and riding around the area.

2. Grafton Street

Arguably Dublin’s most famous shopping street, Grafton Street is very touristy with lots of shops lining the street. Aside from the main street itself, the side streets in the surrounding area contain hip cafes, bars and restaurants. I love walking around the area and exploring the flurry of activity that is Dublin City Centre.

3. Trinity College

The oldest university in Dublin, Trinity College is located right in the middle of the city. Home to one of Ireland’s greatest treasures, the Book of Kells, the Trinity College Library is truly breathtaking. During the summer, the College Green also hosts a concert series where many popular music groups such as Two Door Cinema Club or Alt-J have played.

4. Temple Bar

Probably Dublin’s most well-known area, Temple Bar bustles with life at all times of day, as it is home to a multitude of pubs, restaurants and bars. Wander through the cobbled streets during the day to discover galleries and cafes, or at night to find some of the best bars and pubs in Dublin.

Author: K.Casselton

4 things to do during your first trip to London

London is the most populated city in Europe, which means there are endless possibilities of things to do. Here are 4 recommendations of things to do during your first trip to London (4 things besides all of the major attractions like Big Ben, of course!)

1. Visit Camden Market

Next to the Camden Lock, the market has over 1000 booths and stalls selling everything from donuts and coffee to burritos to fresh orange juice. It additionally has artists selling paintings, jewelry, tshirts, shoes and pretty much anything and everything else. The market is a great place to grab some lunch and wander around for the afternoon.

2. Ride the tube

For tourists coming from cities in the US that don’t have public transportation (like myself), the tube can be intimidating at first. It’s actually really easy to use, and it gets you around London for a lot cheaper than a taxi.

3. Museum hop

One of the best things about London is that almost all of the museums are free, so take a day go to a bunch of them. Most of them are in the same area of London, so it’s just a short walk between them. You can easily get from Monet’s paintings at the National Gallery to the mummies at the British Museum in 15 minutes.

4. Have afternoon tea

One of my favorite things to do in London is go to afternoon tea. There are countless options of tea rooms to chose from for any budget. The Ritz Hotel is one of the most famous tea rooms in London, but if are a college student on a budget there are definitely some more affordable places to go as well.

Author: K. Casselton

Destinations: Galway

Located on Ireland’s west coast, Galway is the third largest city in Ireland. Galway gives you a small town feel but still has plenty of sites to visit. Here are 6 of my favorite things to do in Galway:

1. Visit the Galway market

One of my favorite things to do in Galway is to go to the farmer’s market located next to St. Nicholas’ church. From fruit to bagels to art, the market is bustling at all times with local products. I highly recommend visiting the donut stand- the donuts are made on the spot right after you order. 

2. Go to the bars on Quay Street

One of Galway’s most notable places is Quay Street. Crowded with restaurants, pubs and bars, there is always something to do. If you are looking for nightlife, this is the place to go. Simply just walk down the street exploring the different pubs and restaurants.

3. Take a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher

From Galway, you can take a bus to some of Ireland’s most notable sites, including the world famous Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are Ireland’s most visited attraction, and provide Instagram-worthy views. It’s easy to hop on a bus to the cliffs during the day, explore one of Ireland’s greatest beauties, and still make it back to Galway to hit the bars at night.

4. People Watch in Eyre Square

If you happen to catch some nice weather, sitting in Eyre Square is a fun place to hang out at. Tourists and locals like to relax on the grass, so it is a great place to observe Galway life. While I was there, there happened to be a stag party dressed up and playing games!

5. Explore the surrounding country

If want to see castles in Ireland, Galway provides you with a great opportunity to do so. There are several castles that are only a short drive away, so rent a car or take a taxi and explore the countryside. Keep in mind, if you do take a taxi from the city, it is extremely hard to call one for the way back if you are in the middle of nowhere.

6. Take a ferry to the Aran Islands

Right off the coast of Galway are the Aran Islands. They are known for their ancient sites, medieval ruins and fantastic scenery. The islands are also the filming locations for several Hollywood movies. If you want to get out of the city, the islands are the perfect place to explore nature. 

Many of our tours visit Galway, so if you are interested in seeing the city, click here.

Author: K.Casselton

Spotlight: Giant’s Causeway

History:

Three hours north of Dublin, Giant’s Causeway is the often featured in popular movies and TV shows, such as Game of Thrones. The result of an ancient volcanic eruption, it consists of around 40,000 basalt columns. According to legends, the causeway is the remains of a giant’s effort to protect Ireland from a rival giant in Scotland.

General information:

This past weekend, I went to visit the causeway. Giant’s causeway is definitely a touristy place, but definitely worth a visit. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the drop-off point down to the causeway. The walk down isn’t bad, but the walk back is a bit harder as it is uphill. If you don’t feel like walking, you can pay around 2 euro to take a shuttle down and back up.

Tips:

As with most of the sites in Ireland, bring good walking shoes because you have the option to climb all over the stones. I highly recommend climbing the largest hill, as the view from the top is breathtaking. The most magnificent thing about the causeway is that the stones are all perfectly smooth and stacked. It truly appears as though it was built by a giant.

Check out our Mystical Ireland tour if you are interested in visiting Giant’s Causeway!

Author: K.Casselton

5 Tips to Make Traveling Easier

Welcome to bookirishtours.com! We are a tour company based in Dublin, Ireland. Before you leave for your adventure to Ireland, Britain or Scotland, here are 5 tips to help make your journey easier:

1. Check the weather

Whether you are staying in one place or traveling to different countries, it’s smart to have an idea of what the weather is going to be like during your trip. This will allow you to make sure you pack the correct clothing for the climate. Nothing like getting stuck in a rainstorm without an umbrella to dampen your experience abroad.

2. Exchange your currency

It’s not necessary to exchange all of your cash for the local currency before you leave because ATMs do exist for a reason. However, it might be helpful to have some local currency on you when you arrive just in case your credit card doesn’t work or you can’t find an ATM.

3. Make sure your passport is valid

This seems obvious, but I have heard too many stories of friends getting stuck at the airport because their passport wasn’t valid for the duration of their trip. Conversely, if you don’t have a passport, make sure you apply for one early enough before you leave. In the United States, passports usually take 6-8 weeks to process.

4. Pack light

To avoid having to pay the overweight baggage fee at the airport, pack light. A good rule for packing is to lay out everything you want to bring, and then only pack half of it. Most places in Europe do not have elevators, so be ready to lug your suitcase up several flights of stairs. Do yourself a favor and pack light so you can easily carry your luggage around.

5. Remember to have fun

Don’t let delayed flights, missed connections or lack of sleep stress you out. A week, two weeks, however long your trip is may seem like a long time, but it will go by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy every moment you have exploring a new place, or a revisiting an old one!

Author: K.Casselton