Powerscourt House and Gardens

Beauty Among the Wicklow Hills

The famous Powerscourt House and Garden can be found in Enniskerry among the Wicklow Hills – about 20km south of Dublin City Center. The garden was started by Richard Wingfield in the mid 1700s and it stretches over 47 acres.  

They have a wonderful blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues and ornamental lakes, secret hollows and rambling walks. Everything has a name which helps you navigate your way around and include:

The Walled Gardens; The Italian Garden; The Dolphin Pond; The Japanese Gardens; Pets Cemetery and Pepperpot Tower. The gardens are host to over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs and boasts the tallest tree in Ireland - a Douglas Fir.

Destroyed by fire and now fully restored

The House was gutted by fire in 1974 but has been fully restored and is an exceptional place to visit. I’ve spent many happy hours roaming the House and Gardens, ambling along the peaceful river walk and learning about the rich history of the Estate..

I’ve whiled away the time by browsing the best in Irish design in the Avoca Stores and Interiors Gallery and enjoyed lunch at the Terrace Cafe which has a great view as well as great Irish and international fayre.

A Spectacular Venue

Powerscourt has a superb double height Georgian Ballroom, beautifully restored, and in better days it is a gorgeous wedding and special events venue. The gardens guarantee the most idyllic background for photos. The House and Gardens were also used as a film location for Into the Badlands and Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. They were also the backdrop for David Copperfield, Moll Flanders and Excaliber among others.

Voted One of the Top 3 Formal Gardens in the World!

National Geographic voted it the third best formal garden in the world behind …wait for it….

Chateau de Versailles in France and

Kew Gardens in London.

A real treat for history and garden enthusiasts alike and an easy day out from Dublin

Getting There

Powerscourt Estate is located just 20 minutes south of Dublin and there are many transportation options available to get there. It is a short short hop down the M50 by car. The 185 and 44 bus services leave visitors in Enniskerry village in County Wicklow and connects to the DART station (rail) at Bray with services direct from Dublin City Centre. The rail line runs along the coast of Dublin from Malahide and Howth southwards as far as Greystones, County Wicklow and is a fine trip all by itself..

The Waterfall is almost 4 miles away from Powerscourt Gardens and It’s recommended to drive there unless you fancy a long walk..