In Ireland its no surprise when a beautiful day suddenly turns into a rainy day, so it always pays to be prepared! We’ve had it happen to ourselves and our guests countless times, so we’ve a contingency plan. Here are our top 5 suggestions for things to do on a rainy day near Aspect Park West! Just in case..
1 Energie Fitnees Centre
Less than 2 minutes’ walk away. For those of you that like to relax in the sauna & steam rooms , pay a visit to Energie Fitness Club. Featuring a superb range of equipment including:
- Cardio training
- Resistance equipment
- Free-weights area
- Spinning and aerobics studios
- 20 metre swimming pool
- Sauna and Jacuzzi
As our guests you can enjoy special discounted entry (inquire with our reception team).
2 Guinness Storehouse
Located only 15mins from the Aspect Hotel.
A wonderful meeting of the modern and bygone era. The Guinness Storehouse is an eye catching mix of the original 17th Century structure and today’s more modern tourist attraction. Located in the epicenter of the world famous St. James’s Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.
From the first moment you enter it’s halls, you realise just how much more there is to the ‘Black Stuff.’ From its first ever shipment in 1811, the launch of draught Guinness in 1958 right up to the sale of 1.76 billion pints by 2003. This venue is filled with the rich history of Guinness, including some working brewing machines, and plenty of little pieces to take home.
Throughout the journey, you take in seven floors offering a blend of a long brewing heritage with Ireland’s rich history. This includes the chance to pull your own pint and enjoy a pint in the Gravity Bar at the very top, which offers a 360 degree view of Dublin city.
3 Old Jameson Distillery
Another great thing to do on a rainy day in Dublin is The Jameson Distillery. This famous distillery was opened in 1997 and attracts up to 350,000 guests a year. Based at the site of the original distillery until 1971, you not only get to sample a piece of Irish history, but can marvel at the original fermentation vats, visible through the glass floor.
It also houses 2 bars, the 3rd Still restaurant and a gift shop. Located in the historically significant Smithfield, on Bow Street, this world famous site is open 7 days a week. Guests can now also benefit from the recently added Barrelman’s Feast dinner running from May through October or become a certified Irish whiskey taster!
Jameson Distillery won’t leave you short of things to keep you occupied, or you can just enjoy a creamy Irish Coffee in the ambient surroundings watching the rainy days go by.
4 Liffey Valley shopping centre
Liffey Valley is located only 5 minutes from the Aspect Hotel. For those of you with the shopping bug, this shopping centre boasts over 90 shops, including Marks & Spencers, Dunnes Stores & Boots, numerous restaurants and a 14 screen cinema.
There are also many intimate cafes where you can take a break and grab a coffee on a rainy day. There is also an expansive food court on the 1st floor with options for all tastes.
There’s even something for the kids with the train that takes them up and down the centre to the Pirates Village, a play centre with bouncy castles, inflatable slides, boats for the kids and much more.
All located under the one roof and with thousands of free parking spaces, all the ingredients for a great day out!
5 Kilmainham Gaol
Located only 15minutes from Aspect Hotel. Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe. Formerly a prison now run as a museum. It served as the final stop for many Irish revolutionaries, most notably the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Otherwise known as the ‘Irish Bastille’, this site used to conduct public hangings at the front of the gaol back in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and house men, women and children in the same cells under deplorable conditions.
It now offers a fascinating window into Ireland’s past both under British rule and as a new Free State, with guided tours including details of the political and penal history of the prison, it’s restoration when it was deemed too expensive to demolish as well as an audio-visual show.
For those film buffs amongst you, the gaol was also the site for many films including The Italian Job, In the Name of the Father, Michael Collins & The Wind That Shakes the Barley. All in all the building, tours and supporting information gives a detailed insight into the history of Irish Republicanism. Check out our blog on Kilmainham Gaol.
If you’d love to visit Dublin but can’t justify the price of a central Dublin hotel, why not look a little outside the city limits for a great value break. Aspect Hotel Park West offers an affordable, comfortable alternative to overpriced central hotels and is still easily accessible by road or public transport. Contact our friendly team or book directly on our website today for more information.
