Absolutely scandalous that the difference in price between a one year old who is walking compared…read moreto a one year old who isn't walking is 5 euro. It's 2 euro for a child who isn't walking, and seven euro for a child who is? Tell me how that makes any sense? On top of that, you are not allowed bring in any food or drink from outside, yet they charge close to 3 euro for a scone. There is no one monitoring the areas to ensure the children are age appropriate and so the one year old accompanying me was bombarded my big 3- 5 year olds in a space that said under 3 only. Not worth the money.

Nice kids soft play area in a good location, adjoining the Dundrum shopping centre. Reasonable €7…read morefor entry, during busy times you may be asked to stay only 90 mins but this has never happened to me. Plenty of variation on the the play side of it, and also there's only one way in & out so no risk your little ones will get lost.

A bright sunny and hot Sunday afternoon was in the offering, so, family plus dog was packed up and…read morewith the intention of picking up picnic goods on the way, we left for Marley park. Now, being nearly 40 and increasingly removed from popular culture I miss the odd fact, like this weekend Marley Park was playing host to 30,000 music fans, which makes things like a picnic on the main stage a bit of a challenge. "What's that?" my wife asked as I drove on, wondering where the hell to go and 'I wonder if the people in that house would mind if we just set up camp on their front lawn?' It would probably be fine (picture worried looking people peeping out the sitting room curtains as the family Q picnic on their lawn)... till we start nipping behind the shrubbery for a pee... "What?" I reply and then see the sign for the Padraig Pearse Museum & St Enda's Park... I had never heard of it but having nowhere better in mind we decide to give it a bash. It's days like this where I should have done the lotto - we struck lucky with a spectacular park and grounds, full Brambles café (for those without picnic) and the weather to match. There is also an old castle ruin (a folly I'm pretty sure) which kept junior amused for ages. Well worth a visit, we didn't go into the museum, will save that for a more inclement day.

Really gorgeous well kept park. I mainly go to Marlay Park with my toddler because the playground…read moreis so good but decided to stop here for a change earlier this week. We had a nice little adventure. Would love to stop into the Pearse Museum but my two year old's attention span and noise levels wouldn't allow for a museum visit at the moment, another day perhaps! Not sure it's the most dog-friendly of places, spotted a very strict sign about dogs!! I could be wrong though. Regardless it's very peaceful and lovely spot for a picnic.

Great fun for our two year old and for adults as well. Our little one enjoyed the junior section,…read moreand the section for older kids and adults looked wonderful. We will definitely go back!

I brought my niece and nephew (five year old twins!) here a few weeks ago. I was not too sure what…read moreto expect but I had heard good things about the place and it seemed like a good idea for occupying two energetic children for two hours on a rainy day! The building looks amazing from the outside, very impressive architecture and its distinctiveness is reflected inside the building once you enter. It cost us €34 for two five year olds and two adults which I thought was a bit much, I didn't expect the adult and child price to be the same. Adults are encouraged to go in and play with their children which is great but there are attendants walking around keeping an eye on the children also (for when you want a rest!). The "museum" is laid out in different areas, there is a kitchen, a construction area, a TV studio, an art room and lots more... running through the centre of the building is a climbing frame which was the biggest attraction for my niece and nephew, it certainly provided exercise for the parents that were running up and down the stairs trying to keep track of their climbing kids! The boy and girl I brought also loved dressing up in the TV studio area, they even got their faces painted after a bit of a wait. Although there were lots of children in the building I never felt that any one area was too crowded which was good, although there were queues for things such as the face painting. There is an area that is provided for babies but in my opinion the section is very sparse and did not have anything that would entertain a very young child for very long. I only saw one baby there during my visit and he didn't look too happy! I don't think that Imaginosity would hold the interest of older children either, I think a child over the age of eight or so would get bored fairly quickly because these days children I know above the age of eight are not as interested in "playing house" or "make believe" and that is what Imaginosity is all about. There is a restaurant where you can get some refreshments but I found it to be very expensive, if I were to go again I would definitely bring my own drinks and snacks for the children. All in all it is an entertaining place for children (it even disguises a bit of education in fun), it is unique and I do not know of any other place like it in Dublin. In my opinion it is suitable for children between the ages of three and eight but outside of these ages you are wasting your money. Also I would maximise the value for my money by only having one adult for a group of children rather than an adult per child like we did. Oh, and don't wear heels!

Nice park with an enclosed dog park to allow off lead. It's an interesting walk through woodland…read moreand open areas and a coffee shop to recharge. The market was a disappointment with fewer stalls than expected and nowhere near as good as others in Temple Bar, Farmleigh and Dun Laoighre. Parking available but gets busy later in the morning so arrive around 10 in my view.

Marlay Park is a 121 hectares suburban public park located in Rathfarnham in Dún…read moreLaoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland. Lying about nine kilometres from Dublin city centre, the parkland comprises woodlands, ponds and walks.

We HAD to leave a review for this wonderful place! We were visiting from California, and we enjoyed…read moreour time here tremendously. We brought our 8 and 10 year old kids, thinking we'd just see the animals really quickly. But, we ended up spending over 4 hours! We ate breakfast at the Overends Kitchen, and it was fantastic! Then we watched them collect chicken eggs and milk cows. So cool!! Then we walked around visiting adorable cows, calves, sheep, donkeys, and sheep! There were beautiful flower gardens and amazing trails that were so fun with the kids! They also had a fun playground!! There were so many other things to enjoy here that we didn't get to, but we absolutely loved our visit. We wish we lived in the area so we could visit more!

Oh what a day it was......... I needed to evade the house cleaning binge my better looking half was…read moreon so what better way than to remove myself from the situation entirely and bring the little one to the farm. Great location just over 5 minutes stroll from Dundrum shopping centre and the luas stop. It began with a cupcake, ( it was awesome) then continued with rain. Luckily I was well prepared with wellies and waterproofs......... for the child. I unfortunately looked like a dog who fell in a well by the end of the day. The chickens were first and full of life and head bobbing joy, then on to the calves. This is where the fun started. My daughter began to harass the young things to say moo..... "SAY MOO COWS!!!! SAYYYY MOOOOOOOO" they proceeded to chew and blink............unimpressed. Everybody else however got a few giggles out of it. Then the pigs. Where the girl said " DO NOT under any circumstances put your fingers in. pigs WILL EAT that meat." My fearless soldier girl promptly put her entire hand in and started stroking the BIG and I mean BIG mammy pigs head whilst I nearly took a heart attack pulling her hand back out. Then the goats were the best part........... it was raining heavily by now.... there was no shelter nearby........ but giving the goats grass from our hands was the only thing she wanted to do, not even the lure of the ever amazing Mcdonalds could pull the 2 year old away from the beasts. All in all twas an odd day but I loved it! They also had some beautiful gardens and displays...... Well worth a visit for all the family members...... unless they are on a spring cleaning blitz. Then leave them at home, it worked for me!

A temporary installation - only here till Sept 2012…read more ARRRRGH me harties, come yea to the bouncy castles of Dundrum and bounce till you see your breakfast again. The cost is reasonably reasonable... 5Euro per child for 1 hours bouncing, jumping and sliding. The zorbing and boating involves an extra 3 euro a pop and a bit of queuing, junior thought it worthwhile. Parents go free but it is frowned upon if they actually use the facilities (there isn't a sign specifically saying "no short, fat, balding men allowed on the bouncy castle", but it is implied).

My companion here suggested that the Pirate Village should have an 'Adult Only' session after the…read morekids go home... bringing me to my only gripe with this place- that the grown-ups can't go on any of the cool stuff! Apart from that however, this is an unusual and entertaining way to amuse younger children for an hour or so. Conveniently located in Dundrum town centre, it costs €5 per child, with its adult(s) going free. A session is about an hour long. So, you enter into a 'pirate village' themed maze of bouncy castles, little slides, giant slides, boat-bumpers etc, etc... with staff members shouting, 'Arr me hearties!!...' The kids go demented. Now, if you could just lock them all in for an hour and come back afterwards... A point to note is that some of the things have a 5-10 minute queue and a few extra quid surcharge. We brought my three year old godson, who loved it, despite getting trampled on in the various bouncy castles by some bigger kids. He went on the smaller slide about 20 times, a boat ride (didn't want to get out of it!), and the giant slide, which he really enjoyed despite finding the 5 minute queue a little frustrating. Bribed by chocolate to get back into his buggy at the end, he then collapsed in an exhausted heap (could I jump up and down for an hour? Doubt it!) and we returned him to his mother, who'd had a coffee and stroll around the shops unencumbered by a hyper child. Then we went for a well-earned and much-needed pint round the corner.

Hellooooooo, Bushy Park!!…read more I really enjoy weekday runs here. On the weekends I like to get out of the city and go on longer runs or hikes, but hBonestly Bushy Park is great 7 days a week. There are all types of people attracted to the park: Families Solo runners/joggers/walkers Group runners/joggers/walkers Triathalon groups Bootcamps Youth lounging on the lawns Skaters/boarders/bikers Cyclists People who want fresh air There is a little bit of Bushy Park to go around for everyone! I like to run through the path with the creek and water, but also do interval training around the stairs and grassy hills. There is alot to be said about a park that's free that can provide exercise worthy of a gym! When I go for a run in the morning I find the the fellow park enthusiasts to be friendly, regulars, and welcoming. We have a common bond of getting up early and taking to the fresh air :) In the afternoon and evenings the park can be easier, and while still very friendly and welcoming, people are more in their own zone and we just make room and share space. The sunnier the day the busier!

Oh how I love Bushy Park! I am here every morning come rain or shine between 8 and 11am when I am…read moreallowed to have my dog off the leash! This park is great and offers a host of different areas. The woods is my favourite part, especially the ruinous shell house and the big over grown roots which i scramble up and down. Keep an eye out for badger and squirrel sets that are dotted around the woods too. The stake park was awesome but now there are no skaters only BMX users! Damn them for getting rid of the BMX park in Marley Park. But a few of use skaters can find some lips and rims free usually the hour before parks close when the BMX bandits go home to finish their homework. The stepping stones are great craic in the summer and a great place to picnic and cool off in the not so dirty water. But on of the best things to do at the river is to wait real still and keep your eyes out for the herons and kingfishers that can be spotted feeding off the minnows in the water. Total Bill Oddie experience.

Palmerston Park is a treasure of a park that admittedly I lived right next to and didn't notice it…read morewas there until about 7 months in. From the outside it's deceptviely small looking, but once you get inside you'll find that it's quite large and there's many different sections and areas. If you ever get a sunny spring day it's perfect place to sit outside and relax in the sunshine. There's a footpath that goes around the perimeter of the park. It's excellent if you're looking for a change in your walking routine or somewhere safe for the kids to ride their bikes around. I've never seen the park crowded which is perfect because you're always sure to get a spot on the grass, which can't be said for St. Stephen's Green. And also a nerdy history note, Palmerston Park was the headquarters of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, during the Battle of Rathmines in 1649. When Butler and his troops were defeated, the route was opened for Cromwell to invade the rest of Ireland ... ok so maybe not a selling point for the park, but still something to think about when you're bikin around.

Watch out for the duck pond. In the twilight, careless walkers may mistake its green algae for…read moregrass and stroll right in. I got within a few feet before my walking companion pulled me back. Dangers aside, this is a gorgeous park. Gorgeous and old. You can feel its age. These massive trees didn't spring up in the last couple of years - I'm sure their roots were already deep when my grandparents were young. There is something very special about strolling around a beautiful old park this like without seeing another soul. Other parks may be more beautiful, but few are as stately.

I'm leaving this review about Westwood in general (not specifically the leopards town site)…read more All I can say is, I've never ever experienced worse customer service in my life ! It is an absolute joke! They never ever answer the phone, and yet when you go into the gym there are multiple staff at the reception. If you email them, they will take over a month to respond. If you ask one of the receptionist for anything (the most basic of requests) they haven't a clue and direct you to call the number for Westwood, to which you will NEVER get an answer. The gym itself is nice and all that, but I actually miss Flyefit now and regret paying the amount Ive paid on a membership with them due to the terrible customer service. Also just something to watch out for, the day you visit the gym with an interest of joining, you will be shown around by a staff member who has all the time in the world for you and will dazzle you with all of the perks etc of joining Westwood, but don't be fooled by this ! Once you join, you are on your own and if you need any support/ need to ask a simple question, good luck to you my friend

Phoned West Wood Leopardstown as we live close by. Was going to sign the family up for the year for…read moretheir Christmas present. No one answers the phone so left a voice message requesting call back and approx price for annnual membership for 8 adults and 6 kids, not a word from them !!!!! Guess they dont need my business, unbelieveable ..........